Just to put things in perspective.......

[JSRS6]

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa403/jsrs6/d797b238.jpg

This little thing I am holding in my hand is a gyroscope assembly for one of my systems. In the process of ordering one.

Cost: $31,525 or a good RS6 in today's market.

[vr430]

A system of what? A cruise missile?

[JSRS6]

Haha, no. It's a dual camera(day and night vision) that is mounted high on certain navy and coast guard ships. It uses these gyros and inputs from the ships gyros to stay level. The gun that I shoot when I am on ships(5"caliber) also uses these inputs so we can shoot in any weather conditions up to a decent tropical storm.

[JSRS6]

Besides, that kind of assembly would cost triple or quadruple if it was in a cruise missile.

[SzymekCRX]

This little thing I am holding in my hand is a gyroscope assembly for one of my systems. In the process of ordering one.

Cost: $31,525 or a good RS6 in today's market.

Gyro ? You must be designing DRC replacement system for the RS6 :P

[papadoc]

Sounds like a typical Pentagon order; $1000 ash trays, $31K gyro systems. Our tax dollars at work...
But thanks for your service nevertheless!

[SteveKen]

I'm guessing the most expensive component is probably the machined aluminum frame, too?

[JSRS6]

You guessed it. It is made to VERY precise tolerances. The gyros are ~$7K/ea, so the machined part accounts for more than half.

[Spidercat]

Jeeesh. I'll take the decent RS6 any day, thank you.
Well, unless there were bad guys after me in any weather up to a decent tropical storm, then I'll take the new gyro assembly!

[skribe]

From what I understand the machined stuff needs to be cut extremely precisely from the same billet with the grain in proper order so as to assure that expansion and contraction happens in a way that maintains extremely small tolerances...

Nevertheless, you can get a Chinese version for $42 shipped on eBay ;)