In the area of amazing vehicles, the military has access to the best vehicle options.  Some of the military vehicles can actually make a Ferrari pale in comparison…which is relatively challenging, so we are going to tell you why.  Here is our top 5 list of US Military vehicles we wish we could own:

1.  B-2 Spirit stealth bomber
2.  Black Hawk helicopter
3.  F-22 Raptor- $350 million
4.  Leopard 2A6 military tank
5. Virginia class submarines
 
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is a sleek sight to see-shaped like a flying “W” almost, it seems to become the air as it flies.  Aesthetics aside, this is a serious piece of artillery.  The stealth bomber is a strategic, long-range heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated defense shields.

It is virtually undetectable, and capable of all-altitude missions up to 50,000 feet, with an impressive range of more than 6,000nm without refueling.  This translates to the stealth bomber being able to reach any point in the world within hours.   It boasts a 172-foot wingspan, is 17 feet high, and 69 feet long.  The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is powered by 4 General Electric F118-GE-100 engines, each rated at 77kN.  The stealth bomber can reach a high subsonic speed of 331m/sec, which is the speed of sound in air.  Awesome…I want to rent one for my next trip around the world, forget long lines and airports!

Up next is the Black Hawk helicopter.  Imagine having your own helicopter, especially one as powerful as the Black Hawk!  It features twin engines and powerful blades.  Within minutes, a Black Hawk chopper rises thousands of feet, catapulting around 150 miles per hour to its next destination.   The flexible configuration, maneuverability and power make it a mainstay of military forces worldwide.   While prices vary, the unit cost for the Army’s UH-60L Black Hawk is around $5.9 million, while the cost of the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk is around $10.2 million.  No wonder it is the stuff movies are made of.  Ok, we will take three. 

Stepping it up a notch is the F-22 Raptor.  Modestly priced at $350 million, this bird is a single seat, twin-engine (Pratt & Whiney F119-PW-100 engines), fifth-generation powerhouse that also utilizes stealth technology by breaking the sound barrier.  Its capabilities include ground attack, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and more.  It boasts 35,000 lbs of thrust, and measures in at 62 feet long, with a wingspan of 44.5 feet. 

If you prefer ground travel for your dream machine, there is the Leopard 2A6.  Developed by Krauss-Maffei, this German battle tank impresses.  Cool features include digital fire control systems, laser rangefinders, fully stabilized main gun, coaxial machine gun, advanced night vision, sighting equipment, thermal imaging and ability to drive through water up to 13 feet deep using its snorkel.  The tank is propelled by a turbo-charged multi-fuel v12 diesel engine capable of producing 1,479 horsepower. 

And lastly, we all know the US Military scales land, air, and water-which brings us to the awesome Virginia class submarines.  These guys were created with intentions to lower the bill from $2 billion to $1.8 billion.  Built by GD Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News, they measure in at approximately 377 feet long. 

So what makes a submarine run in the billions?  Well, it is a vehicle that performs undersea, and if that isn’t cool enough it has approximately 40 types of high-tech weapons, special operations forces, unmanned undersea vehicles, and an advanced SEAL delivery system.  Did we mention the S9G nuclear reactor?  It is a serious piece of military muscle.

The Virginia class subs can dive down to about 800 feet and travel at around 25 knots.  If you would prefer to stay on land, and do not have billions of dollars or the credentials to play with the above mentioned bad-boy toys, you can always indulge in an Aston Martin rental, Lamborghini rental, or other luxury car rental to subdue your woes.  We feel your pain. 

 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals