Hyperdrive
New US Ballistic Missile May Cost So Much That Project Risks Being Terminated
- Nuclear missile may cost up to 50% more than estimated
- Provision may be triggered requiring a review by lawmakers
This article is for subscribers only.
The US Air Force’s new intercontinental ballistic missile program is at risk of blowing past its initial $96 billion cost estimate by so much that the overruns may trigger a review on whether to terminate the project.
By one estimate, each of the ICBMS and related expenses, such as silo construction, may cost as much as 50% more than the current estimate of $118 million in 2020 dollars not adjusted for inflation. In theory, that could bring the cost for the 659 missiles planned to almost $117 billion.