What Is the Most Expensive Military Plane Today
The most expensive military plane currently in service is the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, with a reported unit cost exceeding 2 billion dollars per aircraft when adjusted for inflation and development spending. The B-2 program was managed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Air Force, and the high cost reflects advanced low-observable technology, global strike capability, and a tiny production run of only 21 aircraft. Forbes details the B-2 cost breakdown and how it compares to other stealth platforms.
Other top contenders for the most expensive military plane include the F-35 Lightning II and the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, both of which carry multi-billion-dollar lifecycle costs per airframe. The F-35 program, led by Lockheed Martin, has become the most expensive weapons system in history when total development, production, and sustainment are combined, with individual aircraft costs varying by variant and customer. Lockheed Martin outlines F-35 variants, pricing tiers, and international customer data.
How Unit Cost and Program Expenses Shape the Price
Unit cost for the most expensive military plane is often quoted in flyaway price, but total program cost includes research, testing, tooling, and sustainment over decades. The B-2's flyaway cost was about 737 million dollars per aircraft in the 1990s dollars, while the all-in program cost per aircraft is much higher because only 21 were built. SEC filings and contractor reports show how R&D and capital expenditures are allocated across major defense programs.
Economies of scale play a huge role, because the most expensive military plane is usually the one produced in the smallest numbers, spreading fixed costs over fewer units. The F-35 benefits from large international orders, which have steadily reduced the per-aircraft price as production rates increased and supply chains matured. Forbes tracks F-35 unit cost trends and how multi-year procurement agreements affect pricing.
Ranking the Most Expensive Military Aircraft by Cost
A simple ranking of the most expensive military plane by current unit cost places the B-2 Spirit at the top, followed by the F-22 Raptor and the F-35A Lightning II in the multi-role fighter category. The F-22 program was canceled after 187 aircraft, making each airframe extremely costly, while the F-35 continues to scale with more than 1,000 deliveries expected in the coming years. Lockheed Martin provides official F-35 pricing by variant and customer.
Future programs such as the B-21 Raider and next-generation air dominance platforms are expected to push the cost ceiling even higher, with advanced stealth, sensor fusion, and digital engineering driving up investment. The B-21 is being developed by Northrop Grumman as a successor to the B-2, and early estimates suggest a program cost that will make it one of