People seem to be very interested in the compilation of Top 10 anything. Our earlier posts Top 10 Software Easter Eggs, Top 10 Huble Images and Top 10 Antivirus of 2009 got extremely good respose from our readers. So keeping the trend, this time we bring you the list fo Top 10 most expensive Military Aircrafts. Hope you people like it. For those who want to watch these machines in action, do check the videos we posted.
1) B-2 Spirit:
A heavy bomber made by US, only 21 units were made and now only 20 reamins as one crashed in 2008. B-2 top our list of most expensive as each unit cost around $2.4 billion, yeah quite an expensive toy, but if you check the features of this aircraft, you will surely say that this aircraft is worthy of such a price tag. Let us give you brief overview of its capabilities, the THING is hard to detect via infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual or radar signals or you can call it virtualy invisible. Thus giving it the stealth capability making it able to attack targets with less fear of retaliation.
Here is a video clip from Military Channel giving you the preview of this aircraft.
2) F-22 Raptor:
This aircraft is second in our list, with each unit costing $350 million, not to mention it is the most expensive combat plane of the world and the best overall according to Lockheed Martin.The stealth, speed, precision, air to air and air to ground capablilities make it stand out from rest of the crowd.
Here is a video made shortly after the launch of this plane.
3) C17A Globemaster III:
This monstrous transport aircraft is worth $328 million a piece. Product of McDonnell Douglas, the primary use of aircraft includes moving troops into war zones, performing medical evacuations and conductting airdrop missions. Not to forget 190 of these are currently in service.
Here is a video of demo given at NAS Oceana Airshow 2008.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2677469261641060291
4) P-8A Poseidon:
Formerly known as the Multimission Maritime Aircraft or MMA, this aircraft is created for US Navy. The purpose of this aircraft is to conduct anti-submarine warfare, shipping interdiction, survelliance and not to mention carrying variety of sea weapons which inlcudes torpedoes, depth charges, Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, sonobuoys. Oh, and the price is $290 million per plane.
Here is the video of first flight of this promising plane.
5) VH-71 Kestrel:
Variant of VH-60, developed to replace the current aging fleet of of American President, each unit of this high tech helicopter costs $241 million. President Obama canceled the project due to its high cost and it was decided that the money will be spent on upgrading current VH-60N fleet.
Below is the video shoot during the first test flight of this helicopter.
6) E-2D Advanced Hawkeye:
This is an upgrade to current all weather surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft of E-2X series. After upgrade, each unit will cost $232 million but it will increase the range of territory an aircraft can monitor by 300%.
Take a look at this clip from the maiden flight of Advanced Hawkeye.
7) F-35 Lightning II:
Part of the largest ever military contracted signed by Lockheed Martin in 2001, this aircraft was developed to replace current generation of aircrafts, part of Joint Strike Force Project which is between US and its allies. This beautiful war toy costs $122 million a piece.
Watch this video montage to this higly futuristic aircraft.
8) V-22 Osprey:
Full name Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and designed to perform missions like helicopter and aircraft, it is capable of a multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. Each place costs $118 million.
First flight of this weird looking aircraft.
9) EA-18G Growler:
A specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, this light armed light weight aircraft is designed for electronic warfare such as finding and disrupting anti-aircraft radar. Worth of each plane stands at $102 million.
Video giving quick review about this aircraft.
10 )F/A-18 Hornet:
This carrier capable aircraft is the first strike aircraft (capable of attcaking both ground and air targets) for US. This aircraft is at the bottom of our list with cost of $94 million per unit.
Watch this demostration of F-18/A at Salinas Airshow.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6017342022780502321