[ThunderSleeps]

On paper each of the powerful vessels costs $3.8 billion a piece, but with research and development costs thrown in the full bill is nearer to $7 billion.

Of course if you build more of them, then you amortize the R&D costs over more ships and the per-ship cost goes back down.

[Smokin' Joe]

Of course if you build more of them, then you amortize the R&D costs over more ships and the per-ship cost goes back down.

Yep.

[octex]

Of course if you build more of them, then you amortize the R&D costs over more ships and the per-ship cost goes back down.
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And, if the ships were being built with NON-union workers the cost per ship would be significantly less!