Boeing
FB-1
The Boeing FB‑1, introduced in 1968, was the company's first purpose‑built fighter‑bomber designed to meet the United States Air Force's demand for a versatile, high‑speed strike platform. Developed from the earlier B‑70 research program, the FB‑1 combined a swept‑wing layout with afterburning turbofan engines, delivering a maximum speed of Mach 2.1 and a combat radius of 1,200 nautical miles. Its airframe employed advanced aluminum‑lithium alloys, reducing weight while preserving structural strength, and featured a digital fly‑by‑wire system that was among the earliest operational uses of computer‑controlled flight surfaces. The cockpit integrated a multi‑function head‑up display and hands‑on‑throttle‑and‑stick controls, improving pilot situational awareness. Armament options included an internal weapons bay capable of carrying up to eight 500‑pound precision‑guided munitions, as well as external hardpoints for air‑to‑air missiles. The FB‑1 proved decisive in the latter stages of the Vietnam conflict, where its ability to perform low‑level penetration and high‑altitude interdiction reshaped tactical doctrine. Although production ceased in 1975 after 212 units, the aircraft’s innovations in aerodynamics, avionics, and materials directly influenced the design philosophy of later Boeing fighters such as the F‑15 and the modern F/A‑18.
