Aerospace

The Aging B-1 Bomber Can No Longer Fly Like It Used To

The U.S. Air Force may soon have to restrict one of its bombers from a key mission profile: flying low. The B-1B Lancer bomber fleet is growing old and the Air Force is considering restricting its ability to fly low, which is reportedly hard on the aircraft, in order to keep the big airplanes flying.

The B-1B bomber was built during the 1980s as a heavy strategic bomber to fight a nuclear war. The B-1B was designed to use its anti-radar stealth design to penetrate Soviet territory, launch nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, and drop bombs before returning home. The bomber was also designed to fly fast at low altitude—below enemy radars—to evade detection.

A lot has changed since the end of the Cold War. For one, the B-1B was stripped of its ability to launch nuclear weapons, and today is primarily a long range conventional strike aircraft. It was an unexpectedly popular close air support aircraft during the war in Afghanistan, where the B-1B’s long legs, big bomb payload, and ability to pour on the speed was used to support troops in contact.