For more than forty years, the B-1B Lancer has been an American bomber fleet workhorse. It’s not only famous for being the Air Force’s largest conventional payload carrier, but for possessing the ability to hit anywhere on earth with pinpoint precision. Its fame is not based on firepower alone—it’s derived from strength, versatility, and the ability to make a point where it counts most.
That ability was utilized to its fullest in February 2024, when two B-1Bs flew continental United States on a 34-hour round-trip mission to Iraq and Syria. The mission was authorized after an Iranian-supported militia attack killed three American troops in Jordan. It was a historic first: American bombers attacking and returning from home base in a combat mission without refueling at a forward base.
As Ross Hobbs put it, the operation wasn’t revenge—it was a demonstration of reach. It sent an unmistakable notice that the U.S. can develop an outcome force from within its own borders, and that capability holds profound implications for international deterrence.
The success of the mission was all the more impressive given the situation. Ellsworth Air Force Base, which is one of two bases for the B-1, had most recently experienced a crash, so aircraft and crews were temporarily shifted out of Dyess Air Force Base. Despite the disruption, the airmen at both bases carried out the mission with seeming coordination and precision.
During the strike, 125 precision-guided bombs hit 85 targets, including command centers and weapon facilities. The fact that the attack occurred on the day of the solemn transfer of dead soldiers added symbolic importance to the operation.
But the B-1 universe has issues. The January 2024 crash at Ellsworth revealed more fundamental problems: deficiencies in airmanship, lack of discipline, and risk management mistakes. These revelations culminated in the relief of the commander of the 28th Operations Group and reinforced the signal that accountability and professionalism are not up for grabs.
The bomber fleet itself is diminishing. It started with 100 planes, dwindled to 45, and retired or worn down through crashes and heavy use over decades. Keeping these swing-wing bombers operational costs money, with several repairs for structural fatigue and worn-out parts.
The Air Force is stressing these planes with extreme fatigue testing and overhauling, but it’s obvious the B-1 is on its final tour of operational life.
In the coming years, the B-21 Raider will lead the way. The next-generation bomber is stealth-capable, nuclear-capable, and will fly in manned and unmanned configurations. Ellsworth will get the aircraft first, and then Dyess. As Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost put it, modernization doesn’t remove history—it adds to it. What has been learned from generations of B-1 missions will inform how the Raider will be used.
People policies are changing with the times. Pregnant aircrew can fly some non-ejection-seat aircraft in their second trimester, provided safety conditions are fulfilled. For such pilots as Maj. Lauren Olme, this policy reform has enabled continued flying under medical supervision, allowing for career longevity and talent retention on board.
The history of the B-1B is more than engines and metal. It’s about its people who fly it, fix it, and plan its missions. Time and time again, it has proven that America can project power rapidly, anywhere in the world. While the Raider will eventually assume its role, the essence and lessons of the Lancer are all part of its crews, and it will live on—not disappearing, but growing.