Why was the B-2 so expensive?

A key reason for this cost is the provision of air-conditioned hangars large enough for the bomber’s 172 ft (52 m) wingspan, which are needed to maintain the aircraft’s stealth properties, particularly its “low-observable” stealth skins. Maintenance costs are about $3.4 million a month for each aircraft.

Why is the B-2 stealth bomber so expensive?

There are several factors that contribute to the high cost of the vaunted B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, quoted by the Air Force as $1.157 billion in 1998$. All of these features and precautions add time and complexity to the B-2 manufactring process, and the end result of such measures is always increased cost.

How much was the b2 program?

Program costs rose throughout development. Designed and manufactured by Northrop, later Northrop Grumman, the cost of each aircraft averaged US$737 million (in 1997 dollars). Total procurement costs averaged $929 million per aircraft, which includes spare parts, equipment, retrofitting, and software support.

How much does it cost to fly a b2 Spirit?

B-2 Spirit The B-2 literally costs more than its weight in gold. The Air Force’s 20 B-2 bombers run along a similar price tag: $130,159 per hour.

How much is a B2 bomber worth?

Originally Answered: Why is the B2 bomber, worth 2 billion dollars, produced when about a 100 F-16s can be built instead of it?

Does a B2 bomber have a bathroom?

The B-1 bomber, for instance, has a small toilet behind the left front seat in the four-person cockpit, while the B-2 stealth bomber has “one stainless-steel bowl, no walls” behind the right seat of its two-pilot cockpit, according to Popular Mechanics.

How much does a B-21 bomber cost?

The service says that the B-21’s average procurement price per unit — the most common measurement of how much it costs to build a jet — has remained within its $550-million-apiece goal, measured in fiscal 2010 dollars. If adjusted for inflation, the equivalent is about $639 million in 2019 dollars, the service said.

How much does b1 bomber cost?

The first B-1A prototype (Air Force serial no. 74–0158) flew on 23 December 1974. As the program continued the per-unit cost continued to rise in part because of high inflation during that period. In 1970, the estimated unit cost was $40 million, and by 1975, this figure had climbed to $70 million.

How much does a b21 bomber cost?

Is the b2 bomber worth more than its weight in gold?

The B-2 literally costs more than its weight in gold. The Air Force’s 20 B-2 bombers run along a similar price tag: $130,159 per hour.

Why is the B2 bomber so expensive to build?

Because the B-2 bomber is worth its weight in gold and does its job more cost effectively than its other 3rd-Gen counterparts such as the B-1B Lancer or F-15C, by utilizing stealth aerodynamics and advanced avionics which cost more to build.

Does the Air Force have enough B-2 bombers?

B-2’s aren’t just expensive to build—they cost a fortune to operate. Key Point : The Air Force does not have enough B-2’s. But there could be a more cost-efficient alternative. More From The National Interest: Since its inception in 1947, the U.S. Air Force has been deeply invested in operating long-range strategic bomber for nuclear deterrence.

When did the first B2 bomber go into service?

The first operational aircraft, christened Spirit of Missouri, was delivered to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, where the fleet is based, on 17 December 1993. The B-2 reached initial operational capability (IOC) on 1 January 1997.

How much did it cost to build the Spirit bomber?

Over the next eight years, the bomber was expensively redesigned for low-altitude penetration, leading development costs to overrun to $42 billion, generating political controversy. The Spirit was finally unveiled in 1988 and made its first flight the following year.