The Supersonic BONE: A Development and Operational History of the B-1 Bomber

The B-1B Lancer, a modified version of the B-1A bomber, was developed to boost American military power and symbolize American strength during the Cold War. It entered service in 1986 with deficiencies but was later transformed into a high-speed, long-range, high-payload delivery platform for conventional precision-guided munitions. The B-1B was first used in combat in 1998 and has proven highly effective in various conflicts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The B-52 Stratofortress, which joined the US Air Force in 1955, was already in the process of being replaced. One option was the B-70 Valkyrie, a Mach 3 jet bomber. Although two XB-70A prototypes flew, the B-70 never entered production. The B-1A bomber, which emerged from the subsequent Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft program, flew at high speed and low altitude to evade enemy air defenses. The B-1A was canceled in favor of equipping the B-52 with cruise missiles. The B-1, also known as the BONE, was revived in 1981 as the improved B-1B to boost American military power and symbolize American strength at the height of Cold War tensions. The B-1B entered service in 1986 with several deficiencies, most of which were resolved with the end of the Cold War. After the Cold War, the B-1B lost its primary nuclear mission but remained relevant by transforming into a high-speed, long-range, high-payload delivery platform for conventional precision-guided munitions. The BONE's first combat use was in 1998 in Iraq. The BONE has proven highly effective in combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and the former Yugoslavia. This superbly researched and illustrated book traces the BONE's long development and operational history in fascinating detail.

Weight: 1288g
Dimension: 179 x 258 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399014717