According to two British news reports, the US Air Force will draw down uniformed airmen and US civilian personnel at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. The UK Ministry of Defence said the drawdown will also affect some 100 British citizens. The BBC reports that the US will keep Fairford on its designated standby list of bases that it can use within 24 to 48 hours notice. Fairford served as a staging base for B-52 bombers. (This Is Gloucester report)
As the threat of Iranian-made drones grew, the Air Force rushed last year to equip F-15E Strike Eagles in the Middle East with a cheap, cost-effective way of defeating them. The service fielded the new capability in roughly a week.
