One B-2 Bomber Costs Rs 17,142 Crore. It's Enough To Buy 18 F-35s, 29 Tejas Mk1As Or 20 Rafales

Last Updated:June 27, 2025, 13:56 IST

If exported, the B-2 bomber’s cost would rise further, and its maintenance runs into thousands of crores. Despite repeated demands from Israel, the U.S. has never sold it

The B-2 Spirit bomber is not only the world's most dangerous but also the most expensive jet. (AP/File)

In a pivotal operation carried out on June 21–22, the United States deployed its advanced B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to strike three of Iran’s nuclear facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The radar-evading aircraft dropped 14 GBU-57 ‘Massive Ordnance Penetrator’ bombs, each weighing nearly 14,000 kg, targeting deeply buried sites.

This marked the first combat use of the B-2 in such a high-stakes mission. Security experts hailed the operation as a display of unmatched aerial capability. The B-2, which costs billions to produce, remains exclusive to US forces and is not available for export.

World’s Most Expensive Jet

The B-2 Spirit bomber is not only the world’s most dangerous but also the most expensive jet. According to Britannica Encyclopedia Online, developing a single B-2 Spirit bomber costs $2 billion (Rs 17,142 crores). If exported, its price would rise further, and its maintenance also runs into thousands of crores of rupees. Despite persistent demands from Israel, the United States has not sold this bomber to any country.

How Many Tejas Jets For The Cost Of One B-2 Bomber?

When comparing the B-2 Spirit bomber to India’s indigenous Tejas MK1A fighter jet, the cost difference is stark. The B-2 Spirit bomber is priced at Rs 17,142 crores, whereas a single Tejas MK1A, developed by HAL, costs between Rs 600 to Rs 638 crores. Thus, India could produce 28 to 29 Tejas MK1A jets for the price of one B-2 Spirit bomber.

The Tejas MK1A is a 4 or 4.5 generation ultra-modern fighter aircraft equipped with a state-of-the-art radar system. Even in terms of payload capacity—the ability to carry warheads—the B-2 bomber doesn’t compare to the stealth jet.

How Does It Compare With F-35 And Rafale?

Compared to the B-2 bomber, another American fifth-generation aircraft—the F-35 Lightning II—is estimated to cost around $110 million (Rs 942 crore) per unit in the international defence market, according to media reports.

Like the B-2 bomber, the F-35 is a stealth jet designed to evade radar detection. There are discussions about the potential sale of F-35 jets to India, though no official confirmation has been made. Eighteen F-35 jets could be acquired for the cost of one B-2 Spirit bomber.

The base model of France’s Dassault Rafale fighter jet is priced similarly to the F-35. However, the 36 Rafale jets purchased by India were heavily customised to meet specific requirements, bringing the cost of each aircraft to Rs 2,057 crore.

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News india One B-2 Bomber Costs Rs 17,142 Crore. It's Enough To Buy 18 F-35s, 29 Tejas Mk1As Or 20 Rafales