B-1B Lancers Return to Ellsworth AFB After Major Runway Overhaul, Clearing Path for B-21 Raider Era

Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota marked a milestone in its transformation into the Air Force’s first B-21 Raider hub, as B-1B Lancer bombers from the 37th Bomb Squadron returned home on December 3, 2025, after a ten-month relocation to Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota. The temporary move had been essential to allow a sweeping $129.5 million runway reconstruction—one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades in the base’s modern history.

The B-1Bs, assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, had begun relocating on December 4, 2024, with 17 aircraft completing the move by early January. Their return officially began on December 3, with Ellsworth releasing photos two days later showing Lancers touching down on the newly reopened runway. One caption noted the significance: this was the first aircraft landing at Ellsworth in 11 months, marking the completion of the extensive reconstruction effort designed specifically to support incoming B-21 Raider operations.

The base hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony the same day the Lancers touched down, celebrating the completion of a project that involved over 220 contractors and required 106,000 tons of concrete, 105 miles of joint sealing, and 83 miles of electrical conduit. “This civil engineering achievement enhances the survivability of this airfield for at least the next 50 years,” Col. Erick Lord, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, said during the ceremony. “It also gives Ellsworth the ability to receive and launch America’s first sixth-generation combat aircraft.”

Ellsworth AFB has been undergoing a massive transformation since the U.S. Air Force selected it as the first Main Operating Base for the B-21 Raider. After clearing its Environmental Impact Assessment in 2021, Ellsworth began planning more than 20 major construction and renovation projects scheduled through 2026. These include new specialized B-21 facilities such as a Fuel-Cell Hangar, a Fuel Systems Maintenance Dock, a Radio Frequency Hangar, and a Weapons Loader Training Facility. Multi-million-dollar contracts have already been awarded to companies including Conti Federal to prepare the installation for next-generation stealth bomber operations.

During the relocation period, approximately 800 personnel, along with munitions and critical support equipment, shifted temporarily to the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks AFB. The move also marked a symbolic return of the B-1 to Grand Forks 30 years after the aircraft departed the location when the former 319th Bomb Wing transitioned to the air-refueling mission.

Ellsworth emphasized the emotional weight of the Lancers’ homecoming in a Facebook post: “A few of our aircraft have returned to Raider Country, touching down on the newly reopened runway and restoring the sound of freedom to the Black Hills.” Aircrews, engineers, maintainers, and support personnel gathered along the flightline to witness the return, celebrating what the base called a “huge milestone made possible by months of teamwork.”

Photos released with the announcement showed B-1Bs not only arriving but also undergoing maintenance and performing takeoffs and hot-pit refueling drills—an indication that crews wasted no time reestablishing full operational rhythm. Such rapid reconstitution is crucial for maintaining readiness, as the B-1B remains the backbone of America’s long-range conventional strike capability, carrying the heaviest payload of guided and unguided munitions in the Air Force inventory.

It remains unclear exactly how many aircraft have returned so far, though the process is expected to occur in phases just as the relocation did. The runway reopening marks a critical turning point in Ellsworth’s transformation, signaling the end of a complex year-long construction effort and the beginning of the B-21 Raider era. With infrastructure upgrades accelerating and facilities nearing completion, Ellsworth AFB is now poised to host the Air Force’s most advanced bomber, ushering in a new generation of long-range strike power for the United States.