3 ms·

Cost of individual military items is often clouded by the need to amortize development cost over a relatively small production run. Making an additional missile

Cost of individual military items is often clouded by the need to amortize development cost over a relatively small production run. Making an additional missile beyond the contracted quantity does not cost $5m.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
WalterBright 3y ago
> a relatively small production run Over 10,000 have been built. The R&D cost should have been amortized away by now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIM-104_Patriot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIM-104_Patriot
- nradov 3y ago
  R&D has never stopped. Raytheon has a large team of engineers working on enhancements even today.
- greedo 3y ago
  The difference between an original Patriot MIM-104 and today's PAC-3 MSE is huge.