The United States military is home to the most advanced fleet of military aircraft in the world. However, these aircraft come at a price. The technological advancement, development and production of these aircraft, along with other military expenditures, put U.S. military spending at the highest of any country but it is well worth it to call the United States the preeminent military power on the planet.
The next generation of fighter jet that the U.S. is producing is outfitted with the most advanced military technology allowing for a vastly improved operational capacity. Some of these jets cost upwards of $100 million each. However, these jets aren’t even close to the most expensive aircraft in the fleet even with the newest stealth technology and avionics. (These are the oldest and newest stealth aircraft still flying.)
To determine the most expensive U.S. military planes, 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. 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.
At the top of this list is the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, which has a 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 make it practically invisible to enemy radar systems. (This is everything you need to know about military stealth technology.)
Overall, these aircraft reflect a sizable portion of the U.S. defense budget, including continued development and maintenance. All of these aircraft represent the U.S. dedication to air superiority and safeguarding national security interests, and it is heavily implied by their price tags.
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
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
- 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
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- 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
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- 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
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
- 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
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- 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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
Source: tomasdelcoro / Flickr
- 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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- 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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
Source: telegraham / E+ via Getty Images
- Est. cost per unit, 2024: $2,189.31 million
- Active in U.S. Military: 17
- Primary role: Ground attack, heavy bomber
- Primary contractors: Northrop Grumman
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