Four of the huge warplanes have been patrolling European skies since landing at RAF Fairford - this is the message they are sending
Giant American B-52 bombers are taking to the skies across Europe after spending weeks based in the UK, in a “signal to Russia”.
The manoeuvres are routine – but also a signal to Vladimir Putin of Western allies’ unity and as crunch talks continue over ending the war in Ukraine.
Four B-52s landed at Gloucestershire’s RAF Fairford in February, after rumours swirled about their deployment following the earlier arrival of 747 and 767 supply planes.
Videos were shared across social media of the huge eight-engined warplanes charging across the skies, flanked by two F-35 fighter jets.
They flew in Sweden, Finland and Norway on Friday. Missions have included a dynamic targeting exercise over the Baltic Sea with Nato F-35s, and a live weapons drop with Finnish F/A-18 Hornets, according to the US Air Force.
The bombers were also recorded around Israel in recent weeks.
The B-52 Stratofortress is a strategic bomber that can carry up to 70,000lbs of weapons and has a typical combat range of about 8,800 miles without aerial refuelling.
It has seen 70 years of service and was a stalwart of the Cold War, patrolling the skies carrying nuclear weapons.
A US Air Force B-52H lands at Fairford on 27 February (Photo: US European Command on X)
A Bulgarian MiG-29 jet fighter escorts a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber during a training, as part of NATO's enhanced vigilance activities, in Bulgarian airspace, in this handout image released on March 5, 2025. Bulgarian Ministry of Defence/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
A Bulgarian MiG-29 escorts a US Air Force B-52 during a training mission, in a picture released this month (Photo: Bulgarian Ministry of Defence via Reuters)
US European command (Eucom) said the deployment of American forces in Europe “demonstrates ongoing commitment to Nato allies, ensuring a free and peaceful Europe”.
The missions are designed to “familiarise aircrew with operations in different geographic combatant command areas of operations to enable access and prevent conflict.”
However, as talks with Putin continue, and the US’s relationship with its allies is under strain, they also have a symbolic role.
Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at defence think tank Rusi, said the bomber deployments to RAF Fairford were a “regular feature of US Air Force reassurance and deterrence deployments”, designed to both reassure allies and “send a signal to Russia and other potential adversaries like Iran about US global power projection capabilities.”
It comes amid a growing rift in the relationship between the US and Europe, with Trump wavering in his support for Ukraine,floating the idea of seizing Greenland from ally Denmark , and hinting at leaving Nato.
The view from an American B-52H taking part in Fortress Hail, a Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission that included a dynamic targeting exercise over the Baltic Sea (Photo: US Air Forces in Europe)
Fighters escort a B-52 on a Bomber Task Force 25 mission (Photo: US European Command)
Bronk said that the air manoeuvres would help to reassure allies that the US was still engaged in joint security and ready to defend them. “In the current transatlantic political climate, the aircraft are clearly being used to send signals about US military presence and commitment to Nato,” he said.
“However, it is worth remembering that these deployments are usually scheduled many months in advance, so what we are seeing in terms of ongoing operations to fly with the air forces of various allied nations across Europe, and the Middle East, may not be a direct response to any particular recent political shifts, but rather a part of longer-term planned exercises.”
One European defence insider said that the US B-52 flights over Europe were part of a “balance of deterrence and reassurance”, giving allies comfort that the US was engaged in their security, and simultaenously acting as a warning to Russia that Nato is strong and prepared.
“The US has trained regularly in the Nordics for a long while, but the activity level has definitely been ramped up after Feb 2022, and especially with Finland and Sweden joining Nato,” they said.
“In addition to these overflights, Norway has had two aircraft carrier visits over the last two years, as well as solid Allied presence in exercises such as Nordic Response and the recent Joint Viking, which finished just a couple of days ago.”