Key Points and Summary – Amid the hype over the B-2 and B-21, the Air Force’s B-1B Lancer may get a new mission as a “Super” B-1B armed with hypersonic missiles.
-New external heavy-stores pylons funded in the FY 2026 budget could let the bomber carry ARRW and HACM weapons, dramatically boosting its reach and punch.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer sits on the flightline at Lajes Field, Azores, Aug. 22, 2025. The aircraft landed for a hot pit refuel during a Bomber Task Force Europe mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cristina Oliveira)
-Advocates say that would help the United States close the hypersonic gap with China and Russia and keep the aging B-1B relevant as either an operational striker or a dedicated testbed, even as questions linger over cost, survivability, and long-term retirement plans.
Can the B-1B Lancer Soon Launch Hypersonic Weapons?
With all of the recent talk about the B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider stealth bombers, it seems defense analysts are forgetting about the trusty B-1B Lancer, a fast and agile long-range strike airplane with a sterling combat record.
The Lancer’s principal sin is that the airplane is not stealthy. But what if I told you the B-1B could be outfitted with hypersonic missiles? The use of ultra-high-speed projectiles may give the Lancer a new lease on life. The B-1B could then answer the call against Russia and China if needed, or be the go-to airplane for further attacks against Iran, if Tehran insists on hostility even after Operation Midnight Hammer.
The B-1B Is Becoming ‘Super’
Plans have emerged for a “Super” B-1B outfitted with new Load Adaptable Modular pylons. The six hardpoints would be capable of hosting 5,000-pound and potentially 7,500-pound stations to boost the Lancer’s external payload by as much as 50 percent.
This Will Enable the B-1B to Deploy Hypersonic Missiles
Hypersonic missiles would be a good match for the “Bone” bomber, which already flies faster than Mach 1 and has variable sweep wings for better maneuverability.
The B-1B could use some good news after a chorus of reports that it is too old, expensive to keep in the air, and eclipsed by the B-2 and B-21 in stealth and performance.
The Super updates could breathe new life into the program. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 defense budget calls for an investment of $50 million into the External Heavy-Stores Pylon project.
Possible Test Bed for Two Different Types of Hypersonics
The initiative would enable the B-1B to carry the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). The Air Force wants to invest nearly $390 million into the ARRW, making it the first hypersonic weapon in the service’s inventory.
The ultra-rapid boost glide missile would have speeds above Mach 5 and be able to maneuver in-air. The ARRW could also be deployed on the B-52 .
Further, the Air Force is considering the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). A B-1B equipped with both the ARRW and HACM could pack a double-barrel hypersonic punch that would make adversaries quake in fear.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, decends for landing at Ørland Air Base, Norway, during a Bomber Task Force Europe deployment, Aug. 9, 2025. The BTF mission highlights how we deliver effects rapidly across dynamic and contested environments through integrated training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tambri Cason)
Catching Up to China and Russia
It’s about time the Air Force is considering adding hypersonic weapons to its bombers. America has fallen behind in hypersonics relative to Russia and China.
Beijing’s next-generation air-launched Mach-6 YJ-21 has armed Chinese bombers since 2023. Russia deploys the modernized Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, which is just as lethal and fast.
B-1B suppliers are enthusiastic about the bomber deploying either the ARRW or HACM. “This initiative saved over two years of development time, speeding increased combat capability to the flight line,” said Troy Dawson, Vice President of Bombers Development at Boeing. “It ensures the B-1 remains central to America’s bomber fleet for years.”
Will the B-1B Avoid Retirement?
It remains to be seen whether hypersonics could really add years to the B-1B’s service life. The Air Force sorely needs to deploy hypersonics, and the Super model could deliver that capability, but whether the old warbird is the cheapest or most efficient option is not clear.
The B-1B dates back to the 1970s—the B-1A was a modern marvel, a Mach 2.2 bomber that turned heads, but it endured cost overruns and schedule slips that led to cancellation under President Jimmy Carter. It took a new president, Ronald Reagan, to ensure that the Air Force would receive the B-1B. But air defenses have changed in the decades since, and even an updated Super Lancer may not be survivable in a modern threat environment.
However, serving as a technology demonstrator for hypersonics would also be an important role—one essential to keep up with the Chinese and Russians in the development of ultra-high-speed projectiles.
B-1B Lancer. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Air Force seems to be putting money where its mouth is, but the recent government shutdown has placed defense acquisition programs on pause. The congressional impasse finally ended this week, but the National Defense Authorization Act must still be concocted for FY 26.
A new National Defense Strategy from the Department of Defense should also reveal some clues about the future of the B-1B—and about which hypersonic missile model the Air Force will choose.
In any case, the B-1B program is getting a needed boost. The Air Force requires air-launched hypersonic missiles, and the Lancer can test them repeatedly with the new pylons installed. This kind of research and development is required to allow the Air Force to update its warfighting prowess for the 2030s.
China and Russia have jumped into the lead, but the Americans will soon catch up to them, thanks to a hypersonic-equipped Super B-1B.
In Three Words: B-1B Goes Hypersonic?
Perhaps the Lancer can avoid full retirement with this capability. The Air Force will need all the bombers it can put into the air if conflict arises in Europe or East Asia, and allies will breathe easier knowing that the Americans can launch hypersonics at will.
B-1B firepower is a welcome addition to this era of potential kinetic missile fights.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Author of now over 3,000 articles on defense issues, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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