Over $1 million? How much does one US B-2 Bomber mission really cost?
The official estimate by the US Department of Defence places the operating cost at nearly $150,000 per flight hour. This includes fuel, maintenance, crew salaries, and logistical support.
One of the most expensive aircraft ever built
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber costs around $2.1 billion per unit, making it one of the costliest military aircraft in history. Every time it takes off, the price tag doesn’t just stop at the aircraft — the mission costs add up rapidly.
Operating cost per hour
The official estimate by the US Department of Defence places the operating cost at nearly $150,000 per flight hour. This includes fuel, maintenance, crew salaries, and logistical support.
Fuel alone can cost over $60,000
A full B-2 mission can burn more than 50,000 gallons of jet fuel, depending on distance and refuelling needs. With fuel costs fluctuating, this could exceed $60,000 or more per mission.
Mission durations are extremely long
Some B-2 missions last 36 to 44 hours nonstop, such as long-range sorties from the US to the Middle East or Pacific. These durations multiply the hourly costs, taking the total mission expense into the millions.
A single mission can cost $3–4 million
When all expenses are added, fuel, maintenance, mid-air refuelling, mission planning, and support aircraft, a full B-2 combat sortie or strategic show-of-force operation can cost between $3 million to $4 million.
High maintenance costs post-flight
After every mission, the aircraft undergoes extensive maintenance and stealth coating reapplication, which is labour-intensive and highly technical. This alone can cost hundreds of thousands per mission.
Strategic value outweighs cost
Despite the staggering price, the B-2’s ability to penetrate enemy defences, deliver nuclear or precision conventional payloads, and return undetected is considered invaluable by the US military — especially during times of global tension, like the current Iran-Israel situation.
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