[Applause] military aircraft play a vital role in a country's security handling everything from Air superiority and ground support to intelligence gathering and Logistics while we often focus on the impressive performance of this technology today we're shifting gears a bit in this episode we're diving into one of the most crucial aspects of military Readiness the cost of operating US military aircraft from fighter Jets to bombers will break down the expenses and explore what's driving these high costs stay tuned let's go back to 2018 when the government accountability office which provides crucial cost analyses reported that the total operating cost for US military aircraft fleets reached a staggering $49 billion in fiscal year 2018 this analysis covered over 40 different aircraft types show showcasing the massive investment needed to keep the US Air Force running smoothly now let's get into the details starting with fighter jets which are some of the most advanced and expensive aircraft in the [Music] world the operating costs of modern fighter jets can vary widely depending on their design capabilities and maintenance needs for example the A10 Thunderbolt known for its toughness and durability costs $ 22,5 31 per hour to operate largely due to its heavy maintenance demands the F-16 Fighting Falcon a versatile jet used by multiple Air Forces around the world comes in at [Music] 26,998 per hour the F-15 ex the latest variant of F-15 has an operational cost of approximately $29,000 per hour then there's the fa 18 EF Super Hornet known for its high performance and advanced avionics with an operational cost of [Music] $3,445 end we have the F35 Joint Strike Fighter which costs $41,988 per hour across all models despite ongoing efforts to lower those costs the priciest of them all is the F-22 Raptor which costs a staggering 85,3 25 hour its Advanced stealth technology and Powerful engines drive up the cost reflecting the complexity and Cutting Edge capability of this top tier fighter jet [Applause] next let's talk about bombers aircraft built for long-range missions and capable of carrying massive payloads the B52 H strata Fortress costs $883 54 per hour to operate despite being over 60 years old it remains a key part of US military operations due to its impressive endurance and reliability the B2 Spirit known for its Advanced stealth capabilities comes in at 1 $1 15,740 per hour its low observability and specialized technology make it a truly unique and valuable asset the most expensive of the group is the b1b Lancer which costs $173,400 [Music] another kind of military aircraft on our list is specialized aircraft like reconnaissance planes which play a vital role in US military operations take the E3 centry for instance it costs around 66,1 126 an hour and acts as a flying radar and Airborne Command Center providing essential situ situational awareness then there's the RC 135 which comes in at about 95,3 39 per hour this aircraft is crucial for intelligence gathering and supports a variety of missions the most expensive of the group is the e4b with a staggering cost of [Music] during a National Emergency after knowing the flight cost now we get to the main question what exactly goes into the operating costs of military [Music] aircraft these expenses cover just about everything needed to keep planes flying fuel maintenance staff and other related costs one major factor is the age and Technology of the aircraft newer planes often have higher cost due to their Advanced systems and the upkeep they require on the flip side older aircraft can also be expensive to maintain since they tend to need more frequent repairs as they age sustainment costs are another big piece of the puzzle and they've been rising sharply for many modern planes for example the F-35 program is projected to exceed 2 trillion over its lifetime this staggering figure includes not only the operational costs but also the long-term maintenance and upgrades necessary to keep the fleet running for [Music] [Applause] decades operating costs for military aircraft have gone up and down over the years driven by Tech advancements budget restrictions and evolving Mission requirements the introduction of high-tech Jets like the F35 has significantly increased Aviation expenses as these modern planes require more Advanced Maintenance and support on the flip side budget limits often Force military leaders to make tough choices about which aircraft to keep upgrade or retire usually prioritizing newer models while older still functional planes get left behind additionally as operational demands increase whether through more frequent deployments or expanded Mission Scopes costs can Spike unexpectedly putting even more pressure on resources so why is knowing these costs so important the Steep operating expenses of advanced fighter jets like the F-35 make military planners think carefully about how they purchase and maintain these planes planes reducing costs could involve improving maintenance processes lowering fuel consumption or optimizing flight schedules to make operations more efficient operating military aircraft is a highly complex and expensive task from advanced fighter jets like the F35 and F-22 to longrange bombers like the B52 and b1b Lancer the cost to keep these aircraft flying are enormous factors like cuttingedge technology aging fleets and changing operational demands all contribute to driving these expenses higher as the US military continues to modernize its Fleet to meet evolving Global challenges managing these costs will be a key issue while new technologies have made these aircraft more capable than ever they come with a hefty price tag so do you think the high cost is worth it that's all for today thank you you for watching [Music]