The B-2 Spirit bomber, also known as the stealth bomber, is the most expensive aircraft in the world, and also the most sophisticated. The B-2 can fly anywhere in the world, reach its target, and return home without having to stop to fuel. Instead, it refuels mid-air. The B-2 was designed during the Cold War to penetrate Soviet air defense, but shortly after it was designed, the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War ended.
While the B-2 bomber is the most expensive, there are other impressive US military planes with hefty price tags. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website, as well as various additional sources for prices of U.S. military aircraft listed to find the most expensive Air Force planes. Included in this list are the 24 aircraft with unit prices of more than $100 million – adjusted for inflation to March 2024 using the CPI inflation calculator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data on primary roles and primary contractors came from various military and historical sources.
The US is currently producing the next generation of fighter jets with advanced military technology and enhanced operational capacity. Although some of these new jets cost $100 million and above, they don’t compare to the most expensive aircraft in the fleet even with the neweststealth technology and avionics. (These are the oldest and neweststealth aircraft still flying.)
The B-2 bomber tops our list with its hefty price tag of more than $2 billion per unit. These are effectively part of the U.S. national defense against nuclear war. These aircraft are designed with stealth technology incorporated into every aspect of the bomber, which makes it practically invisible to enemy radar systems. (This is everything you need to know about military stealth technology.)
Why This Matters
About 13% of the US annual budget ($806 billion) goes to the national defense. Overall, American military aircraft reflect a sizable portion of the U.S. defense budget, including continued development and maintenance. All ofthese aircraft represent the U.S. dedication to air superiority and safeguarding national security interests which is heavily implied by their price tags. 24/7 Wall St. is writing about the cost of US military aircraft to help readers understand where their tax dollars go.
Here is a look at the most expensive airplanes in the U.S. military.
24. F-35C Lightning II
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $106.81 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 553 (total F-35 count)
- Primary role: Multirole: ground attack, air superiority
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems
23. CV-22 Osprey
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $107.47 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 79
- Primary role: Special operations forces long-range infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply
- Primary contractors: Bell Textron and Boeing
22. HC-130P/N King
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $108.61 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 40
- Primary role: Rescue platform
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
21. B-52H Stratofortress
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $113.81 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 72
- Primary role: Heavy bomber
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
20. F-35A Lightning II
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $115.80 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 553 (total F-35 count)
- Primary role: Multirole: ground attack, air superiority
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
19. MC-130J Commando II
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $118.91 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 57
- Primary role: Infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland, air refueling of SOF helicopter/tilt rotor aircraft
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
18. EC-130J Commando Solo
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $128.91 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 7
- Primary role: Airborne information operations broadcasts
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
17. U-2 Dragon Lady
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $134.64 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 26
- Primary role: high-altitude reconnaissance
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
16. Boeing C-32
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $136.94 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 4
- Primary role: Transport
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
15. AC-130W Stinger II
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $142.98 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 3
- Primary role: Close air support and air interdiction with associated collateral missions
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
14. F-22 Raptor
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $149.85 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 178
- Primary role: Air dominance, multi-role fighter
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin, Boeing
13. E-6B Mercury Airborne Command Post
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $160.26 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 16
- Primary role: Communications relay for fleet ballistic missile submarines (A and B models) and airborne command post for U.S. Strategic forces (B model)
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
12. KC-10 Extender
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $168.06 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 40
- Primary role: Aerial tanker and transport
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
11. EC-130H Compass Call
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $182.13 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 7
- Primary role: Electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counter information
- Primary contractors: BAE Systems and L3 Communications
10. MC-130H Combat Talon II
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $187.43 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 10
- Primary role: Infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
9. AC-130J Ghostrider
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $193.27 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 29
- Primary role: Close air support and air interdiction with associated collateral missions
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
8. KC-46 Pegasus
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $225.73 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 72
- Primary role: Aerial refueling and airlift
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
7. C-5M Super Galaxy
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $279.07 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 52
- Primary role: Outsize cargo transport
- Primary contractors: Lockheed Martin
6. C-17 Globemaster III
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $384.66 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 228
- Primary role: Cargo and troop transport
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
5. B-1B Lancer
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $407.47 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 42
- Primary role: Long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company, EDO Corporation
4. E-4B
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $424.44 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 4
- Primary role: Airborne operations center
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
3. E-8C Joint Stars
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $464.74 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 5
- Primary role: Airborne battle management
- Primary contractors: Northrop Grumman
2. E-3 Sentry (AWACS)
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $513.38 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 21
- Primary role: Airborne battle management, command and control
- Primary contractors: The Boeing Company
1. B-2 Spirit
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $2.19 billion
- Active in U.S. Military: 17
- Primary role: Ground attack, heavy bomber
- Primary contractors: Northrop Grumman
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The post This US Air Force Plane Costs a Staggering $2.2 Billion, Each appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..