Long-range strategic bomber built by Rockwell International. The sleek, swing-wing, quad-engine aircraft was originally designed as a high speed, high altitude replacement for the B-52 for long-range nuclear attack missions. Shelved by President Carter, it was resurrected by Reagan and re-spun to be a lighter weight, stealthier, lower-altitude, subsonic conventional bomb and cruise missile platform. Officially called the Lancer, but affectionately known as the Bone (B-One.)

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber
Builder: Rockwell International, North American Aircraft
Operations Air Frame and Integration: Offensive avionics, Boeing Military Airplane; defensive avionics, AIL Division
Power plant: Four General Electric F-101-GE-102 turbofan engine with afterburner
Thrust: 30,000-plus pounds with afterburner, per engine
Length: 146 feet (44.5 meters)
Wingspan: 137 feet (41.8 meters) extended forward, 79 feet (24.1 meters) swept aft
Height: 34 feet (10.4 meters)
Weight: Empty, approximately 190,000 pounds (86,183 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 477,000 pounds ((216,634 kilograms)
Speed: 900-plus mph (Mach 1.2 at sea level)
Range: Intercontinental, unrefueled
Ceiling: More than 30,000 feet (9,144 meters)
Crew: Four (aircraft commander, pilot, offensive systems officer and defensive systems officer)
Armament: Up to 84 Mark 82 conventional 500-pound bombs and 30 CBU-87/89/97. Also can be reconfigured to carry a wide range of nuclear weapons
Date Deployed: June 1985
Unit Cost: $200-plus million per aircraft
Inventory: Active force, 51 primary mission aircraft inventory (PMAI), 72 (actual), 2 (test); ANG, 18 PAA (20 actual); Reserve , 0