The Biggest, Most Expensive Military Planes Ever Produced

11. Joint STARS E-8C

Joined the Service in 1988 Not retired: N/A Price: *$244.4 million The E-8 Joint STARS is an aerial vehicle designed for command and control, ground surveillance, and battle management. Surveillance Target Attack Radar System is what the acronym "STARS" in the name stands for. The E-8 is used by the USAF to track ground vehicles and aircraft. Additionally, it captures images and transmits them to air and ground theatre commandos.

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Twitter.com/11111Lemon / E-8C Joint STARS An improved model, also created by Northrop Grumman, is the E-8C. Two ARC-190 HF radios, twelve ARC-164 UHF radios with HAVE QUICK technology, an AN/APY-7 radar, and three VHF radios are included in the E-8C. The E-8C can reach a service ceiling of 42,000 feet and a cruising speed of 450 mph.

12. Talon T-38C

Joined the Service in 1959 Not retired: N/A $756 million was spent. The Talon is a two-seat, supersonic jet trainer with twin engines. The Talon had the largest production number of any jet of its type and was the world's first supersonic jet trainer. The T-38C is essentially the T-38A with upgraded structural and avionics. The Talon is used by other nations (apart from America), and it comes in a variety of variations.

T-38C Talon via Twitter.com / @kadonkey Initially known as the N-102 Fang, the project was designed by Northrop Grumman. After Northrop rejected the first General Electric engine, which weighed close to 4,000 pounds, for being too big and costly, the company designed a smaller engine.