The Navy actually charged Paramount Pictures for the costs of operating a carrier for the film scenes. Paramount tried to get the Navy to agree to refund some

The Navy actually charged Paramount Pictures for the costs of operating a carrier for the film scenes. Paramount tried to get the Navy to agree to refund some of the cost if Paramount let the Navy run a recruiting pitch before the movie in theaters, but Naval officials concluded (correctly) that Top Gun itself was as good a recruiting film as anyone could develop, and charged full price.