Three US B-2 stealth bombers arrived in Britain overnight on a secret mission under the callsign “DEATH”.

RAF Fairford welcomed the trio of strategic bombers which arrived under the cover of darkness.

B-2 Spirits are some the most recognisable aircraft in the world thanks their sleek flying wing design.

The planes area capable of carrying nuclear weapons and can carry a payload of up 50,000lbs.

Three aircraft arrived using the callsigns DEATH 11, DEATH 12 and DEATH 13.

Ministry of Defence sources confirmed the planes are not a “secret bombing mission” to Daily Star Online.

B-2 Bomber
Three US B-2 bombers arrived at RAF Fairford for drills with NATO

The bombers arrival was heralded by a small crowd of visitors.

Warplane fans popped out to see the arrival of the third plane as the sun rose over the airfield in Gloucestershire.

US Air Force officials and Ministry of Defence chiefs confirmed the planes have flown in for training missions in Europe.

And their arrival was heralded as a U2 spy plane flew in to RAF Fairford.

B-2 bombers
B-2 bombers can carry payloads of up to 50,000lbs

RAF Fairford is used the by US Air Force and is one of the few places in the world that can house the stealth bombers.

It has specially built climate-controlled hangers for the near £2 billion warplanes.

The airfield also a runway long enough for the huge warplanes to take-off from.

B-2s have a wingspan of 69ft, and can fly at near supersonic speeds of Mach 0.95, or over 700mph.

B-2 bombers
B-2 bombers are some of the most iconic warplanes in the world

The bombers can fly at altitudes of 50,000 feet with a range of more than 6,900 miles – being used to strike in theatre in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

US forces have 20 of the planes, which were designed during the height of the Cold War.

In a statement, the MoD said: “The United States Air Force will be completing a temporary deployment of three B-2 aircraft and support personnel to RAF Fairford until September 19.

“Whilst deployed to the UK the aircraft will conduct a series of training activities in Europe, whilst also completing the first non-US F-35 training (RAF F-35s from 617 Sqn, RAF Marham) with the US B-2s.”

B-2 bombers
B-2 bombers had previously flown over RAF Fairford for the Royal International Air Tattoo

RAF Fairford has been used by the USAF since 1950 due to the 3,000 metre runaway being able to handle long range bombers.

It is also the home of one of the largest military airshows in the world, the Royal International Air Tattoo.

In a statement, US European Command said: “A Bomber Task Force deployment of B-2 Spirit stealth bomber aircraft, airmen and support equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., have arrived in the US European Command area of responsibility for a deployment to conduct theatre integration and flying training.

“The aircraft will operate out of RAF Fairford, England.”