US deploys all its nuclear-capable strategic bombers to Britain for the first time amid growing tensions with Russia

Show of force: The B-1 Lancer (left), B-2 Spirit (centre) and B-52 Stratofortress (pictured right) together at RAF Fairford

 

• Two B-2 stealth bombers arrived at RAF Fairford with three B-25 Stratofortresses and three B-1 Lancers
• The fleet of nuclear-capable strategic bombers are in Gloucestershire to support planned NATO exercises
• But they also send a powerful show of strength to Putin’s Russia, in echoes of the Cold War
• In recent months NATO jets have been repeatedly scrambled to intercept Russian bombers

The US has deployed several nuclear-capable strategic bombers to Britain for the first time as tensions with Russia continue to grow.

B-1 bombers coming to Australia to deter Beijing’s South China Sea ambitions: US

 

The US military plans to station B-1 strategic bombers and surveillance aircraft in Australia as part of efforts to deter Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea, a senior US government official has revealed in comments later downplayed by the Australian government.

During testimony before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, US Defence Department Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs David Shear announced that in addition to the movement of US Marine and Army units around the Western Pacific region, “we will be placing additional Air Force assets in Australia as well, including B-1 bombers and surveillance aircraft.”