Unique aircraft can deliver a heavy bombing during combat missions.

The B-1 Lancer is a unique aircraft that can deliver a deadly weapons payload at supersonic speeds.

Development and Delays
The U.S. Air Force began developing plans for a supersonic bomber aircraft in the late 1960s. The initial idea was to create a supersonic bomber that could replace the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which was then one of the strongest U.S. military airplanes in service. A prototype of the B-1 bomber was developed in the 1970s, but the project was delayed several times and eventually cancelled due to shifting military and political priorities.

A new version of the B-1 bomber resurfaced in the 1980s and was known as the "B-1B Lancer." This aircraft entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1986 and was still being used for combat missions as of 2011. A total of about 70 B-1 bomber aircraft have been acquired by the U.S. Air Force at a cost of nearly $300 million per plane.

The B-1 bomber has undergone several upgrades over the years to add enhanced data link networks, improved targeting systems, and a variety of new weapons.

Weapons and Speed
The B-1 bomber is built by Rockwell, which is part of the Boeing Company. The aircraft is distinguished by its speed and weapons payload. The aircraft can travel at supersonic speeds. Its maximum speed is Mach 1.25 – about 950 miles per hour.

The plane’s low level speed is set at Mach 0.92 – 700 miles per hour.The B-1’s maximum takeoff weight is 477,000 pounds.

In terms of weapons, the B-1 bomber carries an impressive payload that includes hard points for six external general purpose bombs, Quickstrike sea mines, cluster bombs, GBU-31 guided bombs, small diameter bombs, and an AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. The aircraft also has the capability to carry a nuclear bomb, if needed. The B-1 bomber has been used for combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. The B-1 has been criticized in some circles over its high maintenance fees. The aircraft requires about $720,000 of repairs and upkeep for every 12 hours of flight time.