Rockwell / Boeing B-1 Lancer Long-range multirole heavy bomber - History, Specs and Pictures

Authored By Staff Writer | Last Updated: 8/7/2012

The B-1 Lancer series of strategic bomber is a nuclear-capable product from the Cold War.

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The Rockwell B-1 Lancer series was a variable sweep wing low-altitude penetration aircraft capable of delivering nuclear free-fall bombs at high speeds. The system was designed from a Cold War initiative in 1965 by the United States Air Force in an effort to replace the B-52 Stratofortresses and the FB-111 Aardvarks in service. The result was an overpriced, highly-capable yet at one time cancelled bomber that would see successful operational combat action over the skies of Iraq (1998), Kosovo (1999) and Afghanistan (2001).

The B-1 Lancer was initially a USAF accepted design of 1970 as produced by the North American Rockwell firm. The first operational prototype, in the form of the B-1A, was delivered to the USAF in 1974 for developmental purposes. Four prototypes would be made utilizing the B-1A designation. With the arrival of the Carter Administration in 1977, the B-1 program was cancelled for budgetary reasons. As such, the Lancer was left to wallow though some limited development and testing continued nonetheless.

All was not to be lost on the Lancer program, however, as it would see new light with a new Reagan initiative in 1981, focused vehemently on bringing the long-range USAF nuclear capabilities up to par with the Soviet Union and, as a result, bringing back to life the B-1 Lancer program in full. New delivery B-1 production models were now designated as B-1B model series and included a host of improvements to add to the capabilities of the Lancer as a whole. Improvements were made to avionics systems, an internal weapons bay fuel area was optional, RAM coating offered the system some stealth capabilities and individual ejection seats were converted from the original crew escape capsule idea. The B-1B model also saw the inclusion of fixed air inlets, bringing the overall top speed down to just above Mach 1.2. This was a development over the initial variable air inlets that offered up speeds of over Mach 2.23 in the original B-1A.

In the end, the B-1 Lancer was fielded with 100 examples delivered to the USAF SAC branch. The system was a capable and potent performer that could wield a plethora of ordnance in three weapons bays featuring a rotary launcher along with optional underwing launchers to boot. Munitions included penetration bombs, freefall nuclear bombs, cluster bombs, naval mines and cruise missiles. Upgrade and modernization programs have kept the expensive system flying though the future of the aircraft is most likely in doubt now with the arrival of the more effective B-2 Spirit as a USAF frontline mainstay. Nevertheless, the B-1B series continues to serve in an operational capacity as of this writing. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.

Image of the Rockwell / Boeing B-1 Lancer

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Specifications for the
Rockwell / Boeing B-1 Lancer
Long-range multirole heavy bomber

Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Rockwell International / Boeing - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1985
Production: 104

Focus Model: Rockwell / Boeing B-1B Lancer
Crew: 4

Length: 146.00ft (44.5m)
Width: 137.14ft (41.80m)
Height: 34.12ft (10.40m)
Weight (Empty): 192,001lbs (87,090kg)
Weight (MTOW): 477,596lbs (216,634kg)

Powerplant: 4 x General Electric F-101-GE-102 turbofan engines generating 30,780lbs of thrust each.

Maximum Speed: 825mph (1,328kmh; 717kts)
Maximum Range: 7,456miles (12,000km)
Service Ceiling: 50,000ft (15,240m; 9.5miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)

Hardpoints: 6
Armament Suite:
Up to 59,000lbs of ordnance across six external hardpoints and 75,000lbs in three internal bomb bays. Munitions load can include the following:

24 x GBU-31 GPS-Aided JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition).
24 x BLU-109 penetrating bombs
24 x Mk-84 2,000-pound general purpose bombs
8 x Mk-85 naval mines
84 x Mk-82 500-pound general purpose bombs
84 x Mk-62 500-pound naval mines
30 x CBU-87 cluster munitions
30 x CBU-89 cluster munitions
30 x CBU-97 cluster munitions
30 x CBU-103 WCMD
30 x CBU-104 WCMD
30 x CBU-105 WCMD
24 x AGM-69A SRAM-A Short Range Attack Missiles
24 x AGM-158 JASSM
12 x AGM-154 JSOW
12 x B-28 freefall nuclear bombs
12 x B-43 freefall nuclear bombs
24 x B-61 freefall thermonuclear bombs
24 x B-83 freefall thermonuclear bombs
28 x B-93 freefall nuclear bombs
8 x AGM-86B ALCM (internal on rotary launcher)
12 x ALCM (external underwing launchers)

Variants:
B-1A - Prototype Model Designation of which four produced; Mach 2.3 capable with variable air inlets; crew escape capsule.

B-1B - Production Model Designation; refered to as "improved" B-1; new features included RAM coating, individual ejection seats, improved avionics, weapons bay fue tanks, fixed air inlets and lower Mach speed.

Operators:
United States

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