Bunker-busting bombs loaded onto US planes at UK airbase amid Iran war

The use of RAF Fairford by US forces highlights the UK’s increasingly active role in the US-Israeli war on Iran.Published On 12 Mar 2026Three United States B-1B Lancer bombers have touched down at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom after what is believed to be the first American strike mission against Iran launched from a British base, during the US-Israeli war on Iran.Al Jazeera’s team witnessed the aircraft returning to the base as ground crews moved new stocks of bunker-busting bombs, fitted with JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) guidance kits, across the runway.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Residents of this Beirut neighbourhood felt safe. Then Israel attacked it.list 2 of 4Iran says it targets Israeli bases, accuses Israel of targeting hospitalslist 3 of 4Air attack hits house in suburbs of Tel Avivlist 4 of 4Who wins and loses in the global energy crisis?end of listSince the US and Israel first attacked Iran on February 28, the UK military has joined operations to intercept retaliatory Iranian drones and missile strikes across the Middle East, and has deployed additional assets to the eastern Mediterranean.During the outbreak of the war, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had refused the US permission to use UK bases for attacks on Iran.But on March 1, Starmer changed tack, stating that Westminster had approved a US request to use British bases for the “defensive purpose” of destroying Iranian missiles “at source” after a drone struck a British military base on Cyprus.Yet, the latest operations at RAF Fairford signal a shift in the munitions used in the US bombing campaign and highlight the increasingly active role of British facilities in US strategic bombing operations.Ground crew load munitions into a US Air Force B-1 bomber at RAF Fairford, UK [Christopher Furlong/Getty]The B-1B Lancer is a long-range strategic bomber capable of carrying large conventional payloads.The bunker-busting bombs being prepared at RAF Fairford were fitted with JDAM kits, guidance systems that convert unguided bombs – such as the 500lb Mk-82, 1,000lb Mk-83 and 2,000lb Mk-84 – into precision-guided weapons by adding a GPS and inertial-navigation tail unit with control fins.