Three US Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers touched down at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire today, as Washington prepares what
Donald Trump has described as 'the big one' against Iran.
Sir Keir Starmer has approved 'defensive US action' against Iranian missile sites launched from UK bases.
The long-range strategic aircraft are capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, making them among the most powerful conventional bombers in the US arsenal.
One of the arriving Rockwell B-1 Lancer bombers bore the name 'Symphony of Destruction', painted alongside artwork on the aircraft's fuselage.
The jet is flown by Colonel Brian M Busachur, commander of the US Air Force's largest B-1 bomber group. Another aircraft carried the nickname '
Alien With an Attitude'.
Their arrival in Britain comes as the
Pentagon promises a 'surge' in strikes against Iran, with the UK airbase expected to host a growing fleet of American bombers amid fears the conflict could escalate dramatically in the coming days.
A fourth B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at
RAF Fairford on Friday evening.
The US bomber arrived after Western officials confirmed on Wednesday that the aircraft were expected at the base in the coming days and that Britain was ready to accept them.
The strategic bombers, costing up to $2billion each, can carry out long-range missions without detection while carrying the world's most devastating missiles.
Pictured: A US Airforce Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber named 'Symphony of destruction' touches down. The plane is flown by Col Brian M Busachur, commander of the biggest B1 group in US Air Force
Another plane was dubbed 'alien with an attitude'
A US Air Force C-5 Galaxy stands on the apron at RAF Fairford after it and a B1 Lancer bomber landed Friday night
Pictured: USAF crew unloading the C-5 Super Galaxy cargo plane at RAF Fairford last night. The biggest plane in the US armoury, its cargo bay can carry two M1 Abrams main battle tanks, six Apache helicopter gunships or up to 36 military vehicles
They weigh 86 tonnes and are the fastest bombers in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph.
A C-5 Super Galaxy cargo plane was also pictured at the base Friday night.
The biggest plane in the US armory, its cargo bay can carry two M1 Abrams main battle tanks, six Apache helicopter gunships or up to 36 military vehicles.
It flew in to Gloucestershire from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas on Friday ahead of the first B1-bomber to land from the 7 Bomb Wing that is based there.
Sources have suggested that Saturday could be D-day for a new gigantic bombardment - exactly a week after America and
Israel first attacked Iran as part of 'Operation Epic Fury'.