The Strategypage is a comprehensive summary of military news and affairs.
February 13, 2012
Warship Price Database


Aircraft Price Database | Ground Equipment Price Database | Missile/Bomb Price Database

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.

Ship Type Service Units Made Unit Cost (in $mn) notes
CVX-78 Acft carrier USN 1 5200 2
CVN 72/73 Acft Carrier USN 2 3483  
SS (Proj 636) Kilo RUS ? 187.5  
SSN-754 submarine Virginia USN 30 2100  
SSN-688 submarine Los Angeles USN 90 1000  
SSN-21 Submarine SeaWolf USN 3 4400  
SSGN-726-Ohio USN 4 500  
SSBN-726 Trident/Ohio USN 20 1500  
FF O.H. Perry Frigate USN 54 400  
FF (proj 1135) Krivak RUS ? 333  
DDG-Burke USN 43 947  
DD-Spruance USN 36 900  
DDG (proj 956) Sovremenyye RUS ? 750  
CG (proj 1164) Slava RUS ? 950  
CG Aegis Cruiser USN 11 982  
LHA/LHD Iwo Jima Amphib Assault USN 12 400  
LPD San Antonio landing ship USN 21 500  
MCM Minesweeper USN 14 25  
MHC Osprey mineswpr USN 12 60  
MCS Mine Countermeasures Sppt USN 1 400  
T-AKR (Bob Hope) supply ship USN ? 265  
T-AKR Ro/Ro ship USN ? 40  
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
 

© 1998 - 2012 StrategyWorld.com. All rights Reserved.
StrategyWorld.com, StrategyPage.com, FYEO, For Your Eyes Only and Al Nofi's CIC are all trademarks of StrategyWorld.com
Privacy Policy