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Suspect that includes all the R&D amortized over the couple of vehicles that have been built. The actual device if it's ever fielded wouldn't be anywhere near

by jki275 6y ago

Suspect that includes all the R&D amortized over the couple of vehicles that have been built. The actual device if it's ever fielded wouldn't be anywhere near that price.

nradov 6y ago
No that's total expected program cost divided by the planned total of 72 aircraft, not just the first couple. These are extremely expensive machines no matter how you slice it. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/08/30/us-navy-selects-builder-for-new-mq-25-stingray-aerial-refueling-drone/ https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/08/30/us-navy-selects... I don't understand why people persist in the fantasy that removing pilots will make aircraft cheap. That doesn't align with reality. There are some cost savings but when evaluated on a full program lifecycle basis they are relatively small.
- jki275 6y ago
  It’s 4 vehicles. That’s basically an R&D program, not a procurement. They’re paying Boeing to learn how to build them.
  - nradov 6y ago
    Did you read the article? Expected program cost is $13B for 72 vehicles.
    - jki275 6y ago
      I must have misread something, but those numbers don't make any sense. That article must be misunderstanding what the contract actually is. F18s cost only a little more than a third of that per unit.