[blueunicorn6]

21 B-2s at two billion apiece would be $42 billion, wouldn’t it? The author says they spent hundreds of billions developing the B-2. That doesn’t add up right.

[tanknetter]

21 B-2s at two billion apiece would be $42 billion, wouldn’t it? The author says they spent hundreds of billions developing the B-2. That doesn’t add up right.

Probably full-lifecycle costs for the entire program, rather than just what was needed to get the aircraft built and turned over to the USAF.

So in addition to the aircraft you'd be looking at facilities (the B-2A facility at Whiteman is about as gold-plated as you can get. Each bomber has its own individual hangar), plus the costs of keeping the aircraft upgraded with the latest/greatest bells and whistles (the B-2A has gone from Block 1 through Block 2 and to Block 3 upgrades). Then throw in the cost of personnel, maintaining the Det out at Edwards for testing (Spirit of New York), etc.