Even though the US has the capability to deploy the newer B-2 Bomber, it is still sending out B-1s. What’s the difference in capabilities between the two?
In October 2025, the United States Air Force dispatched two B-1B Lancer bombers to South America, leading some to wonder why they’re still being flown. After all, the B-1B is an old aircraft, having first entered the inventory in 1988, and there are newer planes that could take its place. Ultimately, there’s a very good reason why the B-1B continues to operate: it’s the backbone of the U.S. Air Force’s long-range bomber force, and its usefulness hasn’t diminished such that it requires replacement.
Still, it’s not as if the U.S. doesn’t have a small fleet of the far more advanced B-2 Spirit stealth bombers sitting around with more than enough capabilities to drop bombs anywhere in the world. Why then did the U.S. send its B-1Bs to South America rather than the B-2? The answer is likely optics, given the purpose in sending them, but beyond that, the B-1B is a massive aircraft that is capable of carrying a larger payload than any of the U.
