The B-1B Lancer Bomber Is Going 'Hypersonic' and Has a Message for the U.S. Air Force

The B-1B Lancer bomber is being outfitted to field hypersonic missiles, expanding its role as a core conventional strike platform. Air Force officials are reviving external weapon hardpoints to carry standoff and hypersonic missiles, extending the airframe’s life through at least 2037. The move comes as the B-21 Raider is rolled out gradually to replace it, with the Pacific region underscoring the need for a long-range carrier. By leaning on the B-1 rather than retiring it, the service aims to sustain a potent conventional capability during the transition. Historically, the B-1A was canceled by President Carter in 1977, deemed too expensive and overtaken by cruise missiles, then revived in the 1980s as the B-1B and entered service in 1986. Under arms-control terms, the B-1B’s nuclear mission ended in 1994, converting it to a purely conventional bomber that proved versatile in Middle East campaigns. By the early 2020s, structural fatigue and readiness issues accelerated retirements, with 17 B-1s retired in 2021 to clear a path for the B-21. The current plan, however, revives external pylons and keeps the airframe active until at least 2037.