Unbelievably Costly Military Vehicles Ever Made

America’s armed forces are unrivaled in terms of sheer military-technical capacity. The United States government has spent billions of dollars studying, developing, and perfecting America’s arsenal with cutting-edge technology, a move that many consider invaluable.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the culmination of the American military’s greatest efforts and capital. Built by Newport New Shipbuilding (NNS), the USS Gerald R. Ford, cost a whopping $13 billion. The vessel is undoubtedly one of the most costly ships in its vast fleet and the largest warship and aircraft carrier ever constructed.

The construction of this eye-popping military ship began in August 2005 after the government inked a $5.1 billion deal with Northrop Grumman. After a series of trials and testing, the USS Gerald R. Ford was formally commissioned on July 22, 2017 and is expected to make its first deployment sometime around 2022.

Considering the large fleet of military planes by the Lockheed Martin Corporation and Boeing, one of the classic features of this warship is the ability to accommodate aircrafts on its deck. The USS Gerald Ford has certain significant upgrades to its flight deck for optimum capacity, given the United States’ need for an expansive and all-encompassing military presence.

Another notable technological advancement aboard the USS Gerald Ford is its cutting-edge aircraft launch system, which can send Lockheed and Boeing-built military jets into the skies quicker than any previous system. It’s called the EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System), and it functions like a magnetized slingshot.

For many sailors, landing on an aircraft carrier is more dangerous than taking off. But in the case of USS Gerald Ford, safety during landing has been prioritized. This is possible through a unique landing system known as the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).

In the event of an emergency, designers planned ahead and outfitted the USS Gerald R. Ford with some of the world’s most cutting-edge medical care and emergency control systems. To that aim, the ship includes a full-fledged hospital built right into its hull.

It’s very much a given that the ship must have a large crew, given its unique design created for optimum efficiency and aircraft capacity. According to the Navy, the ship will have a personnel capacity of around 2,600 when at sea!

At the cost of $22.3 million per vehicle, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (or EFV) has revolutionized land and air fighting for the US military. It was created to replace the Marines’ prior amphibious transportation vehicle. The EFV was first proposed in the late 1970s and received funding and approval from the Defense Department in the mid-1990s.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II can fly past any obstacle. It is an $89.2 million single-seat, single-engine aircraft capable of flying in all weather conditions and surviving multi-role combat missions. It’s designed for ground assault and air superiority operations. Since the program’s inception, a decade ago, 435 of these aircraft have been produced.

The Zumwalt Destroyer is a guided-missile destroyer focused on land activities and powered by two Rolls-Royce turbines. The anti-aircraft ship is much bigger than conventional cruisers or destroyers, with a max speed of thirty knots. It is in use by the United States Marine Corps.

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a remotely piloted surveillance drone developed by Northrop Grumman and deployed by the US Air Force at the cost of $131 million per unit. It took to the skies for the first time in 1998, and it has been in production since. It’s a component of the High Altitude Endurance Platform, and it has a lot of intelligence capabilities.

The MQ-4C Triton is a product of Northrop Grumman. Its estimated cost is $120 million. First tested in 2013 and first introduced in 2018, this UAV is the coolest-looking drone in the US military artillery.

The M1 Shredder is an Assault Breacher Vehicle or ABV with a price tag around $1 million. Operation Cobra’s Anger in 2009 was its first appearance in battle. If the opponent refuses to move, the Shredder will help them. This ground vehicle can clear a path through minefields, IEDs, and other explosive devices with its 15-foot wide plow in front.

The Boeing AH-64 Apache Helicopter is one of the most often seen helicopters and was created to replace the AH-1 Cobra helicopter. Since the 1980s, this twin-turbo copter has been in service with a price tag of $31 million. The first test flight took place in 1975, and the US Army received it in 1986. The US army now owns about 800 of the more than 2,000 units produced.

The V-22 Osprey is a spectacular piece of American craftsmanship, costing $118 million. Because of its tilt-rotor technology, the V-22 Osprey has the benefits of both a plane and a helicopter, making it very flexible. It can achieve incredible speeds while landing safely at the drop of a hat.

In 2013, the US Marine Corps chose the Oshkosh manufacturer to produce the P-19R Aircraft Firefighter specializing in Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting. The P-19R is 33.17 feet long and weighs 25,760 pounds. With a maximum speed of 72 MPH, this ARFF can drive and pump water at the same time.

The USS America LHA-6 series is the flagship Navy ship of her class, with the motto Bello vel pace Paratus (ready for war or peace). She is the fourth US ship to bear the country’s name and was handed to the Navy in 2014. The USS America was constructed for $3.4 billion on a $10.1 billion contract by Huntington Ingalls.

This vehicle is designed for “extreme recovery operations,” according to the manufacturer, Oshkosh. This ground vehicle encompasses a Multi-Mission Recovery System and its contract cost $1 billion. The MMRS’s AW and independent suspension give great traction, allowing it to traverse on any terrain. It can pull and extract MRAPs and other long tactical vehicles.

Fighter aircrafts must be sleek, intelligent, and capable of delivering a powerful punch. The F-22 Raptor, which was designed during the Cold War, performs all of this and more. Signal intelligence, electronic warfare, and specially tailored weaponry systems are all included in this $350 million jet.

The Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is your guy if you want a state-of-the-art radar that can see threats from miles away with a communications system that can withstand practically anything. It’s a carrier-capable flying aircraft that costs $232 million. However, the United States isn’t the only army using this tactical airborne early warning aircraft.

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is a heavy bomber developed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Air Force. It is a strategic stealth aircraft that is part of the US LRS-B. Each unit costs up to $564 million, although this is an estimated price due to the military’s refusal to release cost estimates for intelligence reasons.

Costing $3.16 million and developed by the British Aerospace (BAE) Systems, the M3A3 Bradley’s only purpose is to carry infantry units to crucial spots on the battlefield safely and securely. It is used by the most heavily-armed units in the army.

By now, you know that size matters in military vehicles. Costing a staggering $328 million per unit, the Boeing C17A Globemaster III is the world’s most advanced military transport aircraft. It can not only transport weapons and equipment across the globe in a jiffy, but it can also transport up to 102 fighters in one trip.

The fuel capacity of this $67.3 million military aircraft is 60,000 pounds. That capacity may be split between personal flight needs and aerial refueling capacity. The Super Hercules can transfer 300 gallons per minute to two separate aircraft at once, providing for quick turnaround times. The Super Hercules can fuel four aircraft in 30 minutes.

The Boeing Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter with two engines. Costing about $38.5 million, the Chinook was developed by Vertol, which would eventually become a subsidiary of Boeing. The Chinook is the US military’s fastest helicopter, with a top speed of 188 MPH.

Constructed through a contract with the US Navy and Huntington Ingalls, this submarine is a one-of-a-kind vessel for undersea strategy. It was commissioned to replace the Los Angeles class subs. The Virginia Class Submarine has the muscle and the technology to gather intelligence while in its sea maneuvers.

At the cost of $201 million per unit and a Boeing design, the MQ-25 Stingray is an admirable drone designed for refueling other military aircrafts and is the world’s first carrier-based, unmanned aerial vehicle. Its first flight was in September 2019 and is currently in development for use in the Navy. The total cost of the Stingray program was $804 million.

Although it’s commonly called Amtrac, this $5.5 million amphibious assault vehicle has nothing to do with the railroad system. Amtrac is just a nickname given by the Marines; its actual designation is AAVP-7A1. It’s a fully tracked vehicle that can go both on land and on water.

The MQ-9 Reaper, commonly known as the Predator 2, was designed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The Reaper is a crewless aerial vehicle that is meant to provide long-range surveillance from high altitudes. Since 2014, 163 have been constructed at a total cost of $11.8 billion, with each unit averaging about $64.2 million.

Going for $1 million, the Joint MRAP Vehicle is among the light tactical vehicles in the US military arsenal that can withstand almost any environment. The vehicle is being built by Oshkosh to be used in the Marine Corps and Army.

The B-2 Spirit is a sight to behold. This almost flat fighter aircraft can deliver payloads with expert precision while still flying under the radar thanks to a series of sophisticated signals. The whole manufacturing effort cost a whopping $45 billion, and 21 units were delivered to the US military.

The P-8A Poseidon began as a regular commercial airliner but developed into something different over time. This fancier Boeing 737-800ERX is presently in service by the US Navy and is a cutting-edge piece of elite military weaponry. The Poseidon would most certainly lead the Navy’s assault in the event of a maritime battle.

Since 1983, the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System has been in use in the United States. The M270 was originally provided to the army, and after witnessing how well it blended in with American soldiers, NATO became interested in it. The MLRS has now been adopted by many NATO nations and costs about $4 million per vehicle.

The Marine Corps uses the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, a heavy-lift helicopter currently under development at a total program cost of $25.34 billion, with each unit costing about $95 million. The first successful test flight was in West Palm Beach military base in Florida in 2015.

Denied by the Navy, the army picked up the plan to build this in 2003 through the Northrop Grumman company for a cost of $3 million. A sensor ball turret with infrared cameras, a laser range finder, and electro-optic cameras are all included on the Fire Scout. It has a visibility range of 172 miles.

The USS Jefferson City is a 362-foot long attack submarine of the LA class costing about $1.56 billion. It is named after Jefferson City, Missouri’s capital, named after Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. The USS Jefferson City sailed for its first six-month mission only recently, although construction began on September 21, 1987, and continued for five years.

This is another military vehicle designed and created by Oshkosh and costs between $1- 2 million. This remarkably unmanned ground vehicle is used by the military in reconnaissance missions and transporting cargo in hot zones, freeing soldiers from possible ambushes, landmines, and IEDs.

The BAE RG-31 Nyala is a mine-resistant vehicle that costs up to $372,000 per vehicle. This ambush-protected vehicle transports men from one location on the battlefield to another. The BAE Land Systems OMC has a range of 559 miles, and the vehicle is 7.28 tons in weight.

The Avenger Weapon System is an air defense missile system used to protect ground troops. This short-range Avenger defense system shields the soldiers from threats such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. This surface-to-air missile fire unit can be deployed almost anywhere as it is designed to operate even in extreme weather conditions. The self-propelled anti-aircraft gun costs around $10.5 million.

M109A7 Tank is an upgrade to the M109A6 Paladin. Although the M109 tanks were introduced in 1963, they have been undergoing upgrades since then, with the latest model coming with additional security features. This self-propelled howitzer is the latest upgrade. The prototype of M109A7 was seen in 2007 before the tank was officially released in 2013. The M109A7 costs around $14.4 million and requires four crew members to operate.

P-3C Orion is a navy-operated maritime patrol aircraft. Although this anti-submarine aircraft was first used in the 1960s, it has become more effective with the introduction of new features. For example, the plane has magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) and directional frequency and ranging (DIFAR) systems to detect submarines. Additionally, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the aircraft played a crucial role in viewing and providing information to the marines about the battlespace.

The M117 Guardian, also called Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), is a military vehicle designed to protect soldiers from small arms fire and mines. It was developed by Textron Marine & Land Systems. This 4-wheeled armored vehicle was developed in the 1990s with the first prototypes appearing in 1997. The military vehicle was extensively used in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The vehicle costs around $800,000.

EC-130H Compass Call is a military aircraft developed specifically for the US Air Force (USAF). The plane is primarily designed for electronic attacks. It disrupts communication or transfer of information crucial to the command and control of enemy security systems. Besides, the aircraft performs offensive counter-information operations, thereby limiting coordination essential for the management of the enemy forces. About fourteen of these aircrafts have been made at the cost of $165 million per unit.

EC-130J Commando Solo was first used by the American forces in Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. The plane is a modification of the C-130 Hercules airframe. Although it comes with the retired C-130E airframe, it is improved to use mission electronic equipment. It is designed for conducting psychological and information operations. The USAF uses the plane to facilitate psychological operations by broadcasting TV, FM, HF, and other media.

The Polaris MRZR 4×4 is a 4-seater, off-road, all-terrain vehicle designed to assist soldiers in moving faster even in the most difficult terrains. It is one of the MRZR vehicles produced by Polaris Industries. The vehicle has been used by American and allied forces in operations in countries such as Turkmenistan, among others.

RC-135U Combat Sent is another large surveillance plane by the American airplane manufacturer, Boeing. The plane is a source of strategic information as it collects and examines the enemy’s radar signals. In addition, Combat Sent uses the information collected for various security applications, such as developing radar warning receivers, among others. Although the RC-135s have been in operation since 1961, the development and introduction of new models have enabled the fleet to remain active to date.

HM/AH-6M Little Bird, nicknamed the “Killer Egg,” is a light assault helicopter the US Army uses in special operations. Before getting into the hands of the special operations community, the “Mission Enhanced” Little Bird was designed for scouting purposes. The attack helicopter is an improved version of MD500E. The latest versions have more powerful engines than their predecessors. They also come with improved avionics, which includes features such as the forward-looking infrared (FLIR).

UH-1Y Venom is a helicopter designed to offer command & control and attack support. The Venom is quite reliable as it can be operated at night or under extreme weather conditions. Special features such as infrared sensor systems and versatile weapons systems give this helicopter these capabilities. Also called “The Yankee” or the Super Huey, this helicopter is an upgraded version of the UH-1.

International MaxxPro is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle. The ten-foot-tall fighting vehicle is designed to withstand threats such as ballistic and mine blasts. In addition, the vehicle can protect the passengers from any harm caused by exposure to nuclear, biological, or chemical elements. Over 9,000 units of this special purpose vehicle have been produced.

RQ-20 Puma is one of the numerous surveillance unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) used by the American military. This hand-launched UAS is specifically used for land-based and marine operations. The Army, Marines, and Navy use the system because it can land in water or on land. In addition, this small battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle is certified to operate in the United States airspace commercially.

Unlike most munitions on this list, Switchblade is a loitering missile. It is designed to crash into its target, exploding and destroying it. It can be set up and launched in less than 10 minutes from fixed positions, combat vehicles, and war crafts. The weapon system can engage both moving and stationary targets. The system is small enough to fit into a backpack.

RQ-21A Blackjack is an unmanned air vehicle designed according to the US Navy and US Marine Corps requirements. “The Integrator,” as the plane is also called, supplements ScanEagle. Both of them are manufactured by Boeing. It is used for target acquisition, data collection, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage. The plane is used in both marine and land operations.

Buffalo is a six-wheeled armored vehicle based on the South African landmine-protected armored personnel carrier (APC) called Casspir. It was developed by Force Protection Industries. The vehicle has a capacity of six passengers who are protected from IED explosives, anti-tank rounds, and grenades. It has a robotic arm and iron claw fitted with a camera and sensory technology to clear the route by digging, extracting, and removing explosives from the soil.

Type 63 is a Chinese armored personnel carrier that entered into service late in the 1960’s. The design is simple and comparable to other APCs of its time.

AVGP (Armored Vehicle General Purpose) is a series of amphibious and armored fighting vehicles ordered by the Canadian military in the 1970s. The vehicles were called Grizzly, Husky, and Cougar.

WZT (Wóz Zabezpieczenia Technicznego, armored recovery vehicle) was a Polish post World War Two vehicle. There are five versions of the WZT, the first two, WZT-1, and WZT-2 were built on T-55/T-55 hulls.

The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank. It was created for ground warfare and is currently one of the heaviest tanks in service at nearly 68 short tons.

M1A2 Abrams tank is considered one of the best tanks due to its battle-tested, tried and true performance.

This American twin-engine attack helicopter was developed by the United States Marine Corps as part of the H-1 upgrade program.

This machine first flew in June 1984 and from there entered into USAF service in September. The aircraft has improved GPS/INS and can carry additional missiles. 

This missile is a ship-based surface-to-air missile system used by the United States Navy. It was created in 2014 and is still in use. 

The T-90 is a Russian main battle tank that was developed by the beginning of the 90’s. It is one of the bets protected tanks in the world. 

The Kamov Ka-50 or “Alligator” is a Russian machine. It has an overall range of 689.7 and a cruising speed of 162 miles per hour.

This british military helicopter is a multi purpose twin-engined battlefield utility. It is also used for search and rescue and anti-surface warfare roles.