What You Need to Know: The U.S. Air Force is reactivating B-1B Lancer bombers from storage at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, citing increased demand for long-range strike capabilities.
-Originally designed as a supersonic nuclear delivery platform during the Cold War, the B-1B transitioned to conventional roles and remains vital for precision strikes.
-Though aging and costly to maintain, the Lancer fleet will stay in service until the B-21 Raider, a sixth-generation stealth bomber, becomes operational in the late 2020s.
-Whether more Lancers will be reactivated depends on operational needs as the Air Force prepares to phase out the fleet in favor of the Raider.
-The B-1B Lancer, once a crucial component of the United States Air Force’s bomber fleet, is undergoing somewhat of a revival as several aircraft are being pulled from storage at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.
The B-1B’s Future: Can This Cold War Bomber Stay Relevant?
Originally designed as a supersonic nuclear weapons delivery platform during the Cold War, the B-1B transitioned to a conventional role following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of Cold War tensions.
Currently, 45 Lancers remain in service, down from a Cold War peak of around 100. Existing Lancer bombers continue to play a crucial role in long-range strike missions, particularly against high-value targets in hostile environments, notably during the war in Iraq. The bomber’s range and payload capacity make it a unique asset in modern combat operations.
Cold War and B-1B Bomber
During the Cold War, the B-1B Lancer was conceived as a low-altitude penetrator capable of delivering nuclear weapons deep into Soviet territory.
After the Cold War, however, its mission changed dramatically, and the Air Force stripped the aircraft of its nuclear delivery capabilities due to later arms reduction agreements.
Since then, the B-1B has been optimized by the U.S. Air Force for conventional, non-nuclear warfare.
The large bomber offers commanders a unique combination of speed, range, and ability to carry a massive ordnance payload, even though the jet bomber’s role as a nuclear weapons delivery platform has disappeared. But as of late, several Lancers have left deep storage and retaken to the skies.
Out of the Boneyard and into the Air
Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, is the B-1B Lancer main boneyard, or storage site. Aircraft sent to AMARG undergo differing levels of storage and preservation, depending on their future anticipated use.
Storage procedures at AMARG include draining fuel, applying protective coatings to exposed surfaces, and installing environmental covering to prevent corrosion. AMARG’s location in Arizona is ideal for storage, as the area’s desert climate is arid, receives little rainfall, and its hard soil ensures aircraft stored there do not sink into the ground.
The Lancers at AMARG are typically placed in Type 1000 storage, a condition that keeps them in shape for rapid reactivation.
Reactivation of Old B-1B Lancers
Earlier this year, a B-1B was pulled from AMARG and returned to operational status. It had been placed in storage to save costs and serve as a reserve platform, but the Air Force determined that increasing demands for bomber availability warranted its return.
After undergoing extensive inspections and repairs to bring it up to operational standards, the jet bomber has since rejoined the U.S. Air Force active Lancer fleet.
Into the Future
The future of the B-1B Lancer fleet is an open question, though for now, the aircraft are expected to remain in service until the early 2030s. However, maintenance challenges and the growing costs of sustaining the aging fleet make its long-term viability a concern.
The Air Force plans to replace the Lancer with the B-21 Raider, a sixth-generation stealth bomber currently under development. The Raider will likely enter service with the Air Force by the late 2020s, at which point it will slowly phase out the B-1B and take over the Lancer’s long-range strike role — though it will almost certainly have a nuclear strike capability, unlike the B-1B.
Although the B-1B’s days in the Air Force are numbered, for now, at least, it plays a long-range strike role that can’t be replaced.
If more Lancers will be taken from the Boneyard and reactivated remains to be seen — but will likely depend on how many of the bombers are damaged or destroyed before the Raider comes online with the Air Force.
B-1B Lancer Bomber Photo Essay
A B-1B Lancer from the 28th Air Expeditionary Wing (EW), maneuvers to receive fuel while on a bombing mission, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
B-1B Lancer. Image: Creative Commons.
B-1B Lancer from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron stands by as another Lancer connects with a KC-135 Stratotanker for inflight refueling during a mission over the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2012. The 337th TES is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, which is headquartered at Eglin AFB. The 337th TES is responsible for operational testing of all B-1B defensive and offensive systems and weapons upgrades. (Courtesy photo/Jake Melampy)
Four U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, arrive Feb. 6, 2017, at Andersen AFB, Guam. The 9th EBS is taking over U.S. Pacific Command’s Continuous Bomber Presence operations from the 34th EBS, assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. The B-1B’s speed and superior handling characteristics allow it to seamlessly integrate in mixed force packages. These capabilities, when combined with its substantial payload, excellent radar targeting system, long loiter time and survivability, make the B-1B a key element of any joint/composite strike force. While deployed at Guam the B-1Bs will continue conducting flight operations where international law permit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger/Released)
Two B-1B Bombers. Image Credit: US Air Force.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., flies over the East China Sea, Jan. 9, 2018. The Lancer serves as the premier platform for America’s long-range bomber force, carrying the largest conventional payload of guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Reft)
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.
Damon Graham
January 20, 2025 at 11:18 am
I would love to see the oldest B-1B or even a B-1A taken down to the frame. Have the vertical stabilizer removed. The engines more incorporated into the body. Apply some of that new spay on stealth coating. Let us not forget that sharkskin stuff commercial airlines are now using. Then see how it compares to the B-21 Raider?