The B-1B Lancer Bomber Almost ‘Merged’ With an F-22 Raptor to Become a Mach 2.2 B-1R ‘Arsenal Ship’ the US Air Force Could Surely Use Right Now
Four F119 engines, a fighter's radar, AMRAAMs on reactivated hardpoints, and Mach 2.2 in exchange for 20 percent of the B-1B's range: Boeing's B-1R was the cheapest of three exotic bombers the 2006 defense review killed.
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1 article from 1 source. Updated Aug 21, 2026.
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1 sourceThe B-1B Lancer Bomber Almost ‘Merged’ With an F-22 Raptor to Become a Mach 2.2 B-1R ‘Arsenal Ship’ the US Air Force Could Surely Use Right Now