The B-1A prototype Lancer made its first flight at Palmdale California on December 23, 1974 and the first B-1B production aircraft rolled off the Palmdale assembly line on September 4, 1984.
The B-1B model made its maiden flight 15 years after design work had begun and one B-1B lancer crashed during trials when the crew overrode the fuel computer and unbalanced the bomber.
The 96th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas received the first operational B-1B Lancers and 95 in total were eventually delivered to the US Air Force's Air Combat Command.
The aircraft was developed over a lengthy period of time and many of the problems that had to be corrected involved the defensive electronic countermeasures systems and the engines.
The B-1B Lancers origins date back to the 1960's when the United States Government became aware of the fact that the Soviet air defences could destroy any high flying aircraft including the planned Mach 3 capable B-70 Valkyrie.
It was determined that a new low level strategic nuclear bomber was needed and this presented designers with a myriad of new engineering problems in the development of such an aircraft.
The B1-B lancer was the end result and what a spectacular and versatile strategic bomber it turned out to be.
The lancer has engine intakes designed to shield the engines compressor fans and thus produces a lower radar signature.
To facilitate low level nuclear bombing the crew flies 'zipped up' which means they are shielded from thermonuclear flash-blindness by blast curtains containing polarized lead zirconium titanate.
Unlike most other bombers the B-1B is equipped with ejection seats for each of the two pilots and two system operators and an advanced terrain following radar system allowing the large bomber to make blind low level attacks.
The B-1B has a pair of small vanes under the cockpit which provide yaw and pitch damping, smoothing the ride during low level flight.
Titanium and aluminum are the main materials used in the structure of the fuselage with a small amount of composite glass fibre used in certain areas.
Weapons are stored in the three massive internal weapons bays which are accessed by a large hydraulic-powered door.
With its wings swept back, the Lancer can exceed upwards of Mach one at height and provides a comfortable sub-sonic low level ride.
The blended fuselage design and high lift devices on the aircraft wings give the massive bomber extremely good handling.
Traditional hydraulics and more modern fly-by-wire control systems work together to accommodate flight controls.
The Long nose of the Lancer houses attack radar derived from the F-16's APG-66.
The aircraft incorporates a high tail to avoid the engine efflux and due to its sweeping wings capability the B-1B's fuel control computer automatically moves fuel around to counter the resulting large changes in trim.
The main weapons of the lancer are the SRAM nuclear missiles and the B28, B61 and B83 free fall nuclear bombs.
Also with minor modifications it can carry large amounts of cruise missiles and has begun replacing the aging B-52 in this role.
The B-1B Lancer combines stealth features with highly advanced defensive avionics.
With the ability to carry more bombs than the old B-52 and fly at high speeds during low level attack missions it is set to become the main nuclear and strategic striker bomber for the USAF.
This highly advanced supersonic bomber may not be as glamorous as the B-2 Stealth bomber or as revered as the B-52 Stratofortress but its tremendous capacity to carry large payloads of conventional and nuclear weaponry at high speeds and low level have helped it become Americas main supersonic strike asset.