The US used the B-1B Lancer long-range bomber to strike Syria — here's what it can do

The B-1B Lancer was one of many aircraft that the US, France, and UK used in Friday's strike on Syrian government compounds.

The Lancer is a long-range, multi-role heavy bomber that dropped Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, according to The Drive. This would be the first time the munition was used in combat.

The US has not divulged where the Lancers took off, but they may have left from al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, The Drive reported. Either way, the US released a picture of one of the B-1s being refueled by a KC-10 on the day of the strike.

Here's what the Lancer can do and what we know it did on Friday:

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The B-1B Lancer is a long-range, multi-role heavy bomber that was developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the B-52.

Source: US Air Force

It was first used in combat in 1998, and was heavily used in Operation Iraqi Freedom during the Iraq War, dropping nearly 40% of all the coalition's munitions.

The Lancer, which is made by Boeing — one of the largest defense contractors and political donors in the US — will continue to be the backbone of the US strategic bomber force until about 2040.

Its four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engines each provide the Lancer with more than 30,000 pounds of thrust.

Source: US Air Force