January 18, 2025
How the Age of Stealth Killed the B-1 Lancer Bomber
In an era where air defense systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the non-stealth B-1’s ability to survive behind enemy lines has become imperiled, reducing the value of the strategic bomber in future conflicts against capable nation states.
by Harrison Kass Follow Harrison Kass on TwitterL
In the next few years, the U.S. Air Force will say goodbye to the B-1 Lancer. The venerable bomber, known affectionately as the “Bone,” will be phased out, alongside the B-2 Spirit, in favor of the forthcoming B-21 Raider. But the B-1 will be difficult to replace, at least with respect to its specifications, which are impressive on paper. Although, in an era where air defense systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the non-stealth B-1’s ability to survive behind enemy lines has become imperiled, reducing the value of the strategic bomber in future conflicts against capable nation-states.
Among the three strategic bombers in the U.S. Air Force inventory (B-1, B-2, and B-52), the B-1 has several stand-out features. First, the B-1 is the fastest bomber in the stable; while the B-2 and B-52 are limited to subsonic speeds (comparable to the commercial airliner you might take from Newark to O’Hare), the B-1 is capable of breaking the sound barrier with a top speed of Mach 1.2, or 900 miles per hour.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-age-stealth-killed-b-1-lancer-bomber-214450
