In late February 2026, the United States launched Operation Epic Fury, a major military campaign against Iran, following a long period of tension surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and its ballistic-missile and military capabilities. The operation began on February 28, with U.S. and Israeli forces conducting large-scale strikes against Iranian military infrastructure.
Washington described the operation as an effort to degrade Iran's military capabilities and prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The Iranian government and its supporters, however, rejected the U.S. justification and viewed the campaign as an act of aggression. As with any ongoing conflict, assessments of the military effects and the wider strategic consequences remain contested. What is clear though is that Epic Fury rapidly developed into one of the largest U.S. air campaigns of recent decades, requiring a vast network of combat, tanker, transport, intelligence and support aircraft.
The goal of this article is not to give a political point of view on this operation.
RAF Fairford: The Bomber Force
One of the most visible aspects of Epic Fury was the transformation of RAF Fairford into a major Forward Operating Base (FOB) for U.S. strategic bombers. Indeed, the Gloucestershire air base received a rarely-seen before deployment of Rockwell B-1B Lancers and Boeing B-52H Stratofortresses. At one point, 18 B-1Bs and 6 B-52Hs were concentrated at Fairford, representing a major proportion of the operational fleets of both aircraft types and coming from all the available squadrons. The bombers flew daily long-range missions towards the Middle East.
The aircraft arriving at Fairford also provided a very rare opportunity to observe their weapons configurations. The B-52s were initially photographed carrying AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles, with heavily loaded external pylons clearly visible. Later in the campaign, B-52s were seen departing with GBU-31 JDAM satellite-guided bombs instead. This change reflected the evolution of the air campaign as Iranian air defences were progressively degraded and the U.S. could employ more conventional guided bombs. The B-1B is also capable of carrying a wide range of conventional weapons, including GBU-31/GBU-38 JDAMs and AGM-158 JASSM-family weapons. Photographs taken around Fairford therefore offered a rare insight of an operational bomber force being prepared for intensive and live operations.
Strategic and tactical airlift aircraft were continuously moving personnel, spare parts, equipment and munitions between the United States, Europe and the Middle East. C-17 Globemaster IIIs, C-5M Super Galaxies and C-130 Hercules were among the aircraft associated with this wider logistical effort. C-130Js were photographed delivering JDAMs and other equipment to the bomber base.
This huge deployment of US Air Force aircraft transformed RAF Fairford from a quiet air base to a major FOB. Up to Summer 2026, B-1s, B-52 and transport aircraft conducted live and training sorties. One of the consequences of this transformation was the cancellation of the Royal International Air Tattoo show, which could not take place in 2026 due to the lack of remaining space and the operational need for an active base from the United States.
Full afterburner for this Rockwell B-1B Lancer during an Epic Fury mission
One of Minot's B-52H Stratofortress based in RAF Fairford during Epic Fury
B-1B Lancer in RAF Fairford
Back from a 16-hour mission, this B-1B has ice on the belly
GBU being transferred to the aircraft, in order to be loaded in the B-1s
Ground scenery in Fairford during Epic Fury
B-1B Lancer from the 7th Bomb Wing taking-off from RAF Fairford for an Epic Fury mission
28th Bomb Wing Lancer taking-off
Back from a mission in the Middle East, this B-1 has to be inspected to check on the bomb bays
The 28th Bomb Wing is based at Ellsworth and operates a fleet of B-1s
Taxiing to the active runway for this Ellsworth Bone
B-1B returning from a mission
Early morning arrival for CORY flight
The sleek shape of the Bone in the early morning England sun
Face-to-face in the early morning with this B-1
B-52H Stratofortress carrying AGM-158 long-range missiles
Checking on the engines of the B-52H before an Epic Fury mission
Night ops on this Minot B-52 in Fairford
Final checks before departing for a 17-hour mission
A pair of B-52H in Fairford in the evening sun
A USAF C-130J Super Hercules bringing equipment and bombs to Fairford
The Air Mobility Command C-5s played an important logistical role in Epic Fury
C-5M Super Galaxy vacating the Fairford runway
C-5 departing in the setting sun
Beautiful light for this C-5M Super Galaxy departing RAF Fairford
Day and night, B-1s performed missions from Fairford. The afterburners just light up the darkness
RAF Lakenheath: Fighters and the F-22 Detachment
Near Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath proved once again its role as the USAF European support network.
The base is home to the USAF's 48th Fighter Wing, including F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35A Lightning IIs. A large portion of the Lakenheath-based fighter force deployed towards the Middle East during Epic Fury, and this put additional pressure on the aircraft and units remaining in the UK.
Among the most interesting visitors were F-22A Raptors from the 1st Fighter Wing, based in Joint Base Langley. Twelve Raptors deployed ain Lakenheath in February 2026 as part of the wider movement of U.S. forces towards the Middle East. That deployment was particularly interesting because the Raptors did not simply replace the Lakenheath F-15E as a one-for-one trade. The F-22's primary role is air superiority rather than the conventional strike mission for which the F-15E is optimised. But with Lakenheath's fighter units heavily deployed to the Middle East, the presence of Raptors provided an additional high-end fighter capability in Europe and preserved a degree of combat-air capacity around the UK. Some of the F-22s also moved to the Middle East, while others remained in the UK for a longer period before returning to the United States.
Lakenheath residents consist in a fleet of F-15E Strike Eagles
The 1st Fighter Wing based in Langley AFB deployed F-22 Raptors to Lakenheath
A 1st Fighter Wing Raptor landing
RAF Mildenhall: Keeping the Bombers Flying
Around 70 miles east of Fairford, RAF Mildenhall became another strategic base at the heart of the operation.
The base is home to the USAF's 100th Air Refueling Wing, operating KC-135R/T Stratotankers. During Epic Fury, Mildenhall became particularly busy with tanker movements, with numerous additional KC-135s visiting from U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard units. At times, more than twenty visiting tankers were reported at the base in addition to aircraft belonging to the 100th ARW.
For the B-1Bs and B-52Hs operating from Fairford, aerial refuelling was fundamental. Although both bombers have long range, tanker support allows them to remain airborne for much longer periods and to carry out long-distance missions without having to establish additional FOB closer to the conflict zone. The fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers were used to perform this mission and flew daily missions in support of the operation.
Mildenhall is also home of the 67th Special Operations Squadron, nicknamed Night Owls, and equipped with the MC-130J Commando II aircraft and MV-22B Osprey. Notably, during our visit to the base there were no movements, since most training are performed during the night. But what could be seen was that, in line with the US Air Force and government policy to reduce the ability to track their aircraft around the world, all of the MC-130J had their markings removed. No registration, no squadron identification possible.
US Air Forces in Europe KC-135R conducting routine circuits in Mildenhall
One of the 100 ARW KC-135R taxiing back to its stand in Mildenhall
Night landing for this KC-135R back from a mission
Day and night, maintainers keep the fleet of KC-135R ready for engagement
The KC-135 can be equipped with rigid boom as well as hose-and-drogue configuration
The 190th ARW is one of two Air National Guard units in Kansas
Mildenhall-based MC-130J now have all identification marking hidden
Face-to-face with a local resident in front of the Mildenhall scenery
67th Special Operation Squadron MC-130J Commando II in Mildenhall
Supporting Epic Fury from NATO countries
Although NATO and U.S. allied countries were not directly involved in the conflict, they nevertheless became part of the wider operational theatre surrounding the war in Iran by hosting U.S. aircraft on their territory.
KC-135s were deployed to numerous European countries, where they conducted aerial refuelling missions in support of U.S. aircraft movements. These included not only bomber operations, but also the transit and deployment of fighter squadrons moving between Europe and the Middle East.
During a trip to Sofia for Exercise Thracian Blade, we were able to observe around a dozen U.S. Air Force KC-135s operating from Bulgaria. Most of these aircraft had their identifying markings removed or obscured, reflecting the U.S. military's increasing efforts to limit the amount of information that can be gathered from open-source observation and to make the movements of individual aircraft more difficult to track.
Unidentified USAF KC-135R stationned in Sofia, Bulgaria during Epic Fury 2026
