Air Force Defends a $73-Million Bill: The...

Air Force Defends a $73-Million Bill: The Air Force is buying 173 custom-made fax machines for $76,000 each, but the total cost of the contracts, including paper, manuals, training and spare parts, is a whopping $73 million. Air Force officials defended the high cost of the machines, arguing that the specially made document transmitters are designed to work in the worst battlefield conditions. Litton Industries Inc. is building the machines.