PRICE TAGS ON MISSILES

When a missile is fired, money is spent. In the case of the Patriot, that’s $560,000 every time one is launched, the cost of its sophisticated electronics package. Here is a sample of the cost of certain missiles deployed so far in the Persian Gulf War.

Tomahawk: $1.35 million Surface-to-surface Anti-ground targets Program cost: $9.8 billion Harpoon: $1.12 million Air-to-surface Anti-ship Program cost: $3.7 billion Patriot: $500,000 Surface-to-air Anti-missile Program cost: $12.4 billion I/Hawk: $261,000 Surface-to-air Anti-plane Sea Sparrow: $189,400 Ship-to-air Anti-plane Program cost: $2.8 billion Hellfire: $35,000 Air-to-surface Anti-tank Program cost: $2.7 billion TOW 2: $20,000 Surface-to-surface Anti-tank Program cost: $3.5 billion