April 23, 2007:
Combat aircraft are getting more expensive, mainly because of all the
new technology you can install. Thus the upgraded UH-60 Blackhawk costs
$19.3 million each. This is more than the AH-64D Apache gunship ($14.1
million). Transport aircraft, in general, are getting a lot more
expensive. The C-17 now costs $329 million each, and the latest version
of the C-130 (C-130J) costs $98.5 million each. The new V-22 tilt-rotor
transports cost $119.3 million each. A latest naval version of the
Blackhawk, the MH-60R, costs $46.1 million each.


But combat aircraft are still the most expensive. The F-22 costs $355
million each. The low budget F-18E cots $94 million each, while the
electronic warfare version (the F-18G) goes for $105 million. The F-35
costs $122 million. Even unmanned aircraft are pricy, with the Global
Hawk costing $182 million each. Older fighters, like the F-16, cost $60
million, and an F-15E goes for about $100 million.



War is hell, especially once you get the bill.

And a hammer costs $7,000? A toilet seat $40,000?

Wonder where all the extra is going?

There is no way I for one am stupid enough to believe that an aircraft
lest than 70 Ft. long made to fit a single pilot and constructed of
mostly plastic costs 355 million dollars. Preeeepostoooorus!
No matter how much electronis you got on it.

they have to pay for black budget items...just skim the cream
off the milk and move it to a different pail...

once heard somewhere that the military may be 40 yrs ahead
of technology that is in the public..makes you wonder..
dont hear much about skunk works anymore..if they even exist now.

The best way to hide a secret is to place it in plain sight...

While pointing 'over there'.

no doubt...and they are experts at that...

Some of the greatest technology in this world has been developed under
secret cover of our war time government. Some being under wraps for
many years, even after a conflict. But here's what gets me.

As developed by the government these advances are usually combersome,
clanky devices as their ceators are limited to those the government
entrusts with this mission. They are then further developed and created
again, using a limited scale of workers, those entrusted/contracted with
to do so, most of whom have little knowledge, if any, of actual combat
situations. Once the conflict has ended and the secracy veil is lifted,
these technological advances, do just that, they advance.

So would these things have come to light without war, or have they come
to light ahead of 'time'. Have we advanced so quickly that we have
fogotten how to stay ahead of the curve economically, at least in this
country? So given this, speaking stricktly of technology, is war a
blessing, a curse or have we been riding the wave of technology so long,
that the current globalization of this world, is endangering our social
and economic position/status in the world?