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February 13, 2012
Ground Equipment Price Database


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This database is the result of several months of spare time research. Prices are for mostly US units, with an occasional Russian unit for comparison. Prices are shown in millions of $US.

  • Productions amounts for equipment still being designed are “projected” purchase amounts.
  • A “?” means the author had more-than-usual trouble pinning down a solid number (such as for Russia equipment).
  • Prices are shown for the latest version, if possible, but production numbers are for the entire model line. (Sooner or later, they all get upgraded, or sold, anyway.)
  • Prices were derived from a number of sources, and the goal was to find the price of the entire program if possible. Then, simply take the entire program price and divide by number of units produced, to get a rough but useful number.
  • Prices for out-of-production equipment is based on Foreign Military Sales info whenver possible. These prices are included for comparison purposes.
  • A more seriously technically true price would involve much more research than is humanly possible, due to the arcane nature of US procurement. One would have to factor in legal kickbacks, maintenance packages, operational costs incurred on deployment, costs of legal fees, costs of documentation, cost of congressional review…
  • Also, where possible, total number of units produced is shown, rather than current inventory.
  • American equipment prices were usually available, wth some research. Russian equipment prices are flat-out difficult, and were usually taken from articles showing the “government arms-dealers” price for a package.
  • Augustine’s law (..." the average cost of a tactical fighters quadruples every 10 years") is often visible where multiple generations of an item are shown (F-4, F-15, F-22).

Please send corrections and updates to: gamemechanic731@hotmail.com
This database created by Walter Grube
Copyright 2003, Walter Grube.

Ground Equipment Service Units Made Unit Cost (in $mn) Notes
AAAV USMC 1013 6.6  
Crusader SPH USA 482 24 1
LVTP7/AA7VPA1 USMC 680 2.5  
M109A6 Paladin SPH USA 824 12  
M113 APC USA 80000 1  
M1A2 Abrams MBT USA 2726 4  
M2 Bradley AFV USA 1200 1.1  
M270 MLRS USA 857 2.3  
M3 Bradley CFV USA 400 3.2  
M48A5 MBT USA 11000 0.4  
M60A3 MBT USA 5400 0.8  
M-998 HMMWV "Humvee" USA 120000 0.05  
Stryker USA 2131 1.9 2
Note 1: Congress is still considering the quantity to be built
Note 2: not yet in full production, quantity is an estimate

Sources:
"Shooting Blanks" James Dunnigan, char on p371 (The inspiration for this database)
www.strategypage.com
www.cdi.org
www.fas.org/man/index.html
www.globalsecurity.org/military/index.html
Various USENET articles too numerous to list
www.dsis.org.tw/peaceforum/papers/2001-02/MM0102001e.htm
www.rense.com/general18/russiasells.htm
www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/1917pgs.pdf
www.aeronautics.ru/archive/vvs/index.htm
projects.sipri.se/armstrade/tai_imports93-2002.pdf
www.aeronautics.ru/archive/vvs/il76-01.htm
c130.robins.af.mil/Herc_Facts/hercinfo.htm
www.nasm.si.edu/museum/aero/aircraft/chance_vought_xf8u.htm
 

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