Boeing

The Bone

Nicknamed “The Bone,” the B-1B Lancer is a long-range, multi-mission, supersonic conventional bomber, which has served the United States Air Force since 1985. The aircraft is on track to continue flying, at current demanding operations tempo, out to 2040 and beyond, and Boeing partners with the Air Force to keep the B-1 mission ready. Originally designed for nuclear capabilities, the B-1 switched to an exclusively conventional combat role in the mid-1990s. In 1999, during Operation Allied Force, six B-1s flew 2 percent of the strike missions, yet dropped 20 percent of the ordnance, and during Operation Enduring Freedom the B-1 flew on 2 percent of the sorties while dropping over 40 percent of the precision weapons. The B-1 has been nearly continuously deployed in combat operations over Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.

B-1 Snapshot

B-1B Lancer Infographic.

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B-1B Lancer Technical Specifications

Function Long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber
Power plant Four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engine with afterburner
Thrust 30,000-plus pounds with afterburner, per engine
Wingspan 137 ft (41.8 m) extended forward, 79 ft (24.1 m) swept aft
Length 146 ft (44.5 meters)
Height 34 ft (10.4 meters)
Weight Approximately 190,000 lbs (86,183 kg)
Max Takeoff Weight 477,000 lbs (216,634 kg)
Fuel Capacity 265,274 lbs (120,326 kg)
Payload 75,000 lbs internal (34,019 kg), 50,000 lbs (22,679 kg)
Speed 900-plus mph (Mach 1.2 at sea level)
Range Intercontinental
Ceiling More than 30,000 ft (9,144 m)
Crew 4 (aircraft commander, copilot, and two weapon systems officers)

B-1B Lancer Milestones

Feature Stories

A B-1B Lancer takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, Dec. 4. The flight crew conducted an external release demonstration with a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile attached to an external pylon.

Weapons drop demo prepares the B-1 to carry the payloads of the future

December 9, 2020 in Defense

The Boeing B-1 recently performed an external weapons drop validating that the aircraft is capable of delivering future ordinance externally.

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B-1B fleet now equipped with Integrated Battle Station

B-1B fleet now equipped with Integrated Battle Station

September 30, 2020 in Defense

An eight-year project to install the Integrated Battle Station on the B-1B Lancer fleet was recently completed ahead of schedule.

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B-1 of a Kind

B-1 of a Kind

April 30, 2015 in Defense

The B-1 Bomber team celebrates 30 years since the delivery of the first Bomber to Dyess Air Force Base.

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Bad to the Bone

Bad to the Bone

January 14, 2013 in Defense

For 30 years, the B-1B Lancer, nicknamed the "bone," has provided speed, endurance, precision and capacity that no other bomber platform can match.

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B-1B Lancer

Air Force Pilot is the First to Log 5,000 Flight Hours in a B-1B

July 17, 2013 in Defense

Meet Lt. Col. Tim Schepper, who has flown B-1B Lancers for 22 years, spending more than 208 days in B-1 cockpits.

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B-1B Lancer Customer

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Since the U.S. Air Force received its first B-1B in 1984, the bomber has served the country as both a conventional and nuclear strike option.