The defense industry is one of the most profitable trades in the world. In America alone, the total sales from the defense sector comprises $389 billion, with companies like Lockheed Martin taking the lead. Globally, it boasts profits of over $760 billion. A huge part of that revenue comes from aerospace technology.
Comparatively, war plane construction is far younger than other segments of the defense industry. The first aircraft made specifically for the military was the 1909 Wright Military Flyer, designed (amid fierce competition) by the Wright Brothers for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Fast forward a century, and it’s not unheard of for high-tech military planes to cost nearly $1 billion.