On Thursday, the Royal Air Force Base in Fairford, UK (RAF Fairford) once again became a global military focus. According to reports, two US Air Force (USAF) B-52H “Stratofortress” strategic bombers took off earlier to carry out a “deep strike” mission against Iranian targets.
BBC weapons analyst Chris Partridge confirmed that these two B-52 bombers were seen carrying AGM-158 JASSM/JASSM-ER joint air-to-ground standoff missiles.
The cruise missile has a range of about 500 miles (approximately 800 kilometers) and is equipped with a 1,000-pound explosive fragmentation warhead. Utilizing GPS satellite and Inertial Navigation System (INS), its strike accuracy can reach within a few meters.
Military experts analyze that carrying JASSM-ER means that bombers can launch missiles outside the Iranian air defense perimeter, precisely destroying high-value strategic targets deep inland without risking entering the core of the air defense network.
As the “Operation Epic Fury” enters a critical stage, the tactical importance of Fairford base has significantly risen. Since early March, following Iranian drone attacks on a UK airbase in Cyprus, the Starmer government has fully opened, allowing US forces to conduct strikes from Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia.
According to the Air & Space Forces Magazine, the base currently houses about 12 B-1B Lancer bombers, representing over half of the US Air Force’s combat-capable B-1B fleet. On Thursday morning at 8 o’clock, a B-1B just departed from the base, believed to be carrying GBU-31 JDAM bunker-buster bombs.
On March 9, the first three B-52H strategic bombers from Minot AFB in North Dakota arrived at Fairford. Despite some aircraft being over 65 years old, following digital upgrades to the “Glass Cockpit,” they remain a cornerstone of the US military’s large-scale strike capabilities.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated in the latest briefing on Thursday that the US military has gained control of most of Iran’s airspace.
Pentagon data shows that the US military has carried out more than 8,000 flight missions, hitting over 7,800 targets inside Iran, severely damaging Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial capabilities.
The efficiency of Iran’s ballistic missiles and suicide drones has dropped by 90%. The US military reported having destroyed or damaged more than 120 Iranian naval vessels, including all 11 submarines.
As the Iranian regime led by Mojtaba Khamenei continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, US President Trump called on allies to jointly reopen this critical strategic waterway.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan expressed their willingness to make appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait.