Rockwell B - 1 Lancer The B - 1 Lancer is a supersonic strategic bomber with variable - sweep wings . The origins of the B - 1 date back to the 1960s in a search for a supersonc bomber with sufficient range annd payload to replace the B - 52 Stratofortress , but would develop into a subsonic low level long - range bomber . After several production delays the first B - 1Bs entered service in 1986 with the United States Air Force . Description . The B - 1 program was initiated in the 1970s with the hope of fielding a long - range supersonic bomber capable of dashing at nearly mach 2 ; it was quickly canceled by 1977 . However , in a twist of fate underneath the leadership of Ronald Reagan , the B - 1 received a new lease on life as the marginally redesigned structure of the B - 1B . Stealthy , fast , and able to carry a heavy payload , it was hoped that the B - 1B would be able to replace America ' s aging fleet of old B - 52 ' s . However there were several problems with the design . Despite an impressive take - off weight of 477 , 000 pounds , the ability to dash at 900 miles per hour ( a reduction in speed from the A ' s projected 1340 MPH ) , and excellent terrain following capability , the new aircraft also had to contend with fuel leaks and engine fires in its initial years of service . Maintenance was an enormous issue with the new bomber , as there was a severely low funding allocation to the bomber ' s logistics crews . After finally succeeding to raise this rate , the B - 1B would end up losing its nuclear delivery capability by 1994 , serving as a conventional bomber only . It would also never actually replace the B - 52 ; it only replaced older models and the swing - wing F - 111 strike fighter . Despite these troublesome setbacks , the aircraft has managed to improve it ' s reputation in recent times ; with the B - 1B being used successfully in recent conflicts . The ' BONE ' first got it ' s taste of combat in Iraq during ' Operation Desert Fox ' in 1998 . The following year , it would be used against Serbian forces in " Operation Allied Force " being primarily used as an old fashioned ' bomb truck ' . Following the September 11th attacks ; the B - 1B was one of many weapons systems that were brought to use against Taliban and Al - Qaeda forces in Afghanistan . During the U . S . led invasion of Iraq in 2003 , the B - 1B was used again with good results against enemy forces in support of the allied push into Baghdad . To this day the B - 1B Lancer continues to be upgraded and is expected to serve well into the 21st century . The B - 1A was the original B - 1 design with variable engine intakes and Mach 2 . 2 top speed . Four prototypes were built ; no production units were manufactured . The B - 1B is a revised B - 1 design with reduced radar signature and a top speed of Mach 1 . 25 . It was otherwise optimized for low - level penetration . A total of 100 B - 1Bs were produced . The B - 1R is a proposed replacement for the B - 1B , created from the existing aircraft . The B - 1R ( R for " regional " ) would be a Lancer with advanced radars , air - to - air missiles , and Pratt & Whitney F119 engines . Compared to the B - 1B , the B - 1R would have a higher top speed of Mach 2 . 2 , but its range would be 20 % less . Variants . Existing external hardpoints would be modified to allow multiple conventional weapons to be carried , increasing overall loadout . For air - to - air defense , an Active Electronically Scanned Array ( AESA ) radar would be added and some existing hardpoints modified to carry air - to - air missiles . If needed the B - 1R could escape from unfavorable air - to - air encounters with its Mach 2 + speed . Few aircraft are capable of over Mach 2 speeds , and those that are can maintain these speeds for only very short periods of time .