Expendable Remotely Piloted Vehicles for Strategic Offensive ...

million dollars each. The unit flyaway cost of an F-117 stealth fighter isnearly $43 million, and that of a B-2 stealth bomber is $600 million. 17 Ata somewhat lower level of cost, strategic cruise missiles and reusableRPVs cost millions of dollars each. A TLAM costs about $1.2 million, anda Predator UAV costs about $3.2 million. 18Expendable RPVs could best supplement existing assets with the productionof greater quantities and lower unit costs. This is possible becausesuch vehicles need not be restricted to manned aircraft specifications.19 Considering cheaper UAVs from the past and those in currentinventories, one-use, throwaway types could cost as low as tens of thousandsof dollars each. The initial cost of the Firebee was $10,000. 20 A singlePioneer UAV costs $16,000. The total cost for the SR Pioneer UAV systemused in the Gulf War was about $200,000, and it consisted of fourUAVs, a ground control unit, and accessories. 21 In a report on DOD RPVtechnology, the GAO stated that cost reduction in unmanned aircraft designand construction is possible by using materials such as “fiberglass,plastic, foam, fabric, and cardboard.” 22Relative Ranks for System Cost AreaManned AircraftCruise MissilesReusable Remotely Piloted VehiclesExpendable Remotely Piloted Vehicles◦●Operating CostCompared to UAVs, operating costs are higher for manned aircraft dueto the added requirements associated with a more expensive airframe requiredto support a human on board. Maximum levels of reliability requirethat extremely tight tolerances be maintained on airframes, engines, hydraulics,electrical systems, and other components. Manned aircraft requirelife support systems (ejection seats, oxygen systems, etc.) as well asredundant systems. 23 As an example, the B-2 has a quad-redundant, flyby-wiresystem requiring specialized maintenance personnel. 24 Smallquantity buys of specialized aircraft, like the B-2 and F-117, have madethe cost of spare parts relatively high.UAVs allow lower operating, maintenance, and training costs with maximumuse of simulators. 25 Relative to cruise missiles, operating costs arehigher for reusable RPVs due to man-in-the-loop systems, maintenance,and spare parts. However, maintenance and spare parts expenses couldbe eliminated if they were designed to be throwaway like the cruise missile.Reusable RPVs may have similar cost requirements as manned aircraft.Depending upon the recovery system, they may require a significantnumber of additional support personnel, which will increase associatedoperating and maintenance costs. The logistic support for the Firebee was44