THE US DEPARTMENT of Defense has disclosed the total cost of the Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bomber programme and the cost estimate for research and development for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The latest Selected Acquisition Report (SAR), which helps US lawmakers track the cost of major US weapons projects, pegged the B-2 programme at $45 billion, working out at $2.25 billion for each of the 20 aircraft being built. The cost of the stealth aircraft had previously been classified.
The cost of developing the JSF is reported to be $23 billion, but the estimate could change depending on the outcome of the current Quadrennial Defence Review.
Also listed for the first time in the SAR was the US Air Force's Air Borne Laser (ABL) project being built by a team composed of Boeing, Lockheed Martin and TRW. The Pentagon says that it will cost $2.5 billion to develop the Boeing 747-based weapon, designed to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles during their boost phases.
The projected cost of making major upgrades to US Marine Corps Bell AH-1W gunships and UH-1N transports is reported to be $3.6 billion.
Sikorsky Black Hawk utility-helicopter programme costs declined by $850 million because the planned overall purchase declined from 648 to 547.
The cost of the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) T-45 trainer project rose by $547 million because of legal-claim settlements awarded to MDC. Programme schedule changes caused Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor costs to decline by $1 billion, to $45.5 billion.
Source: Flight International
