How much do military aircraft cost?

There is no single price for a "military aircraft" because the category spans everything from a basic trainer to a strategic bomber. What's useful is to rank types by cost tier and understand what each figure actually includes, since defense budgets mix flyaway prices, program costs, and contracts bundled with logistical support.

Turboprop trainers such as the T-6 Texan II or the Pilatus PC-21 cost between $10 million and $20 million. Utility helicopters like the UH-60 Black Hawk run around $20-30 million, and an attack helicopter such as the AH-64E Apache tops $40 million. Fighter jets sit in the $70-120 million range. A C-130J tactical transport costs between $100 million and $150 million, while the larger European A400M runs €150-200 million.

Aircraft carrying large radars or heavy fuel loads push the price much higher: a KC-46 Pegasus tanker costs over $200 million, a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft runs $150-250 million, and an E-7 Wedgetail early-warning aircraft costs several hundred million. At the very top are the bombers: the B-21 Raider has an estimated average procurement cost of around $700 million, and the B-2 Spirit, of which only 21 were built, topped $2 billion per unit once development costs are factored in (2025 figure).

The figures above are approximate flyaway prices. Program cost, which adds in development, can double that amount; and an export contract including weapons, spare parts, and training usually runs two to three times higher. On top of that comes the cost of operating the aircraft for decades, which almost always exceeds the purchase price.