American B-2 stealth bombers are set to arrive at UK bases in the near future as President Donald Trump plans to increase military strikes on Iran.
The US stealth aircraft are scheduled to land this week at the UK’s airfields located in Diego Garcia, Chagos Islands, and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, according to The Telegraph.
President Trump has promised a significant escalation of attacks on Iran, stating that the most intense actions are yet to come. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a substantial surge in firepower aimed at Iran, particularly Tehran, with support from UK bases. This includes the deployment of additional fighter squadrons, enhanced defensive capabilities, and more frequent bomber missions.
Recently, American B-1 bombers arrived at RAF Fairford and are expected to be joined by B-2 and B-52 aircraft.
B-2 stealth bombers are recognized as the most expensive aircraft globally, with each unit costing around $2 billion, as reported by Fox News.
The death toll in Iran has risen to 1,332, with over 100 fatalities in Lebanon, approximately a dozen in Israel, and six US military personnel, according to sources.
President Trump expressed disappointment with the UK’s response, criticizing Sir Keir Starmer for not allowing the US to use British bases without hesitation. Sir Keir initially aimed to limit UK involvement in the conflict but later approved the use of RAF Fairford and the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site for defensive strikes against Iran-targeted nations.
Despite the UK’s decision not to authorize the first wave of strikes on Iran, President Trump expressed dissatisfaction and compared Sir Keir to Winston Churchill unfavorably.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that British F-35 and Typhoon aircraft, supported by Voyager air-to-air refueling planes, conducted defensive air patrols over Qatar, Jordan, and the eastern Mediterranean.
Defense Secretary John Healey did not rule out the possibility of UK aircraft participating in strikes on Iran, stating the need to adapt actions based on evolving conflict situations.
HMS Dragon, a type 45 warship, is expected to arrive on the island within the next few weeks, as confirmed by Healey in an interview with the BBC.
Trade union Prospect raised concerns about delays in deploying HMS Dragon, attributing them to a renegotiated Ministry of Defence contract for staff at Portsmouth Naval Base. The union criticized the contract for assuming conflicts only occur during regular working hours, requiring union members to volunteer for overtime to prepare the warship.
