Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov [File photo]

The cost of building a medium-sized, conventionally-powered, 60,000-tonne carrier similar to the Russian Kuznetsov class could exceed US$2 billion.

According to the United States Government Accounting Office (GAO), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier cost about 58 percent more than a conventionally powered carrier. In their report, the average life-cycle costs in fiscal year 1997 dollars for the Nimitz carriers are as follows:

Construction costs - $4.5 billion

Mid-life overhaul costs - $2.3 billion

Operating and support costs - $14 billion

Other costs - $1 billion

Total average cost - $22 billion each

Navy military researcher Li Jie said it is about $100,000 per hour, millions a day for Nimitz-class carrier, USS George H.W. Bush, with construction costs about $6.5 billion.