Oh, the things you learn....

[unhappycamper]

For the longest time, I was under the impression that Virginia-class submarines were around $2.8 billion dollars a pop.

Then I posted this article in GD a little bit ago: Northrop makes first step to spin off shipbuilding unit to shareholders. The thirteenth paragraph in the OP states:

The inclusion of the program is noteworthy because it signals Northrop believes it has a legitimate shot to at least share in building the $4 billion to $7 billion subs, called the Ohio Class replacements.

Looking at the 'old' Ohio-class boats (in Wikipedia) I see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_class

Replacement

The Department of Defense anticipates a continued need for a sea-based strategic nuclear force.<20> The current Ohio SSBNs are expected to retire its first vessel by 2029,<20> meaning that a platform must already be seaworthy by that time. A replacement may cost over $4 billion per unit compared to Ohio's $2 billion.<3> The Navy is exploring two options. The first is a variant of the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines. The second is a dedicated SSBN, either with a new hull or based on an overhaul of the current Ohio.

With the cooperation of both Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding, in 2007 the Navy had already begun a cost control study.<20> Then in December 2008 the Navy awarded Electric Boat a contract for the missile compartment design of the Ohio class replacement, worth up to $592 million. Newport News is expected to receive close to 4% of that project. Though the Navy has yet to confirm an Ohio class replacement program, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, as of April 2009, confirms that the Navy should begin such a program in 2010.<3> The new vessel is scheduled to enter the design phase by 2014. It is anticipated that if a new hull design is used the program must be initiated by 2016 in order to meet the 2029 deadline.<20>


So we have already built seven Virginia-class submarines and they cost somewhere between $4 and $7 billion dollars each.

A few questions from this peanut gallery:

Why does the United States military lie about the cost of military hardware?
Why does Wikipedia lie about the cost of military hardware?
Why does Congress lie about the cost of military hardware to their constituency?
Why do We The People permit this to happen?

Military spending counts - we're spending a trillion dollars a year on this stuff, folks.