I do know the unit cost of both the A10 and the F15 (as examples I was familiar with back in the Stone Age) would have been significantly lower had they been produced at a more rapid pace. The same was true of the initial F18s the Navy purchased, or so I'm told by a retired friend who was at the time involved in aircraft procurement.
This particular variant is specialized so it's something of an exception. I still don't see how the slower pace of production is anything other than Congress looking at people in their district being employed rather than the real cost to taxpayers.
Knowing your profession I concede the point. you would know better than I on this subject.
CC