{"id":70,"date":"2017-04-03T20:25:58","date_gmt":"2017-04-04T00:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/historyoftech.mcclurken.org\/b2bomber\/?page_id=70"},"modified":"2017-04-25T00:22:26","modified_gmt":"2017-04-25T04:22:26","slug":"cost","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/historyoftech.mcclurken.org\/b2bomber\/cost\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost"},"content":{"rendered":"

Program costs rose throughout development. Designed and manufactured by Northrop, later Northrop Grumman, the cost of each aircraft averaged US$737 million (in 1997 dollars). \u201cTotal procurement costs averaged $929 million per aircraft\u201d[1]<\/a>, which includes spare parts, equipment, retrofitting, and software support.\u00a0 The total program cost including development, engineering, and testing averaged $2.1 billion per aircraft in 1997.\u00a0 Because of its considerable capital and operating costs, the project was controversial in the U.S. Congress and among the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> (Holder 1998)<\/p>\n

\"B-2<\/a>
Richard Sisk, digital, Military.com, accessed April 24, 2017, http:\/\/www.military.com\/daily-news\/2017\/01\/20\/b2-stealth-bombers-strike-isis-militants-libya-pentagon.html.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bobbie<\/a>
Bobbie Garcia, B-2 Spirit, 2015, digital, United States Air Force, accessed March 16, 2017, http:\/\/www.af.mil\/AboutUs\/FactSheets\/Display\/tabid\/224\/Article\/104482\/b-2-spirit.aspx.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the controversy, the budget was accepted rather widely as an important cost in ensuring national security. This sentiment helped lead the nation toward a sense of security at all costs, which was only strengthened by the Cold War.[2] The costs for preventing attacks on American soil was worth it to the public. Still, there were reservations in terms of its initial estimated cost of $70 billion, especially by Congress. One publication that argued against the B-2’s program called it “a sinister gray and black manta ray,” highlighting its continued need for such a large budget despite the government’s attempt at cutting back military programs.[3] These two articles, coming from similar times but different views, show the developing discussion regarding the B-2’s funding. This remained its highest point of controversy, although little else prevented the development and use of the B-2. Military necessity and national security beat all doubts in the public eye.<\/p>\n

[2] Bill Sweetman, \u201cSave the B2 Bomber!: Even at $68 Billion, the Stealth Aircraft Is a High-Tech Bargain,\u201d The Washington Post<\/em>, April 30, 1989, C5.<\/p>\n

[3]\u00a0Colin Norman, “Stealth Bomber: Evading Flak over Cost, Mission,” Science<\/em> 242, 4884 (Dec 9, 1988): 1372.<\/p>\n

__________<\/p>\n

Written by Daryl and Lindsey, partially posted by Nick.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Program costs rose throughout development. Designed and manufactured by Northrop, later Northrop Grumman, the cost of each aircraft averaged US$737 million (in 1997 dollars). \u201cTotal procurement costs averaged $929 million per aircraft\u201d[1]<\/a>, which includes spare parts, equipment, retrofitting, and software support.\u00a0 The total program cost including development, engineering, and testing averaged $2.1 billion per aircraft in 1997.\u00a0 Because of its considerable capital and operating costs, the project was controversial in the U.S.<\/p>\n

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