Summary and Key Points: Steve Balestrieri, a national security columnist and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer, evaluates the B-1B Lancer’s decisive role in Operation Epic Fury.
-Flying non-stop from the U.S. mainland, three Lancers utilized their 70,000-lb internal payload to strike command centers and missile sites following the decapitation of Iran’s senior leadership, including Ayatollah Khamenei.
B-1B Lancer Bomber with External Weapons. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force.
-This 19FortyFive report analyzes the B-1B’s evolution through five tactical phases, exploring the $50 million FY 2026 LAM pylon program and the integration of AGM-183A hypersonic weapons as a critical bridge to the B-21 Raider’s full operational capability.
Operation Epic Fury: Why the B-1B Lancer Bomber Arrival Confirms Iranian Air Defense Collapse
The USAF used three B-1B Lancer strategic bombers for long-range strike operations against Iranian targets, often flying non-stop from the U.S. mainland.
The B-1B, carrying the largest conventional payload, is used to strike command centers, ammunition depots, and proxy forces.
A US official confirmed to the Axios news site that the bombers struck “above-ground ballistic missile and command and control sites in Iran.”
While the US has also used the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, the use of the B-1B Lancer is significant, as it confirms that, despite the mission’s very early timeframe, air superiority over Iran is now established.
The “BONE” is not stealthy and can be easily tracked by radar over the target area.
US Air Power Decapitates Iran’s Senior Leadership
Over the past weekend, the combined US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s critical government centers and military facilities have already incurred a significant list for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s leadership.
B-1B Lancer Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
B-1B Lancer. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
B-1B Lancer. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Among those killed in what was described as an “all hands on deck” meeting of the nation’s most senior officials were Iran’s clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Defence Council secretary Ali Shamkhani, Defence Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander General Mohammad Pakpour.
The Israelis announced that 40 senior figures died in the initial strike on the Iranian government’s leadership compound. The US had initially put that number much lower.
CENTCOM announced that a fourth US soldier, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries.
The B-1B Lancer Is Old, But Remains A Formidable Weapon
The B-1B Lancer has evolved from a 1980s supersonic nuclear penetration bomber into a premier conventional, long-range precision strike platform. Today, the “BONE,” as it is affectionately called, is being used in ways it was never designed for.
It transitioned from high-altitude, high-speed design (B-1A) to low-level, stealth-optimized flight (B-1B), ultimately dropping nuclear roles in favor of conventional, high-payload, and hypersonic weapon testing capabilities.
Together with the B-52 and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, they still pack a mighty punch against America’s enemies.
While the B-1B and the B-2 are slated for retirement, they both can still deliver an incredible amount of ordnance on targets.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., runs final checks before takeoff of a training mission in support of Bomber Task Force 25-1 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 24, 2025. The BTF missions are designed to showcase the Pacific Air Force’s ability to deter, deny, and dominate any influence or aggression from adversaries or competitors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt Robert M. Trujillo)
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, prepares to taxi onto the runway at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, prior to a mission in support of Bomber Task Force 25-1, Feb. 27, 2025. Bomber missions demonstrate the credibility of U.S. Air Forces to address a complex and uncertain security environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alec Carlberg)
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, flies over the Pacific Ocean during a training sortie that included practicing low-level bomb runs, low-level maneuvering and high-altitude standoff weapons employment August 9, 2017. The strategic global strike capability of these aerial platforms deters potential adversaries and provides reassurance to our allies and partners that the United States is capable of defending its national security interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexa Ann Henderson)
The B-21 Raider Will Replace The B-1B and the B-2 Spirit
The B-21 Raider was officially unveiled in December 2022 and is currently in low-rate initial production (LRIP) after making its maiden flight last November. U.S. Air Force officials say the B-21 Raider is a “dual nuclear and conventionally capable, stealth, penetrating, long-range strike platform.” The B-21 will replace the aging B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit in the coming decade.
The B-21 Raider is named after the Doolittle Raiders of World War II, an Army land bomber squadron that took off from an aircraft carrier and bombed Japan during the darkest days of WWII.
However, until the B-21 Raiders are ready, the Air Force’s triad will continue, and although the Lancer isn’t a stealth bomber, it still packs an incredible punch. The US recently sent a small fleet of B-1Bs to Guam as a deterrent. But first, let’s look at the journey of the B-1B and how she keeps evolving.
B-1 Lancer’s Mission History
The B-1 bomber was officially named the Lancer, but pilots call it the “BONE,” a nickname derived from the spelling B-One. It was first developed in the 1970s as a supersonic replacement for the B-52 Stratofortress.
A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing takes off for a Red Flag 21-3 training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 21, 2021. RF-Nellis 21-3 is unlike any previous Red Flags, as the 414th Combat Training Squadron builds upon the most challenging Red Flags in recent history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flies within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 15, 2024. The B-52H provides strategic options and flexibility to U.S. and coalition senior leaders with the aircraft’s ability to employ a wide range of weapons with precision and deliver a decisive response to adversaries who threaten peace and security across the region. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Her mission was to penetrate Soviet airspace flying low and fast, and when approaching a nuclear weapon target, pop up to an appropriate altitude, deliver her atomic bombs, and then drop her altitude using her speed to get away.
The original design could fly at speeds of Mach 2.2 (1,688 mph). However, President Carter cut the program in 1977 due to its high cost, the introduction of the AGM-86 cruise missile, which flew at the same essential speed and distance, and the development of the B-2 stealth bomber.
Carter said, “The B-1 bomber is an example of a proposed system that should not be funded and would waste taxpayers’ dollars.”
President Reagan On The B-1B And The B-2 Programs
However, President Reagan faced the same dilemma as Carter: Should we develop the B-1 for the short term or wait for the B-2 stealth bomber? He decided to develop both programs.
Reagan restarted the program in 1981, and some changes were made. The payload was increased to 74,000 pounds, an improved radar was added, the radar cross-section was reduced, and the inlets were reduced in size, lowering the top speed to Mach 1.2 (920 mph).
The B-1B was fitted with the APQ-164 multimode radar instead of the APQ-144 scanning radar and the APQ-146 terrain-following radar of the B-1A.
The changes made the “BONE” more of a bomb truck conducting precision air strikes, rather than a nuclear deterrent.
The first B-1B bomber, “The Star of Abilene,” was delivered in 1985. By 1988, all 100 orders had been delivered, and production had stopped. The US had a bomber force that could penetrate Soviet airspace and take out targets inside the Soviet Union in a nuclear confrontation.
The Collapse Of The Soviet Union And The Effect On the B-1B
Around the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the signing of the START nuclear arms treaty with Russia, President George H.W. Bush ordered a $3 billion refit so that the B-1B eliminated the ability to carry nuclear weapons.
The B-1 Lancer was now only a conventional bomber. However, early use of the 40 conventional bomb-carrying variants encountered engine fire issues. For that reason, as well as staying on nuclear alert status, the B-1Bs were held out of Desert Storm, and the B-52s were used instead.
The Five Phases Of Evolution of the B-1 Lancer
Colonel Joseph Kramer, then-7th Bomb Wing commander at Dyess AFB, Texas, in an interview with the service’s media, explained the five historical phases of the B-1’s tactical role.
“It was initially designed to carry nuclear weapons. It would approach its target at low altitude, then climb to a designated altitude and drop its payload. Its stealth and speed would be a major factor in using this tactic.”
“Its second phase would be the traditional tactic of dropping conventional bombs (dumb bombs) that weren’t very precise.”
“In its third phase, the B-1 employed 2,000-pound guided bombs that landed within 10’s of feet of its target.”
Fitted with 2,000 lb GBU-31 JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munition), eight B-1s dropped close to 40 percent of the aerial ordinance during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. 3,900 JDAMs were dropped during the operation by B-1s. JDAMs were also used by B-1s over Iraq during the Second Gulf War.
“In its fourth phase, which was very effective in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations, the B-1 carried an advanced targeting pod that permitted it to loiter overhead and strike individual vehicles with precision.”
“In its fifth and current phase of operations, the B-1 can launch guided cruise missiles like the long-range guided anti-ship missile (LRASM) hundreds of miles from its target and strike it with precision.”
“The last phase will facilitate the transition to the new B-21 Raider in the near future,” he added.
The B-1B “Weapon’s Truck” Upgrade
The Air Force plans to keep the B-1Bs in service until 2038, when the B-21 Raider stealth bomber is expected to enter service in full.
The Air Force is launching the External Heavy-Stores Pylon (LAM) program, with over $50 million requested in FY 2026 to equip B-1B Lancers with Load Adaptable Modular (LAM) pylons.
These external pylons restore and upgrade dormant external hardpoints to carry larger, modern standoff missiles (like LRASM and JASSM) and hypersonic weapons, boosting payload capacity and “volume of fires” to bridge capability gaps before the B-21 Raider is fully operational.
By expanding the number of existing standoff weapons the B-1B can carry—such as the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and its stablemate, the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM)—the Air Force says it can “mitigate transition risk of the Air Force bomber fleet before the emergence of the B-21 as a combat bomber.”
This program increases the B-1B’s total missile capacity by roughly 45,000 lbs, allowing it to carry 24 or more internal weapons while adding significant external carriage.
The War Zone reported that the FY 2026 budget also referenced the “Hypersonic Integration Program,” which apparently showcased the Lancer’s ability to “execute a captive carry of a 5,000-pound class store and the release of a proven weapon shape from a Load Adaptable Modular (LAM) pylon.”
The AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon is a hypersonic weapon that uses a boost-glide system, meaning that when it returns to Earth after achieving near-space altitudes, it reaches speeds greater than Mach 5. While China and Russia have hypersonic missiles launched from ground launchers, this air-deployed missile would make them inherently more dangerous.
The “BONE” Packs An Incredible Punch
“The BONE” remains a critical asset in the U.S. Air Force’s bomber force, along with the B-52 Stratofortress and the B-2 Spirit, and can carry massive conventional payloads and conduct long-range strike missions. With an internal weapons payload of 70,000 pounds, it has the largest payload of any US plane ever.
While it lacks the stealth quality to make it an ideal penetrator of enemy (Russian, Chinese, North Korean, and Iranian) airspace, it may have lost its mission as a nuclear bomber. Still, it can carry 24 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). It has been a versatile airframe that has evolved.
With the capability to launch long-range standoff weapons, it can target naval ships while patrolling large swaths of the Pacific Ocean. Due to its long range, it is fully capable of this, along with the B-52. For now, the stealthy missions will fall to the B-2.
The US will start seeing the B-21s by 2026, but until then, our triad of tried-and-true bombers will have to suffice. The B-1B will remain a huge part of that, as the Iranian defenses can attest.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
