In this article, we look at five of the most expensive fighter jets in the world. You can read about the evolution of fighter jets and countries that are racking up their defense by procuring advanced combat aircraft by heading over to the 15 Most Expensive Fighter Jets in the World.
5. Dassault Rafale
Price: $115-124 million
French twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft, Dassault Rafale, is one of the most expensive fighter jets in the world. The jet is equipped with a wide range of weapons and offers several capabilities including air supremacy, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike, ground support, and carrying out nuclear deterrence missions. According to AeroTime, the per unit cost of a Rafale fighter jet is approximately $115 million, while Shephard Media quotes it to be worth $124 million.
4. F-15EX Eagle II
Price: $117 million
The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is one of the most expensive fighter jets in the world, and is a variant of the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15 was never a cheap jet, and this new version of the F-15 has just reiterated that. Despite that, it is much cheaper ($117 million) than the likes of the F-35 and F-22, and its operating cost is also low at $29,000 per hour, which is one-thirds of the operating cost of the F-35.
3. Eurofighter Typhoon
Price: $117-124 million
Introduced in August 2023, the Eurofighter Typhoon is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. The aircraft was designed by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo as an air-superiority fighter. Member nations of the European Union, who played a part in the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon, can get the jet for as low as $50 million, according to AeroTime, but the export price for other countries is much higher. In 2018, these fighter jets were offered to India by Airbus for $124 million per unit. According to the Shephard Media, the UK National Audit Office in 2023 estimated the cost of the fighter aircraft to be $117 million.
2. F-22 Raptor
Price: $143 million
The F-22 Raptor fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is one of the most expensive fighter jets in the world. The stealth aircraft is single-seat, twin-engine, and has several top notch attributes because of which it rates among the finest in its class of fifth-generation fighters. The per unit average cost of the F-22 Raptor is $143 million according to AeroTime.
1. F-35 Lightning II
Price: $150-200 million
The F-35 is one of the most advanced fighters ever produced in history. This Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) fighter jet is a centerpiece of global security in the 21st century. The stealth combat aircraft comes equipped with intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities as well, along with performing successful strike missions. The F-35 comes in three variants – F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C, with varying prices, depending on the specifications of the order. According to AeroTime, the jet has a unit cost of $177 million, while Fortune estimated the price of the F-35 to be between $150-200 million.
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