Possessing the most advanced military vehicles on the planet comes at a great cost. The United States defense budget is currently $2.13 trillion, nearly 40% of all global military spending. This spending allows the Army to have some of the most advanced military vehicles, and it relies heavily on its armored vehicles to transport troops safely and to defeat its foes. To maintain and continue adding to this arsenal, the US pays billions of dollars to cover its military needs.
Some of the most expensive land combat vehicles include armored transport vehicles, an armored bulldozer, tanks, and other fighting vehicles, and an array of self-propelled weapons systems, including rocket launchers, howitzers, and missile launchers. Some are used solely by the Army, the Marine Corps, and Special Forces.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of active US military vehicles from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more, to identify the 15 most expensive US military land vehicles. Vehicles are ranked according to their unit cost, sourced from a number of media and government sites. Unit prices were adjusted for inflation to March 2023 using the CPI inflation calculator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Information on the role these vehicles play in the military, when they entered service, and their crew size also came from Military Factory.
Why Does This Matter?
According to its budget, the United States Army spends roughly $5 billion modernizing its ground-based combat vehicles: tanks, artillery, personnel carriers, and other armored vehicles. Out of this lump sum, a portion goes to research and development, but most of the military’s budget goes toward updating its fleet of land vehicles or procuring new vehicles.
Here is a look at the most expensive military vehicles in the U.S. Army.
15. Force Protection Cougar
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $832,334
- Type: Troop transport / Command and control communications / EOD / Lead convoy vehicle
- First entered service: Troop transport / Command and control communications / EOD / Lead convoy vehicle
- Crew size: 2
14. BAe RG-31 Nyala
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $1,066,551
- Type: Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV) / Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle
- First entered service: Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV) / Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle
- Crew size: 8
13. M1117 Guardian ASV
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $1,127,326
- Type: Armored Security Vehicle
- First entered service: Armored Security Vehicle
- Crew size: 3
12. M9 Armored Combat Earthmover (ACE)
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $1,427,031
- Type: Military bulldozer / Engineering vehicle
- First entered service: Military bulldozer / Engineering vehicle
- Crew size: 1
11. Force Protection Buffalo H
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $1,458,578
- Type: Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle
- First entered service: Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle
- Crew size: 2
10. M88 Hercules
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $4,330,659
- Type: Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
- First entered service: Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
- Crew size: 3
9. M270 MLRS
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $4,344,229
- Type: Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
- First entered service: Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
- Crew size: 3
8. M777 Ultra-lightweight Field Howitzer (UFH)
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $4,776,868
- Type: 155mm Lightweight towed artillery
- First entered service: 155mm Lightweight towed artillery
- Crew size: 7
7. M2 Bradley
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $4,811,844
- Type: Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)
- First entered service: Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)
- Crew size: 3
6. General Dynamics Stryker
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $5,533,620
- Type: 8×8 wheeled multirole Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV)
- First entered service: 8×8 wheeled multirole Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV)
- Crew size: 3
5. M3 Bradley
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $5,820,508
- Type: Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV) / Armored reconnaissance scout-tracked combat vehicle
- First entered service: Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV) / Armored reconnaissance scout tracked combat vehicle
- Crew size: 5
4. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $6,766,010
- Type: Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
- First entered service: Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
- Crew size: 3
3. M1 Abrams
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $15,037,012
- Type: Main Battle Tank (MBT)
- First entered service: Main Battle Tank (MBT)
- Crew size: 4
2. M109 (Paladin)
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $17,082,045
- Type: 155mm Self-Propelled Artillery (SPA)
- First entered service: 155mm Self-Propelled Artillery (SPA)
- Crew size: 4
1. MIM-104 Patriot
- Unit cost (adjusted for inflation): $26,969,800
- Type: Surface-to-Air (SAM) system
- First entered service: Surface-to-Air (SAM) system
- Crew size: 12
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The post This US Army Vehicle Costs $27 Million, Each appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..