These Are the Most Expensive Planes made for the US Navy

The USA DoD defense budget for 2024 is an astonishing $842 billion, making the United States the leading country in defense spending. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s latest report confirms that the U.S. spends more on defense than the other top nine military spending nations combined. 

Within the U.S. Navy, the air force is particularly expensive, and it constitutes one of the most expensive aspects of the defense budget. CEOWORLD magazine has identified the top fifteen most expensive planes in the U.S. Navy Air, excluding drones and unmanned aerial vehicle systems, using information on aircraft unit prices released by the Department of Defense.

1. E-6B Mercury Airborne Command Post

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $153.9 million
   US Navy Inventory: 16
   Primary Function: Communications relay for fleet ballistic missile submarines (A and B models) and airborne command post for U.S. Strategic forces (B model)
   Primary Contractor(s): The Boeing Company

1. F-35C Lightning II

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $102.6 million
   US Navy Inventory: 26
   Primary Function: Multirole: ground attack, air superiority
   Primary Contractor(s): Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems

1. C-130 Hercules Military Transport Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $89.4 million
   US Navy Inventory: 28
   Primary Function: Aerial refueling, tactical passenger and cargo airlift
   Primary Contractor(s): Lockheed Martin

1. E-2 Hawkeye Airborne Command and Control Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $86.9 million
   US Navy Inventory: 97
   Primary Function: Airborne Command and Control, Battle Space Management
   Primary Contractor(s): Northrop Grumman

1. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $76.4 million
   US Navy Inventory: 566
   Primary Function: Multirole attack and fighter aircraft
   Primary Contractor(s): The Boeing Company

1. C-37A (Gulfstream V) and C/NC-37B (Gulfstream 550)

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $73.6 million
   US Navy Inventory: 0
   Primary Function: Passenger transport
   Primary Contractor(s): CLS – Gulfstream

1. UC-35 Citation

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $73.4 million
   US Navy Inventory: 0
   Primary Function: Passenger and cargo airlift
   Primary Contractor(s): DynCorps, Valair and Pratt & Whitney

1. EA-18G Growler Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $72.8 million
   US Navy Inventory: 153
   Primary Function: Airborne Electronic Attack
   Primary Contractor(s): The Boeing Company

1. C-2A Greyhound Logistics Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $43.4 million
   US Navy Inventory: 33
   Primary Function: Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft
   Primary Contractor(s): Northrop Grumman

1. C-20 Gulfstream Logistics Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $42.6 million
   US Navy Inventory: 3
   Primary Function: Worldwide passenger and cargo airlift
   Primary Contractor(s): Gulfstream Aerospace and M7 Aerospace

1. F/A-18 A-D Hornet

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $32.9 million
   US Navy Inventory: 68
   Primary Function: Multirole attack and fighter aircraft
   Primary Contractor(s): The Boeing Company

1. F-16A/B Fighting Falcon Fighter

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $26.7 million
   US Navy Inventory: 14
   Primary Function: Adversary fighter
   Primary Contractor(s): General Dynamics Corp. and Lockheed Martin

1. T-45C Goshawk Training Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $18.5 million
   US Navy Inventory: 191
   Primary Function: Training platform for Navy/Marine Corps pilots
   Primary Contractor(s): The Boeing Company

1. UC-12 Huron Logistics Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $6.9 million
   US Navy Inventory: 13
   Primary Function: Light passenger and cargo airlift
   Primary Contractor(s): Raytheon Aircraft Company

1. T-34C Turbo Mentor Training Aircraft

   Est. Unit Cost in 2022: $1.1 million
   US Navy Inventory: 13
   Primary Function: Enhancing pilot proficiency, supporting low-risk missions, and providing aircraft support services for the fleet
   Primary Contractor(s): Raytheon Aircraft Company

These aircraft exemplify the U.S. Navy’s dedication to deploying sophisticated and high-cost assets, showcasing the nation’s commitment to maintaining military superiority in an ever-changing global landscape.

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