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Because even USA doesn't have unlimited money. A B-21 can carry a lot of cheap precision weapons. Eg. JDAM costs like $25k each, compared to many millions each
by sharpy 4y ago
Because even USA doesn't have unlimited money. A B-21 can carry a lot of cheap precision weapons. Eg. JDAM costs like $25k each, compared to many millions each target would require with missiles.
- sofixa 4y agoBut you'd also have to include the cost of the B-21, crew, maintenance, etc. - it's not only the $25k vs millions for a missile.
- throw0101a 4y ago'Cheap' / dumb ammunitions may be easier to produce in volume, so if you need to increase production it could be easier. The B-21 is a fixed cost that is ready to go: just 'add water' (munitions) and you can have a higher pace of operations as long as you can feed the machine (B-21).
- closewith 4y agoEh, bombers aren't a fixed cost. There's certainly a fixed CapEx, but the B2 OpEx is ~$130,000 per hour (https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/air-forces-10-expensive-planes/ https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/air-forces-10-expens...). Still, strategic bombers add capability that drones/missiles don't. In particular, eyes on the target still haven't been deprecated by remote optics in drones and missiles can't loiter.
- sharpy 4y agoYep. True. But amortized over the expected lifetime of the aircraft, it will still be orders of magnitude cheaper.
- sschueller 4y agoThey sure print like they do and the pentagon has a $35 trillion accounting inaccuracy. [1] We don't even know what this stuff costs us in the end. [1] https://www.thestreet.com/phildavis/stocks-options/the-pentagon-s-35-trillion-accounting-black-hole https://www.thestreet.com/phildavis/stocks-options/the-penta...