If you read the GAO report[1], most of the costs are due to commercial outsourcing- either outright failures on the part of private contractors, like the unreli

If you read the GAO report[1], most of the costs are due to commercial outsourcing- either outright failures on the part of private contractors, like the unreliable automated systems, plane arrestors, and other misc. equipment and services, or on the part of the DOD making assumptions about those equipment and services (like one notable instance in several classes where the navy assumed that commercial equipment would not require service or repair for the life of the ship). These high costs occur when contractors have the government by the balls, because... that's what markets are for. The gov will pay $10,000 to replace a bulkhead (toilet cover), because well, toilets need to be covered on an airplane. $10,000 is just what it costs for someone to pick up the phone. 1: https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/705463.pdf https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/705463.pdf