TBF, you can't just put hardware-store parts on an aircraft, and especially not a military aircraft.
There's the cost of writing, maintaining, approving and revising the specifications.
The parts have to be inspected and tested throughout the manufacturing process, and the materials and machining records maintained for full traceability in case there's a problem. The materials themselves are very specific, and even if inexpensive, the cost of certifying that the materials comply adds significant cost.
Now, $90k seems excessive, to be sure, but the difference between realistic and corruption/grift/incompetence is likely something less than the $89,900 implied in this comparison.
TBF, you can't just put hardware-store parts on an aircraft, and especially not a military aircraft.
There's the cost of writing, maintaining, approving and revising the specifications.
The parts have to be inspected and tested throughout the manufacturing process, and the materials and machining records maintained for full traceability in case there's a problem. The materials themselves are very specific, and even if inexpensive, the cost of certifying that the materials comply adds significant cost.
Now, $90k seems excessive, to be sure, but the difference between realistic and corruption/grift/incompetence is likely something less than the $89,900 implied in this comparison.