In the world of military flight, few emblems hold such a caliber as the globe’s most costly fighter jets. They’re not just machines—they’re engineering marvels, strategic endeavors, and symbols of defense agendas for the nation. Their eye-watering price is not just a reflection of cutting-edge technology, but the magnitude of capability they introduce to the airspace. Here are five of the most expensive fighters currently in service, and why countries are willing to spend so much on them.
5. Shenyang FC-31/J-35 – A Stealth Contender
The Shenyang FC-31, also known as the J-35 in its carrier-based variant, is a twin-engine, stealth-capable multirole fighter. Priced at an estimated $70 million to $85 million, it’s the most affordable jet on this list but still boasts features like internal weapons bays and radar-evading design features.
The FC-31 has been marketed as an exportable platform for nations wishing to deploy a fifth-generation fighter without the budgetary burden of more mature models. Though its combat history is still limited, it’s a lower-cost entry point into stealth aviation for countries looking to upgrade their air forces.
4. Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet – The Carrier Workhorse
At a cost ranging between $67 million and $73 million, depending on the model, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet is the backbone of American naval aviation. It’s a multirole vessel that can take on air-to-air combat, strike missions, and carrier operations in equal measure. Its electronic warfare version, the E/A-18G Growler, brings the price up to nearly $80 million. Not necessarily a stealth aircraft by nature, the Super Hornet pays its way through reliability, flexibility, and a well-documented record of service worldwide.
3. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II – Global Fifth-Gen Power
The F-35 Lightning II is the most expensive and ambitious fighter development project ever pursued, with an estimated lifetime price of more than $1.7 trillion for production and maintenance. The unit cost is different: the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B costs about $109 million, while the conventional takeoff F-35A is about $80 million.
The value of the F-35 is in its stealth profile, sensor fusion, and networking capacity with other assets in multiple domains. Used extensively by allied nations, it’s meant to act as a force multiplier, though its operational costs and technological sophistication are also concerns under constant scrutiny.
2. Dassault Rafale & Eurofighter Typhoon – Europe’s Flagships
Europe’s two leading-edge fighters—the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon—are among the most expensive combat fighters on the market. A new Rafale comes in at around $125 million, offering impressive agility, a wide mission set, and a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. The Eurofighter Typhoon, typically priced around $117 million for export, can climb much higher in cost when development expenses are factored in, in some cases reaching $250 million per aircraft.
Both of the jets are supersonic, have great handling, and can cruise supersonically, which places them as mainstays of European air defense, even with their low production numbers relative to their American counterparts.
1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor – The Air Superiority Fighter Without Compare
Number one on the list is the F-22 Raptor, which is considered by many the ultimate air dominance fighter. The U.S. Air Force estimates its flyaway cost at $143 million, but when the full program is included, the unit cost increases to more than $334 million. Designed to be stealthy, fast, and agile, the F-22’s radar cross-section is incredibly small, and thrust-vectoring engines provide it with unparalleled maneuverability. Only 186 were ever built before the program was halted, and it is still reserved exclusively for U.S. service. Even in the present day, it remains the standard by which other fighters are judged.
The Next Generation – F-47 and the Future of Air Combat
Though the F-22 remains supreme, a replacement is already being built. The U.S. Air Force Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, F-47, is a sixth-generation plane projected to cost between $160 million and $180 million per unit, with potential costs to be much higher as technology advances. Featuring cutting-edge stealth, networked operation of autonomous drones, and next-generation sensors, it’s planned to become the platform to replace the F-22 in front-line duty. Development expenses alone are estimated to exceed $20 billion, reflecting the fact that technological superiority in high-performance air combat does not come cheap.
These planes are the epitome of contemporary air power, combining velocity, stealth, and firepower to a degree worthy of their enormous cost. In the harsh environment of air warfare, the value of becoming outdated far outweighs the cost of remaining in the lead.