B-1B vs B-2: Speed or Stealth? How the Two Bombers Compare

B1 vs B2 compared: stealth, payload, nuclear role, combat record, fleet size and how long each bomber will keep flying. Sourced to the CRS.

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Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit compared side by side
Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit compared side by side – © U.S. Air Force / U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Andy Dunaway / composite by AeroCorner

The B-1B Lancer and the B-2 Spirit are the two U.S. bombers people most often mix up. The B-1B is a fast, conventional-only bomber that carries the biggest conventional load in the Air Force. The B-2 is a stealth flying wing built to slip through defended airspace.

So the B-1B wins on payload and cost, and the B-2 wins on survivability and nuclear role. The scorecard below sets them side by side.

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Rockwell B-1B Lancer
Military Aircraft
Rockwell B-1B Lancer
ICAO: B1 Military: B-1B Visit aircraft page
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Military Aircraft
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
ICAO: B2 Military: B-2A Visit aircraft page

General

Units
Rockwell B-1B Lancer
Manufacturer
Rockwell
ICAO code
B1
Military code
B-1B
Produced
1983–1988
Price
$283 million (1998)
Engine
4 × General Electric F101-GE-102
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
4 × 30,780 lbf · 137 kN +78% (total)
Avionics
AN/APQ-164, AN/ALQ-161, AN/ASQ-184
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
4
Crew
4
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Manufacturer
Northrop Grumman
ICAO code
B2
Military code
B-2A
Produced
1987–2000
Price
$737 million (1997)
Engine
4 × General Electric F118-GE-100
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
4 × 17,300 lbf · 77 kN -44% (total)
Avionics
Honeywell and GEC Avionics
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
2
Crew
2

Dimensions

Rockwell B-1B Lancer
Cabin width
— — —
Cabin height
— — —
Cabin length
— — —
Exterior length
146 ft 0 in 44.50 m 146 ft 0 in 44.50 m +112%
Tail height
34 ft 1 in 10.40 m 34 ft 1 in 10.40 m +101%
Fuselage diameter
— — —
Wing span
137 ft 2 in 41.80 m 137 ft 2 in 41.80 m -20%
Baggage volume
— — —
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Cabin width
0 ft 0 in 0.00 m 0 ft 0 in 0.00 m
Cabin height
0 ft 0 in 0.00 m 0 ft 0 in 0.00 m
Cabin length
0 ft 0 in 0.00 m 0 ft 0 in 0.00 m
Exterior length
68 ft 11 in 21.00 m 68 ft 11 in 21.00 m -53%
Tail height
17 ft 0 in 5.18 m 17 ft 0 in 5.18 m -50%
Fuselage diameter
0 ft 0 in 0.00 m 0 ft 0 in 0.00 m
Wing span
172 ft 0 in 52.43 m 172 ft 0 in 52.43 m +25%
Baggage volume
0 ft 0 in 0.00 m 0 ft 0 in 0.00 m

Weights

Rockwell B-1B Lancer
Empty weight
192,000 lb 87,090 kg 192,000 lb 87,090 kg +22%
Max payload
75,000 lb 34,000 kg 75,000 lb 34,000 kg +25%
Fuel capacity
39,593 gal 149,876 L 39,593 gal 149,876 L +59%
Max takeoff weight
477,000 lb 216,500 kg 477,000 lb 216,500 kg +42%
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Empty weight
158,000 lb 71,668 kg 158,000 lb 71,668 kg -18%
Max payload
60,000 lb 27,200 kg 60,000 lb 27,200 kg -20%
Fuel capacity
24,925 gal 94,351 L 24,925 gal 94,351 L -37%
Max takeoff weight
336,500 lb 152,500 kg 336,500 lb 152,500 kg -29%

Performance

Rockwell B-1B Lancer
Max cruise speed
721 kt · 830 mph 1,335 km/h 721 kt 830 mph 1,335 km/h +32%
Max speed
721 kt · 830 mph 1,335 km/h 721 kt 830 mph 1,335 km/h +32%
Cruise speed
— — —
Rate of climb
5,678 ft/min 29 m/s 5,678 ft/min 29 m/s +89%
Range
6,478 nm · 7,450 mi 12,000 km 6,478 nm 7,450 mi 12,000 km +8%
Service ceiling
60,000 ft 18,300 m 60,000 ft 18,300 m +20%
Takeoff distance
— — —
Landing distance
— — —
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Max cruise speed
546 kt · 628 mph 1,011 km/h 546 kt 628 mph 1,011 km/h -24%
Max speed
546 kt · 628 mph 1,011 km/h 546 kt 628 mph 1,011 km/h -24%
Cruise speed
487 kt · 560 mph 902 km/h 487 kt 560 mph 902 km/h
Rate of climb
3,000 ft/min 15 m/s 3,000 ft/min 15 m/s -47%
Range
6,000 nm · 6,900 mi 11,110 km 6,000 nm 6,900 mi 11,110 km -7%
Service ceiling
50,000 ft 15,200 m 50,000 ft 15,200 m -17%
Takeoff distance
6,700 ft 2,040 m 6,700 ft 2,040 m
Landing distance
3,450 ft 1,050 m 3,450 ft 1,050 m

Table of Contents

FactorB-1B LancerB-2 Spirit
StealthNone. A conventional design with variable-sweep wingsLow-observable flying wing
Nuclear weaponsNone. Conventional onlyDual-capable, carries B61 and B83 bombs
First flightB-1B: Oct. 18, 1984July 17, 1989
Initial operating capabilityOct. 1, 19861997
FleetAbout 44 aircraft, of 100 built19 to 20 aircraft
BasesDyess AFB, Texas, and Ellsworth AFB, South DakotaWhiteman AFB, Missouri
Heaviest published conventional load75,000 lb (34,000 kg), the largest in the Air ForceTwo 30,000 lb GBU-57 bunker busters, one per bay
Combat debutOperation Desert Fox, Iraq, December 1998Operation Allied Force, Kosovo, 1999
Cost per flight hourAbout $63,000About $135,000
Planned serviceFunded through 2037No retirement date set
Sources: Congressional Research Service (July 2026), Air & Space Forces Magazine (April 24, 2026), Wikipedia. Flight-hour costs are 2010-era Air Combat Command figures and are dated. Fleet counts vary by source.

Which Is Better: the B-1B Lancer or the B-2 Spirit?

The B-2 Spirit is the better bomber for the hardest missions, because it is the only one of the two that is stealthy and nuclear-capable. The B-1B Lancer is the better bomber for volume, because it carries the largest conventional load in the Air Force and costs far less to fly.

They are not rivals. The Air Force keeps both and plans to retire them as the B-21 Raider arrives.

The B-1 is not a stealth bomber

The B-1B is often called the B-1 stealth bomber. It is not stealth. The Air Force built it for speed and low-level flight, and only the B-2 is a stealth bomber in U.S. service today.

Where the B-1B Lancer Wins

The B-1B’s first advantage is weapons. The Congressional Research Service lists a 75,000 lb (34,000 kg) payload, the largest conventional load in the Air Force inventory.

Its second is speed. Its variable-sweep wings move from 15 degrees forward to 67.5 degrees aft, so it can fly low and fast with the wings back and cruise efficiently with them forward. The panel lists a top speed of 721 kt (830 mph, 1,335 km/h).

B-1B Lancer climbing with afterburners lit
The B-1B’s four afterburning engines give it its low-level speed. – © airwolfhound

The third is cost. Air Combat Command figures from around 2010 put the B-1B at about $63,000 per flight hour, against about $135,000 for the B-2.

It also has a long war record. The B-1B flew its first combat missions in Operation Desert Fox in December 1998. In the first six months of the war in Afghanistan, eight B-1s dropped nearly 40 percent of the air-dropped ordnance, according to Wikipedia’s summary of Air Combat Command data.

B-1B Lancer with its wings swept back in flight
With its wings swept back, the B-1B is built for fast, low-level flight. – © Alan Wilson

Where the B-2 Spirit Wins

The B-2’s edge is stealth. It was built as a flying wing so it can reach targets that defenses would stop a B-1B from reaching.

Its record shows it. In Operation Allied Force in 1999, B-2s hit 33 percent of selected targets in the first eight weeks. In June 2025, seven B-2s took part in Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran, and six dropped 12 GBU-57 bunker-busting bombs on Fordow.

Underside of a B-2 Spirit flying wing in flight
The B-2’s flying-wing shape has no tail and almost no vertical surfaces. – © Jonathan Webb

It is also the only one of the two that carries nuclear weapons. The Congressional Research Service says it carries B61 and B83 bombs, while the B-1B was converted to conventional-only work under 1990s arms treaties.

The price is upkeep. The B-2’s coating needs climate-controlled hangars, and Wikipedia reports maintenance of about 119 hours per flight hour in 1997, against 60 for the B-1B. The B-2 Spirit aircraft page lists its unit price as $737 million (1997), against $283 million (1998) for the B-1B. The two figures use different years.

B-2 Spirit approaching a KC-46 tanker over Edwards Air Force Base
Both bombers depend on tankers for the longest missions. – © U.S. Air Force photo by Christian Turner

B-1B vs B-2 Size and Crew

The B-1B is the longer aircraft at 146 ft 0 in (44.50 m), with a wingspan of 137 ft 2 in (41.80 m). The B-2 is only 68 ft 11 in (21.00 m) long, but its flying wing spans 172 ft 0 in (52.43 m).

The crews differ too. The B-1B carries four, and the B-2 carries two. The B-2 has the smaller crew because stealth was bought with a simpler airframe, with no tail and few external parts.

Their engines differ as well. The B-1B uses four General Electric F101-GE-102 engines at 30,780 lbf (137 kN) each. The B-2 uses four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines at 17,300 lbf (77 kN) each.

B-1B and B-2 Timeline

The B-1B entered service about a decade before the B-2. Their paths crossed in the 1990s, when the B-1B moved to conventional-only work and the B-2 became the nuclear stealth option.

Dec. 23, 1974

B-1A first flight. The prototype flies for the first time.

Oct. 18, 1984

First B-1B flight. The first production B-1B flies.

Oct. 1, 1986

B-1B initial operating capability.

July 17, 1989

B-2 first flight.

Dec. 17, 1993

First B-2 delivered. The B-2 reaches Whiteman AFB.

Dec. 1998

B-1B combat debut. Operation Desert Fox, Iraq.

1999

B-2 combat debut. Operation Allied Force, Kosovo.

June 2025

Operation Midnight Hammer. Seven B-2s join the strike on Iran.

2027

B-21 due at Ellsworth. The first operational B-21s are scheduled to arrive.

How Many B-1Bs and B-2s Are Left?

The Air Force has about 44 B-1Bs and 19 B-2s, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. The Congressional Research Service counts 44 and 20. The B-2 numbers differ by whether a test aircraft is counted.

Both fleets are small. The Air Force built 100 B-1Bs and only 21 B-2s. For more on the B-2 fleet, see how many B-2 bombers are there.

What Each Bomber Is Used For

The B-1B is the Air Force’s conventional workhorse. It was designed as a nuclear bomber, but arms treaties pushed it into conventional-only service, and the Congressional Research Service notes a House provision that would study restoring its nuclear role.

The B-2 is the penetrating strike aircraft. It flies the long missions where surviving air defenses matters more than carrying the most bombs, and it is the only one of the two that can take part in the nuclear mission.

Neither does the job of the B-52, which the Congressional Research Service lists at 76 aircraft. Together the three bombers cover different parts of the same job.

Who Would Win, the B-1B or the B-2?

It depends on the mission. Against a dense air defense network, the B-2 is the one that can get through, which is why it flew the long missions to Kosovo and Iran.

Against an enemy with weak defenses, the B-1B wins on weapons per sortie and cost per hour. The Air Force plans to use both until the B-21 Raider is flying in numbers.

When Will the B-1B and B-2 Retire?

Later than planned. Both had been aimed at retirement in the early 2030s. The 2027 budget funds the B-1B through 2037, with $342 million over five years, and the B-2 with $1.35 billion and no retirement date, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The B-21 Raider is due at Ellsworth Air Force Base in 2027, with Whiteman next. Until it arrives in numbers, both older bombers keep flying. For the wider picture, see the best bombers in the world.

FAQ

The B-1B is a fast, conventional-only bomber with swept wings and a crew of four. The B-2 is a stealth flying wing that can carry nuclear weapons. The B-1B carries more conventional weapons, while the B-2 can survive in defended airspace.
No. The B-1B has a reduced radar cross-section compared with the B-52, but it is not a stealth aircraft like the B-2. It relies on speed and low-level flight.
The Air Force has about 44 B-1Bs, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine and the Congressional Research Service. Only 100 were built, and the Air Force plans to fund the fleet through 2037.
Not today. It was designed as a nuclear bomber, but it was converted to conventional-only work under 1990s arms treaties. Only the B-2 and the B-52 carry nuclear weapons among the current bombers.
Today the B-2 Spirit is the only stealth bomber in U.S. service with a combat record. The B-21 Raider is meant to succeed it and is due at its first base, Ellsworth, in 2027.

About the Author

Tim de Vries
Tim de Vries

Tim is the owner and lead editor of AeroCorner since 2019, overseeing aviation content covering aircraft, airlines, airports, and the broader aviation industry. Through years of researching, writing, editing, and publishing aviation-focused content, he has developed extensive practical knowledge of commercial aviation and air travel. Based in Asia and a frequent traveler himself, Tim also brings firsthand passenger experience to AeroCorner’s coverage. Outside of publishing, he has also explored aviation firsthand through hands-on flight training in New Zealand.