Marking 40 years of service, the B-1B Lancer remains a cornerstone of US conventional airpower, capable of long-range strikes, soon to be phased out as the B-21 Raider enters service.
The United States Air Force’s Rockwell B-1B Lancer hits a significant milestone this month. June 29, 2025, will mark the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the Cold War-era long-range strategic bomber at Dyess Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. It had been four decades since the first B-1B, nicknamed “The Star of Abilene,” was delivered, marking a new era for the base, which had previously operated the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
“For decades, the B-1 has been the foundation of our long-range strike capability,” said Lt. Col. Brian Guyette, 28th Bomb Squadron commander.
“At the formal training unit for the B-1, we take pride in forging the world’s best combat aviators who will carry forward the proud legacy that has defined B-1 operations for the last 40 years.”
Lancers operating from Dyess took part in the first CONUS-to-CONUS combat mission just last year, in February 2024. An undisclosed number of bombers assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing departed from the air base on February 1, flew to the Middle East, struck ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria, and returned without landing 34 hours later, on February 3.
That mission highlighted the versatility of the B-1 B.
“When it comes to penetrating enemy defenses and delivering the final blow before returning home again, there is no aircraft or crews finer than the B-1 and the Airmen that support them,” added Col. Seth Spanier, 7th Bomb Wing commander.
“With in-flight refueling and advanced targeting capabilities, we can ensure bombs hit their target and aircrews return safely, without the need for forward basing. It’s a proven model; our adversaries know it, and our Airmen demonstrate it. The B-1 has always been and remains a testament to the dominance of US airpower.”
Dyess AFB assumed nuclear alert status in October 1986 and became part of Global Strike Command in October 2015.
What Is the Purpose of the B-1B Lancer?
While the B-1 Lancer was initially designed for nuclear capabilities, the aircraft was switched exclusively to a conventional combat role in the mid-1990s under the Conventional Mission Upgrade Program. This was brought on by the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. President George H.W. Bush ordered the $3 billion refit, which included the removal of nuclear arming and fuzing hardware. At the same time, additional modifications were made under the New START treaty to prevent atomic weapon pylons from being attached to the aircraft.
The conversion process was completed in 2011, and Russian officials were allowed to inspect the plane yearly to verify compliance.
Since converting to a conventional bomber, the Air Force has employed the B-1B Lancer fleet in countless sorties. While six B-1s flew just two percent of the strike missions during Operation Allied Force in 1996, those aircraft dropped 20 percent of the ordnance. During Operation Enduring Freedom, B-1Bs flew two percent of sorties and dropped more than 40 percent of precision weapons.
The aging aircraft have put in a lot of miles, and B-1s have been nearly continuously deployed in combat operations over Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.
Today, the B-1B is not armed with nuclear weapons, but it is still capable of carrying the AGM-86B air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) and the AGM-69 short-range attack missile. The B-1s feature three internal weapon bays and six external hardpoints over the fuselage. The aircraft has a maximum internal weapons payload of 75,000 pounds and a maximum external weapons payload of 59,000 pounds.
Although the Air Force will begin retiring the B-1 later this decade as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider enters service, the remaining fleet of around 45 Lancers has been upgraded and enhanced.
“The B-1’s ability to deploy quickly, operate at supersonic speeds, and carry the largest conventional payload makes it inherently unpredictable to adversaries and a flexible combat asset,” said Stillwell.
“Whether it’s integrating with our allies or responding to our adversaries, the B-1 enables a forward presence alongside critical strategic reach. Our adversaries never know when or where a B-1 will show up, but they all know precisely what it can do when it does.”
Dyess AFB Is Ready to Retire the B-1B Lancer
When the B-1B Lancer retires from service in the coming decade, it will also mark a turning point for Dyess AFB, which has been named the third base to receive the B-1 Raider, following Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, and Whiteman AFB, Missouri.
The former is the other permanent home for the US Air Force’s B-1B Lancers, while the latter maintains the entire Northrop B-2 Spirit fleet.
Current plans call for the Air Force to acquire at least 100 advanced bombers, although some military analysts have called for the service to purchase at least 200 Raiders.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Reft.
