Key Points and Summary on B-1B Lancer Combat Record – Originally designed as a low-level, supersonic nuclear bomber to penetrate Soviet airspace, the B-1B Lancer has evolved into a crucial standoff weapons platform for the U.S. Air Force.
-Lacking the stealth of modern bombers, the “Bone” would be highly vulnerable in contested environments against advanced air defenses.
-Its continued relevance is due to its significant payload and long range, allowing it to launch cruise missiles from a safe distance.
-The B-1B made its combat debut in 1998’s Operation Desert Fox and will serve as an interim strike platform until it is replaced by the B-21 Raider.
B-1B Lancer Bomber Goes to War
The B-1B Lancer bomber is a long-range, variable-sweep bomber that entered service with the United States Air Force in the mid-1980s.
During the latter stage of the Cold War, the Lancer’s role was to fly fast and low beneath Soviet radar systems, later emerging, dropping ordnance, and speeding safely away.
As a part of that mission, the Lancer lacks radar, nor does it carry air-to-air weaponry.
Despite the jet bomber’s large size, its radar cross-section —a measure of detectability by adversary radar —is rather low from the frontal aspect. However, the Lancer’s large engines emit a great deal of heat, making the bomber a large target overall.
Against modern air defenses, and arguably even those of the 1980s vintage, the B-1B Lancer would face difficulties, as it lacks the overall, comprehensive stealth typically found in fifth-generation aircraft.
In a dedicated environment with robust anti-access/area denial defenses, the Lancer would be unlikely to survive. Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, explained that if the U.S. Air Force sent non-stealthy bombers like the Lancer into those environments, “you lose a lot of them.”
To remain combat-effective — and to bring pilots home — the Lancer would need to stay well behind the area being contested and loiter just out of range of enemy air defenses. In this role as a stand-off platform, the Lancer, thanks to relatively recent upgrades, can launch a variety of stand-off munitions well away from harm’s way.
Combat Debut in Iraq
The B-1B Lancer made its combat debut on Dec. 18, 1998, as part of Operation Desert Fox from Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. These four-day operations resulted from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s lack of compliance with the United Nations and its UNSCOM inspectors.
“The 37th Bomb Squadron from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and the 9th Bomb Squadron from Dyess AFB, Texas, working alongside the U.S. Navy and Royal Air Force F-14s, EA-6Bs, and F/A-18s, supplied four B-1s – a pair from each squadron – to execute the mission,” Air Force Global Strike Command explains.
“During the operation, crews dropped 188 MK-82 500-pound unguided bombs on the target, a total of 94,000 pounds of weaponry, all while the B-1s were taking on anti-aircraft artillery fire from the enemy. According to planners, the mission was a success, causing significant destruction of Iraqi military infrastructure and degradation of their missile development program.”
B-1B Lancer: No Nukes, No Problem
Though the B-1B Lancer was initially envisioned as a nuclear weapon delivery platform with which to incinerate targets of value across the Soviet Union, that mission was no longer needed following the collapse of that empire. Instead, it delivered non-nuclear munitions.
“During an interview recounting the mission, retired Col. John Martin, one of the 37th BS aviators for Desert Fox, stated, “It was a surreal moment. At the time, it was tough to grasp the importance of the mission. We just cranked the jets, blasted off, bared our fangs and put steel on target like we had trained to do so many times while at Ellsworth.”
A U.S. Air Force colonel summarized the new role the B-1B Lancer fills compared to its Cold War days. “I always like to highlight that the B-1 was never asked to accomplish its designed mission of nuclear strike, thankfully,” said Colonel Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander. “Instead, we took the B-1 and modified it into a platform that has provided significant options for long range strike. Soon, we’ll have the luxury of taking the first B-21 and determining its future.”
Today, however, the B-1B Lancer remains an interim platform that continues to serve in the United States Air Force ahead of the B-21 Raider’s entry. The sixth-generation stealth bomber is expected to enter initial limited service sometime next year, according to reports. It will eventually replace both the B-1B Lancer and its more immediate predecessor, the B-2 Spirit, another stealth bomber.
Despite the lack of stealth features, the B-1B Lancer benefits from a relatively large fuel capacity, which provides the bomber with great range and the ability to loiter in the air for extended periods. When operating with more advanced assets, such as the F-35 stealth fighter, which can protect the Lancer inside electronically protected bubbles, there may still be a role for the bomber, despite its impending sunset once the B-21 Raider comes into more widespread service.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
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