Currently, US military aircraft are engaged in several operations in different regions. Its planes and helicopters regularly make combat missions with the aim of destroying certain objects, for which a wide range of aviation weapons are used. In addition, training is carried out using practical ammunition. At the same time, modern ASPs are not distinguished by simplicity and cheapness, as a result of which the combat work of aviation costs the Pentagon a lot.
Combat expenses
Currently, US aviation is engaged in two combat operations in different regions. In 2014-15. The Pentagon has launched Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. An important component of these operations is the identification and destruction of various enemy ground targets. Combat aircraft and helicopters, as well as modern ASPs, are almost the main tools for solving such problems.
The activity of the Air Force, Navy and ILC aviation in different theaters of military operations is distinguished by a fairly high activity and the corresponding consumption of ammunition. The Pentagon regularly publishes general statistics of this kind, which provide a detailed and illustrative picture.
From the beginning of 2014 to January 2020, more than 46,100 sorties were carried out as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. In more than 6, 9 thousand sorties, an airplane or helicopter used weapons. In total, more than 24, 1 thousand units of ASP were spent. Work in Iraq and Syria was more intense. Since 2016, more than 71, 6 thousand sorties have been performed, of which 24, 3 thousand were accompanied by the use of weapons. The total consumption of ASP is more than 83, 8 thousand units.
In total, for more than six years, US aviation has carried out more than 117 thousand sorties and used up almost 108 thousand ammunition. This number includes both guided missiles and bombs of various types, as well as unguided weapons and projectiles for aircraft cannons. Nevertheless, even taking into account the relatively cheap and massively used shells, the available statistics look very interesting.
Expenses in dynamics
The intensity of sorties and the use of ASP by all types of US military aviation changes from year to year. Nevertheless, some indicators have shown some leveling in recent years, although others continue to fluctuate sharply. Let's consider similar results of recent years and the first month of this year.
In 2018, most of the combat work was carried out as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. 16056 sorties were carried out, of which 1591 were with the use of weapons. The total consumption of ammunition of all types exceeded 8, 7 thousand units. Within the framework of Freedom's Sentinel in the same year, they flew less than 8, 2 thousand sorties (more than 960 with the use of weapons) and used 7,632 ammunition. Total, 24252 departures and more than 16, 3 thousand ASP units per year.
In 2019, activity in Syria dropped significantly - 13.7 thousand flights, incl. 976 with the use of 4,729 weapons. There has been no noticeable change in Afghanistan. The number of sorties increased to 8773, but the weapon was used more than 2400 times - with a consumption of 7423 units. Thus, the total number of sorties in the two theaters remained almost unchanged, and the ASP consumption was reduced to 12, 1 thousand units.
In the first month of 2020, American aircraft flew over 1,000 flights over Syria and used weapons 8 times. At the same time, 68 ammunition of all types was used up. During the same period, 633 sorties and 129 firing operations were carried out in Afghanistan with the consumption of 415 weapons. Such rates of combat work generally correspond to the observed trends. If they remain unchanged, then 2020 in general terms will not significantly differ from the previous periods.
Organization of purchases
To replenish the costs of the TSA, the armed forces have to purchase new products of all classes. In connection with the adopted course for the widest possible use of controlled high-precision systems, such purchases are not distinguished by low cost and form a significant part of the military budget.
The purchase of ASP and other "consumables" for military aviation is carried out by different departments. Thus, the interests of the Air Force are provided by the Ministry of the Air Force. Naval Aviation and Marine Corps Aviation, in turn, are dependent on the activities of the Department of the Navy. Also, purchases are carried out through the Army, which has its own aviation.
The cost of purchased items of the same type may differ in different contracts. The price of a rocket or bomb depends on the modification, the ordered quantity, delivery time, etc. For example, a purchase under the defense budget and an order under the Overseas Contingency Operations clauses can also affect the cost of weapons.
Recently, the online edition The War Zone published interesting information about the cost of the main AAS made in the United States. This data is taken from the draft military budget for the next 2021 fiscal year. In a few months, the project will go through all stages of consideration and can be accepted for implementation.
In monetary terms
Next year, the Pentagon plans to purchase a number of guided air-to-air missiles. We are talking about products of only two types in several modifications. Provision is made for the purchase of AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles. The Air Force will purchase such weapons at $ 1.095 million apiece. The price for the Navy and KMP is $ 995 thousand.
It is also planned to purchase AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles in several modifications. The average purchase price for the AIM-9X-2 Block II and AIM-9X-3 Block II + versions is given. The Naval Department will pay $ 430.8 thousand per unit, while the Air Force Department will pay $ 472 thousand.
Purchases of AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles will continue. The Air Force is going to order several modifications of such a missile with an average cost of $ 70,000 per unit. The army plans to order these weapons at an average price of 76,000. The plans of the Navy are bolder - its new contract will reduce the cost of missiles to 45, 4 thousand dollars.
The situation with the future purchase of AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship missiles looks no less interesting. The Air Force plans to purchase it at $ 3.96 million per unit. The Navy is going to achieve significant savings by cutting spending to 3.518 million per missile.
Considerable funds will be allocated for the purchase of guided bombs. The Air Force and Navy are going to replenish the stock of GBU-39 / B SDB II products. Each such product for the Air Force will cost 195 thousand dollars, for the Navy and the ILC - almost 221 thousand. Converting the existing bombs under the JDAM project will cost $ 21 or $ 22, 2 thousand for the Air Force and the Navy, respectively.
The quantities of these types of products planned to order and, accordingly, the total cost of all contracts have not been published. However, knowing the order of the numbers, it can be assumed that each of the new contracts under the FY2021 procurement. will cost at least tens of millions of dollars. In addition, the military budget should provide for financing of work to maintain the combat readiness of previously purchased ASPs available in arsenals.
Not a cheap war
For obvious reasons, the Pentagon does not publish accurate statistics detailing combat missions and the type and number of ASPs used. Nevertheless, the available data also add up to a very interesting picture. Even approximate calculations allow us to imagine what funds are spent on ensuring the defeat of various targets.
In just the first month of this year, US military aircraft flew almost 1,650 sorties and spent more than 480 ASP units. Depending on the type and quantity of ammunition, such a consumption can be expressed in the form of hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Considering that such work of aviation has been going on for several years, the general order of numbers becomes clear.
However, the United States can afford such spending. FY2020 Defense Budget reached 738 billion dollars, and a substantial share of this money will go to the purchase of materiel and weapons for military aviation. Thus, $ 3.7 billion has been allocated for new products for the army aviation, a little less than $ 20 billion for the Air Force, and $ 18.5 billion will be spent on naval aviation. These plans include the purchase of not only ASP, but also other products. The allocated amounts will allow you to purchase all the necessary products in the right quantities. Consequently, combat aviation will be able to continue to conduct combat work and spend aviation weapons at the same rate.
