The Most Expensive Aircraft in the US Air Force

"The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman the contract to design and manufacture the next generation bomber in October 2015, and with an estimated inflation-adjusted unit cost of about $797.4 million, the B-21 will be among the most expensive military aircraft in the USAF. Still, when it reaches operational readiness, the B-21 Raider will be only one of many military aircraft with nine figure price tags."

"According to the 2025 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal , an aerospace industry publication, the U.S. Air Force has an estimated 4,875 aircraft at its disposal. These include fighter jets, stealth bombers, and combat helicopters, as well as a wide range of reconnaissance, special mission, transport, and training aircraft. This fleet was developed over decades, and estimated unit costs for each individual aircraft vary, from less than $5 million to more than $2 billion."

In September 2025, a second B-21 Raider arrived at Edwards Air Force Base for testing and evaluation. The aircraft represents a sixth-generation stealth bomber intended to replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit long-range bomber fleets. Northrop Grumman secured the design and manufacturing contract in October 2015. The estimated inflation-adjusted unit cost is about $797.4 million, making the B-21 one of the most expensive USAF aircraft. The Air Force operated with a fiscal 2025 budget of over $353.5 billion, funding research, development, procurement, operations, and maintenance. The USAF inventory is estimated at 4,875 aircraft with unit costs ranging from under $5 million to over $2 billion.

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