Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors

About RAF/USAF Fairford

In a recent letter from the MOD we have been informed that:

"RAF Fairford is a NATO designated standby base. This means that while the base is normally austerely manned, it is capable of immediate reactivation should the operational situation demand it. The UK Government will have to be fully consulted and agree before any United States Air Force aircraft are deployed operationally from any RAF base, including RAF Fairford. To date (9th Dec 2002) no request has been to activate RAF Fairford for operational purposes."

Of course the status of Fairford is a little confused - it's a NATO base, it's and RAF base, it's a USAF base... but who's in charge here? The sign near the main gate says RAF/USAF but shows the USAF logo.

Background Info on RAF Fairford

USAF Fairford is one of only three forward bases (outside the USA) for B-2 bombers. The others are in Guam and Diego Garcia - but Fairford is right here on the good old unsinkable aircraft carrier HMS Britain.

Bombers flying from Fairford dropped 48% of all the bombs used during the Kosovo war and since then the base has had extensive refurbishment.

Earlier in 2002 the one hundred million pound refurb. was completed. This is the largest single NATO expenditure since the end of the Cold War.

Fairford can now hold house the B-2 Stealth bombers, more than doubling the strike force deployed during the Kosovo war, as well as the older B-1s and B-52s.

In tests the B-2 has successfully released B-61 and B-83 mini-nuclear weapons. The B61-11 is an earth-penetrating bomb for use against deeply buried and hardened targets (like Saddam's bunkers). The B83 is a strategic free-fall nuclear bomb. These are the first of the new generation of "more usable" nuclear bombs being developed in the USA.

On Wednesday 30th October the BBC news website reports that according to a US Airforce official B-2 Stealth bombers are being deployed closer to the Gulf region - in the Indian ocean island of Diego Garcia and in Britain (at Fairford).

So there's pretty good odds that the next nuclear bomb used in anger will be carried on a bomber from Fairford - right here in this peaceful sleepy corner of the Cotswolds.

-------- Update 11th Dec 2002 -----

Wilts & Glos Standard - the Fairford area local newspaper - reports on Nov 7th.

"Deadly B-2 Stealth bombers... are to be housed at RAF Fairford."

"The US Air Force is building five shelters to store the futuristic B-2s at the base, at a cost of more than £6.6 million. The B-2 is the world's most advanced bomber and is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons... The shelters are needed to maintain a stable environment to store the planes."

These are quick build shelters and are likely in place by now. Similar shelters have been deployed to Diego Garcia. The B-2 has a special skin which reduces radar footprint. This is very delicate - hence the need for storage in a controlled tempurature and humidity environment.

The recent upgrading of Fairford, mentioned below (see Fairford background), added much needed servicing capability to the base. The B-2, rated as being as effective 20 'normal' bombers, needs 16 hours maintenance for every hour flight time. It thus needs a lot of specialised mechanics and equipment.

Although it could fly direct to Iraq from the US - with in air refueling - it is much cheaper to fly from Fairford and turn around time is faster allowing more missions to be flown.

The B-2's are not at Fairford yet - but we expect them within the next month.

If we can stop the B-2s coming to Fairford we have achieved a significant degredation of the US war machine. If local protest can deter construction of B-2 bases in Spain then we've got to try and deter their deployment here.

Link: Read more on Fairford background on IndyMedia.