B-1 Bomber used in US strike on Iran's IRGC (Image: X@/BRICSinfo)The US military reportedly used a B-1 long-range bomber to strike targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday, US officials said, as cited by Axios.The bomber flew from a US airbase in the United Kingdom and was tracked en route by online flight-monitoring platforms before carrying out the operation.The US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not disclose the use of the B-1 bomber in its statement issued on Tuesday detailing the strikes carried out that day."CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement read.During Operation Epic Fury, the US military carried out multiple B-1 bomber missions targeting missile bases, command-and-control centres, weapons storage facilities and air defence systems across Iran, officials said.The deployment of B-1 bombers, capable of carrying up to 24 2,000-pound bombs or dozens of cruise missiles, marked a significant escalation in the US military campaign against Iran.The supersonic bomber can fly at speeds exceeding the speed of sound at low altitudes while carrying the heaviest conventional payload of any US bomber.As the United States continues to reinforce its military presence in the region, US president Donald Trump is weighing a return to large-scale combat operations against Iran. US and Israeli officials have said such action could come within days.Trump On Wednesday, warned that the United States could target bridges, power plants and other critical infrastructure, including in Tehran, if Iran launches further attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by threatening to strike infrastructure in Gulf countries allied with the United States.What makes the B-1 bomber significantThe B-1 is capable of flying at supersonic speeds at low altitudes while carrying the largest conventional bomb payload of any US bomber.Originally designed as a nuclear-capable strategic bomber, the B-1B Lancer was converted to an exclusively conventional strike role in the mid-1990s. It is now one of the US Air Force's most powerful platforms for delivering large volumes of precision-guided conventional munitions. The Air Force plans to keep the aircraft in service through at least 2040 to support long-range global strike missions.Key features of the B-1B LancerLarge payload: The bomber can carry up to 75,000 pounds (around 34,000 kg) of weapons, giving it one of the largest conventional payload capacities in the US military.High speed: It can reach speeds of around Mach 1.2, allowing it to penetrate contested airspace and strike distant targets quickly.Variable-sweep wings: Its signature swing-wing design enables the aircraft to adjust its wing position for high-speed penetration or fuel-efficient long-range cruising.Long-range capability: The B-1B can undertake intercontinental missions and remain airborne for extended periods with aerial refuelling, enabling sustained global operations.