US missile system unit costs, 1983

[Kiltonge]

From AvWeek 14 March 1983 we can break-out the unit costs from the FY1984 requests. This excludes spares and RDT&E which were submitted as separate line items.

Actual variants were not listed in the requests, just program names.

Also requested as procurement, but not stated in unit terms, were $69.2 million for Rapier and $62.6 million for AMRAAM, both for USAF.

System​	Agency​	Procurement $millions​	Units​	Cost per unit $​
Pershing 2​	Army​	407.7​	95​	4,291,579​
Patriot​	Army​	992​	525​	1,889,524​
Phoenix​	USN​	398.4​	324​	1,229,630​
Harpoon​	USN​	294.3​	330​	891,818​
HARM​	USN​	192.9​	230​	838,696​
HARM​	USAF​	178​	285​	624,561​
Standard​	USN​	595.7​	1190​	500,588​
Hawk​	USMC​	101.6​	360​	282,222​
Laser Maverick​	USN​	45.2​	165​	273,939​
Sparrow​	USN​	153.7​	695​	221,151​
Sparrow​	USAF​	183.7​	1005​	182,786​
IR Maverick​	USAF​	346.7​	2600​	133,346​
Stinger​	Army​	137.8​	1508​	91,379​
Sidewinder​	USN​	29.6​	450​	65,778​
Sidewinder​	USAF​	104.9​	1700​	61,706​
Stinger​	USMC​	40​	706​	56,657​
Hellfire​	Army​	238.8​	5351​	44,627​
MLRS​	Army​	532.1​	36000​	14,781​
TOW2​	USMC​	25.3​	2200​	11,500​
TOW2​	Army​	189.2​	18000​	10,511​

 

[sferrin]

I wonder if Pershing 2 included the cost of the warhead. If so, it's interesting that you could get a terminally guided, nuclear missile for the cost of a couple of Patriots. Also, it looks like the USAF had better buyers.

 

[Kiltonge]

I wonder if Pershing 2 included the cost of the warhead. If so, it's interesting that you could get a terminally guided, nuclear missile for the cost of a couple of Patriots. Also, it looks like the USAF had better buyers.

For comparison FY1983 requested 120 GLCMs at $4.33 million apiece, so Pershing 2 does seem remarkably good value.