Billion-Dollar Birds: Exploring the World's Largest and Most Expensive Military Planes

9. Hawkeye E-2D

Joined the Service in 1960 Not retired: N/A Expense: *$232 million Designed to replace the E-1 Tracer, the twin-turbo E-2 Hawkeye is a "game changer" for the Navy, according to its builder, Northrop Grumman. An aerial early warning aircraft is the E-2D. It can fly in every weather condition and is carrier capable. Production of this magnificent aircraft began in 1960, the year it made its maiden flight.

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E-2D Hawkeye | Twitter.com / @northropgrumman Most of these Northrop Grumman aircraft are operated by the Navy. Eventually, the Grumman C-2 Greyhound would be created from the E-2. 313 E-2 Hawkeye aircraft have been constructed to date. The E-2 has been dubbed "Super Fudd" and "Hummer," the latter due to the noises made by its engine.