I don't know the source of this quote, but it's clearly a long way off the mark!
Not at all. You can purchase an airworthy restricted category UH-60A for less than $3m.
- any military BH procurement will include additional through life costs that will escalate the apparent unit costs.
ALL, commercial or military helicopter procurements have through life costs.
The rule of thumb is that the platform acquisition cost is about a third of the 'Total Life Cost (TLC).
TLC’s would include the initial purchase price, then costs associated with scheduled and corrective maintenance, repairs, refurbishment, overhauls, etc, account for the additional two thirds of costings incurred for the remainder of the helicopter’s ‘In-Service’ life.