A ▁test ▁squad ron , ▁assuming ▁the ▁mission ▁origin ated ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁at ▁Gro om ▁Lake , ▁Nev ada . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁B - 1 B ▁Lan cer ▁testing ▁ ▁Background ▁In ▁November ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁began ▁a ▁study ▁for ▁a ▁modified ▁version ▁of ▁an ▁existing ▁air frame ▁to ▁carry ▁air ▁launched ▁cru ise ▁miss iles , ▁called ▁the ▁Long - Range ▁Com bat ▁A ircraft ▁( LR CA ). ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 ▁October ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁President ▁Ron ald ▁Re agan ▁announced ▁a ▁Str ateg ic ▁Modern ization ▁Program , ▁which ▁would ▁include ▁the ▁proc ure ment ▁of ▁ 1 0 0 ▁( LR CA ). ▁The ▁Rock well ▁International ▁proposal ▁for ▁the ▁L R CA ▁was ▁a ▁modified ▁B - 1 A , ▁which ▁was ▁designated ▁the ▁B - 1 B ▁Lan cer . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁B - 1 B ▁incorpor ated ▁several ▁sub - ass emb lies ▁of ▁the ▁No . ▁ 5 ▁B - 1 A , ▁which ▁has ▁been ▁under ▁construction ▁when ▁the ▁B - 1 A ▁program ▁was ▁cancel led . ▁Rock well ▁test ▁pil ots ▁fle w ▁it ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁October ▁ 1 9 8 4 , ▁from ▁the ▁Rock well ▁International ▁assembly ▁plant ▁at ▁Air ▁Force ▁Plant ▁ 4 2 , ▁Pal md ale , ▁California , ▁landing ▁at ▁Edwards ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base , ▁California . ▁The ▁B - 1 B ▁was ▁ready