Why does the B-2 Spirit cost $1.157 billion, when the
B-1B lancer only costs $283.1 million. Besides the stealth and its higher Ceiling its doesn't have any thing much else over the lancer. Would it be the materials the aircraft it made out of?

IMO, its overpriced to subsidize other black budget projects.

Originally, a fleet of 132 B-2 bombers was going to cost just $21.9 billion total. Though in 1988, $22 billion was already spent without such a fleet. Then the price rose to $70 billion for 132 planes, and then finally the $44 billion for a fleet of 20 as there is today. I've even read that B-2s cost more than their weight in gold as a result of this. And still the usefulness and cost effectiveness of these bombers is in question with regards to simply equipping the entire fleet of B-1s with the same advanced munitions for the price of a single B-2 bomber.

[Edited on 16-11-2003 by heelstone]

It is said that the B2 cost so much cause it has anti-gravity system on it.

The B2 can fly around the world without refueling.

A range of 40 000km? I doubt it, but it does have a large internal volume for fuel, and has a very high lift/drag ratio. It is true that it can hit nearly any target it in the world from the US, with airborne refuelling (there is a boom receptacle behind the cockpit). Antigravity? No, I don't think so. Other black projects, yes. I think the high-voltage leading edge is just a bug zapper, to prevent dead insects increasing radar cross section. (But then why is it classified?)

because of the form of the b2 spirit they had to create a other kind of control system the b2 uses a redical new flight by wire control system and new high speed computers and many backupsystems something which the b1 doesn't have.

Well I like that line that's used in Independence Day "You don't really think they spend $30,000 on a toilet seat do you? or $10,000 on a hammer?".
They use this obscene amount of money for more of their black operations, when it could be used to do so much more good.

I'm involved with the B-2 reseach project. One thing we found is that all of the B-2's systems were custom-built for the plane. The R&D effort was on an almost unimaginable scale. I believe that the cost will seem more reasonable as new facts come to light.

Tim