Originally Posted by
tdracer
Supposedly the B-21 is being 'designed to cost' and it's at least being claimed that they are actually below budget and ahead of schedule (although I'd view that with a healthy dose of skepticism). I've heard a target price of ~$500 million/per copy, out the door (so including non-recurring costs). If they pull it off, a bargain compared to the ~$2 Billion each for the B-2.
The cost per airframe is always a bit interesting, imagine that ~$500m is if the program goes to the full 100+ airframes. The B-2 was always going to be pricy, but with the buy cut down applying the entire program costs to only 21 airframes the "per airframe" costs get eye watering. Think the B-2 was intended for @120 airframes. Of course a large buy also costs lots of money.
Other low production wallet busters: Space Shuttle (5 airframes), Air Force one replacement (2), F-22 (179), Japanese US1/PS1/F-2, C-1...
Makes the A-12/SR-71 seem like a bargain.