Modern aerial combat is not all about speed and firepower—it’s also about the benjamins. Building, developing, and sustaining cutting-edge fighter planes costs eye-watering amounts, with countries spending billions to maintain their air corps in front. It’s created some of the most sophisticated and costliest aircraft ever made. Below is a peek at ten of the most expensive fighters currently in operation, listed from the lower rung of the hierarchy to the very pinnacle of aerial might.
10. Shenyang FC-31/J-35 – $70 Million
Dubbed the “Gyrfalcon,” the FC-31 is a stealthy, twin-engine fighter designed for export markets. Its radar-avoiding shape, internal weapons bay, and advanced avionics provide abilities equivalent to Western models but at a lower initial price point. The naval version of the J-35 has a slightly higher price tag but still sits at $70 to $85 million, one of the lowest-priced stealth fighters on the market.
9. Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet – $73 Million
One of the U.S. Navy’s stalwart carrier group mainstays, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is a development of the iconic Hornet. It boasts increased range, increased payload capacity, and better fuel efficiency, with single-seat and two-seat variations in use. Priced around $73 million per aircraft, it represents a sturdy and dependable platform, the E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare variant taking it beyond. Because it replaced the legendary F-14 Tomcat in 2001, it has been added to the backbone of carrier aviation.
8. Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen – $85 Million
The Swedish Gripen is evidence that small doesn’t have to equal underpowered. The compact aircraft is extremely maneuverable, with the newest E/F variants boasting AESA radar, sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, and range extension. Its modest maintenance demands and operating expenses make it appealing to smaller countries looking for top-shelf performance without committing an arm and a leg. Production models cost around $85 million apiece nowadays.
7. Sukhoi Su-35 – $85 Million
Russia’s most sophisticated non-stealth fighter is the Su-35, a development of the Su-27 Flanker. It has thrust-vectoring engines, sophisticated avionics, and incredible maneuverability, earning it a reputation as a great dogfighter. Not being a stealth plane, its sheer power keeps it in the game. With a price of around $85 million, prices can fluctuate based on customer requirements and gear.
6. Boeing F-15EX Eagle II – $97 Million
The F-15EX Eagle II deploys a tried and tested design but refines it for 21st-century warfare. Capable of attaining Mach 2.5 and carrying over 13 tons of ordnance, it performs the role of a high-volume “missile truck” to complement stealth jets. Initially estimated at less than $80 million per aircraft, improvements and increasing expenses have driven the cost to around $97 million. Even so, its ruggedness and simpler maintenance ensure a lengthy service life.
5. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II – $109 Million
The F-35 program is the costliest weapons project ever, with a trillion-dollar lifetime cost. Produced in three forms—the land-based F-35A, carrier-based F-35C, and short takeoff/vertical landing F-35B—it introduces stealth, advanced networking, and sensor fusion into a single platform. The F-35B is the most expensive variant, around $109 million per plane, and is the heart of allied air power globally.
4. Eurofighter Typhoon – $117 Million
Designed in collaboration among the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, high-speed, agile fighter with a near one-to-one thrust-to-weight ratio. It can perform both air combat and strike missions, armed with AESA radar, infrared search-and-track, and advanced self-defense systems. Export configurations cost around $117 million, though partner countries pay slightly less.
3. Dassault Rafale – $125 Million
France’s Rafale is among the most multi-role fighters in operational status today. Developed for land and carrier use, it is at home in air-to-air, precision strike, and even nuclear missions. Its delta-canard configuration provides agility, with the SPECTRA electronic warfare system providing survivability. With a unit cost of around $125 million, it has experienced strong overseas demand, as witnessed in recent massive export orders.
2. Chengdu J-20 – $110 Million
The J-20 is a step into fifth-generation stealth capability, with long-range capability and lower radar visibility. With internal bays for weapons and a delta-canard configuration, it is being fitted with new engines that can supercruise and, in the future, might have thrust vectoring. The value of each aircraft is approximately $110 million, making it one of the most advanced currently in service.
1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor – $143 Million
Even after all these years, still the standard for air superiority, the F-22 Raptor combines stealth, speed, and maneuverability in a way no other aircraft can. Equipped with thrust-vectoring engines, it can supercruise at Mach 1.8 and be essentially invisible on radar. The flyaway cost is $143 million, but when adding research and development, the actual cost per plane is more than $350 million. It was only produced in numbers up to 195 before being discontinued, and export control keeps it in the sole domain of the U.S. Air Force.
From stealthy attack planes to highly capable dogfighters, these aircraft represent the very best that aerospace design has to offer. In today’s world, the battle for air superiority isn’t so much a matter of who can fly the highest or the fastest—it’s who can pay the enormous price of mastering the skies.