One of the biggest investments any defense department can make is in improving its air capabilities. The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program has the dubious accolade of being the most expensive fighter jet project in history, with an estimated lifetime cost of over $1.7 trillion.
But the cost of the defense project doesn’t always equate to the most expensive fighter jets in terms of sticker price. In fact, according to our research, the F-35 is only the fifth most expensive fighter jet on the market, surpassed by several others in terms of what nations are paying to acquire them.
The cost of fighter jets fluctuates between tranches and can be influenced by external pressures. For example, Defense One reported in July 2024 that Lockheed would be ‘challenged’ to keep the costs of the F-35 down amid rising prices for raw materials. The most expensive, the F-35B vertical takeoff and landing variant, currently costs around $109 million, slightly less than it has been in the past, although that could change in future production tranches.
The cost of fighter jets is also affected by the specifications of the order. The flyaway cost of the most basic model can be low, but it then rises in line with the requests for things like weapons systems and avionics. In the case of the F-35, the base model is around $80 million, rising to the highest known price of $109 million per unit.
Some of the most expensive fighter jets cost way more to produce than the sticker price. The current most expensive fighter is the F-22 Raptor, which the US Air Force states had a unit cost of $143 million when sold. However, Airforce Technology estimates that the actual production cost of the jet is as much as $350 million apiece.
For our ranking of the most expensive fighter jets, we’ve used available sources of information combined with reports of orders to estimate the highest price paid for each model. However, flyaway costs of base models may be lower, and individual contracts can vary in value following negotiations. As many details of defense deals are confidential, we’ve used our best guesstimates to form this ranking.
Which is the most expensive fighter jet in the world?
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is currently the world’s most expensive fighter jet, with a unit cost of $143 million, per the US Air Force. However, as we’ll discuss below, the production costs of this aircraft mean each unit is worth more than the sticker price.
Coming in second is the Dassault Rafale, which has been evaluated as having a current new value of $125 million, while the spiraling costs of the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon project have seen it log a sticker price of $117 million, placing it third.
The full ranking is below:
1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor: $143 million
| Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor key statistics | |
| Origin | US |
| Primary users | US |
| Manufactured | 1996 – 2011 |
| Number built | 195 |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.25 |
| Range | 1,600 nmi |
The F-22 Raptor is one of the best fighter jets in the world. Designed as an air superiority fighter, it also has ground attack, electronic warfare and signals intelligence capabilities.
Its radar cross section is estimated to be as small as a marble, making it a superior stealth fighter. Its supercruise allows for sustained supersonic speed, cruising at Mach 1.8 without using afterburners. Added to this, it features advanced avionics, extreme maneuverability, and an internal weapons bay for reduced drag and improved stealth.
The flyaway cost for the F-22 is listed by the US Air Force as $143 million, but that’s barely half the cost of actually producing the jets. The entire program cost the US over $67.3 billion for 195 aircraft, putting the per-Raptor cost at around $334 million.
Despite its unmatched air superiority capabilities, the F-22 was deemed too expensive for mass production. In 2011, the program officially ended, and the US refocused on the F-35 Lightning II, which had more export potential. However, upgrades to the type are already being pursued in light of emerging threats from aircraft such as the J-20 and Su-57.
2. Dassault Rafale: $125 million
| Dassault Rafale key statistics | |
| Origin | France |
| Primary users | France, Egypt, India |
| Manufactured | 1986 – present |
| Number built | 259 |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.8 |
| Range | 2,000 nmi |
There are varying reports about the price of the Dassault Rafale, ranging between $100 and $120 million per piece in the most basic configuration. According to Shephard Media, an average Rafale costs about $124.95 million in contemporary terms, based on the French budget documents reporting the average cost of Rafale B (the twin-seat variant) at €74 million ($98.2 million) in 2013.
Unlike the F-22, which was primarily designed for air superiority, the Rafale was designed from the start as a true multirole (or, in the words of its manufacturer, ‘omnirole’) fighter jet, capable of air-to-air combat, ground strikes, reconnaissance, carrier-based operations and even nuclear deterrence. Its delta wing and canards give it exceptional agility, and like the F-22, it can cruise at supersonic speeds (Mach 1.4) for long periods without afterburners. While it’s not as stealthy as the F-22, the Rafale compensates with the SPECTRA system, which provides active fire-control jamming to disrupt enemy targeting.
Over 250 units have been produced to date, and while France remains the primary operator, several other nations have purchased the plane. India signed up for 36 of the type, Egypt for 54 and Qatar for 36. But the biggest sale so far was a deal for 80 Rafales signed with the UAE which was estimated to be worth $19 billion.
3. Eurofighter Typhoon: $117 million
| Eurofighter Typhoon key statistics | |
| Origin | Multinational |
| Primary users | UK, Germany, Italy, Spain |
| Manufactured | 1994 – present |
| Number built | 592 |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.35 |
| Range | 1,800 nmi |
The multinational project to launch the Eurofighter Typhoon involved the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, and resulted in an advanced 4.5-generation multirole fighter jet. The Typhoon was built for dogfighting and has one of the best thrust-to-weight ratios of any modern fighter (almost 1:1), a top speed in excess of Mach 2.0 and an advanced weapons loadout.
Some of the most groundbreaking technology in the Eurofighter Typhoon is in its sensors and avionics. For example:
- Captor-E AESA Radar: Offers better detection, tracking and jamming resistance
- Pirate IRST (Infrared Search and Track): Detects stealth aircraft and enemy jets without using radar, keeping the Typhoon hidden.
- DASS (Defensive Aids Sub-System): An advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite that provides missile warning, radar jamming and countermeasures.
- Sensor Fusion: Integrates data from multiple sources, similar to the F-35’s networked battlefield approach.
According to a UK National Audit Office report, Typhoon’s unit cost is £73 million ($117 million), although that’s for export customers only. For nations that participated in the project, procurement can be as low as $50 million per unit. Like the F-22, these prices don’t come close to the value of a completed jet. The program has an estimated cost of as much as $120 billion, and the per-jet price is calculated at around $250 million apiece.
4. Chengdu J-20: $110 million
| Chengdu J-20 key statistics | |
| Origin | China |
| Primary users | China (PLAF) |
| Manufactured | 2009 – present |
| Number built | 300+ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.0 |
| Range | 3,000 nmi |
The Chengdu J-20 is China’s first stealth fighter and uses every trick in the book to evade radar. Like the F-22, it uses radar absorbent materials and internal weapons bays and also has a chiseled nose and forward-swept canards to reduce its radar cross-section. Janes puts the unit price of a J-20 at approximately $110 million.
While the early J-20s used Russian AL-31 engines, they limited the jets’ maneuverability. The newest J-20s feature Chinese WS-10C engines, which offer supercruise capability (Mach 1.8 without afterburners). Future J-20 variants will use WS-15 engines, which will provide true supermaneuverability with 3D thrust vectoring, similar to the F-22. Its huge range makes it ideal for deep-strike missions, and a suitable deterrent for the contested South China Sea.
So how has China managed to build an aircraft almost as capable as the F-22 for so much less? Reports suggest China likely benefited from espionage and technology transfers, reducing the R&D cost, and it is being mass produced in a way that the F-22 never was, further driving down the per-unit cost. Nevertheless, China has invested around $50 billion in the project and is keeping the J-20 all to itself with no exports planned.
5. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II: $109 million
| Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II key statistics | |
| Origin | US |
| Primary users | US |
| Manufactured | 2006 – present |
| Number built | 1,100+ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.6 |
| Range | 1,500 nmi |
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II has gone down in history as the most expensive weapon system ever. Operational costs of the newest fifth-generation fighter jet are some of the highest in the world, making the aircraft relatively expensive to buy and maintain. From 2022, the unit cost of F-35 has further increased because of inflation, lower quantities and improved capabilities.
In a report published in late May 2023, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) wrote that “the program attributes the increased procurement cost to additional years of costs related to airframe and engine production, along with support costs for equipment, technical data, and training”.
The A, B, and C variants of the F-35 are, to all intents and purposes, different aircraft. The most expensive is the F-35B, designed for short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL), noted as being around $109 million.
6. Boeing F-15EX Eagle II: $97 million
| Boeing F-15EX Eagle II key statistics | |
| Origin | USA |
| Primary users | USAF |
| Manufactured | 2011 – present |
| Number built | 8 |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.5 |
| Range | 2,100 nmi |
The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is the latest and most advanced variant of the F-15, designed to provide the US Air Force with a heavily upgraded, non-stealthy air superiority and multirole fighter. It incorporates cutting-edge avionics, advanced weapons capabilities and modern survivability features. Initially estimated at under $80 million per aircraft, the price rose to $90 million and then to $97 million by Fall 2023.
It is the fastest fighter jet in US production, capable of Mach 2.5. Rather than streamlining for stealth, the F-15EX relies on overwhelming firepower, and has the highest payload capacity of any fighter jet in the USAF. All in, it can carry up to 13.6 tons of weapons, including up to 16 missiles in one go.
Despite having a healthy fleet of F-22s and F-35s, the USAF still needs the F-15EX as long-term replacements for aging F-15C/Ds. It is cheaper and easier to maintain than either of the other fighters, and with its huge payload, can serve as a missile truck. While the F-35 can sneak in, the F-15EX provides the ideal support, and will likely remain a dominant aircraft for the US and allies well into the 2050s.
7. Sukhoi Su-35 – $85 million
| Sukhoi Su-35 key statistics | |
| Origin | Russia |
| Primary users | Russia, China |
| Manufactured | 2007 – present |
| Number built | 151 |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.25 |
| Range | 1,900 nmi |
The Sukhoi Su-35 is Russia’s most advanced 4.5-generation air superiority fighter, designed to rival the F-15EX, Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafale. It is an evolution of the Su-27 Flanker, featuring enhanced avionics, thrust-vectoring engines and increased combat capabilities.
While it lacks the stealth of the F-22 and F-35, it compensates with raw speed and agility. It is one of the most maneuverable fighters in the world, thanks to thrust-vectoring nozzles on its Saturn AL-41F1S engines, only rivaled by the F-22 and Su-57.
According to available information, a Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is estimated to cost around $85 million per unit, though the price can vary contingent on the specific configuration and deal details, with some sources mentioning production costs as low as $18 million depending on exchange rates.
8. Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen: $85 million
| Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen key statistics | |
| Origin | Sweden |
| Primary users | Sweden, Brazil, South Africa, Hungary |
| Manufactured | 1987 – present |
| Number built | 300+ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2 |
| Range | 2,500 nmi |
The Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F is the latest evolution of the line, featuring AESA radar, a higher payload, a longer range, an advanced electronic warfare suite, and new engines. The E variant is a single-seater, while the F is a two-seat version. According to Airforce Technology, the Saab Gripen E is priced at $85 million per unit
In 2012, the new-generation JAS 39 was expected to cost over $100 million. It is only in more recent years that Saab managed to reduce the price, and with the reduction, the Gripen once again became a sought-after jet on the international market.
It’s easy to maintain and highly survivable, and thanks to its advanced electronics it is sometimes referred to as a ‘smart fighter’. It is one of the first fighters to have full data-link integration, allowing real-time battlefield awareness, and has AI-assisted mission systems that analyze threats and automatically recommend the best tactics.
9: Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet: $73 million
| Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet key statistics | |
| Origin | USA |
| Primary users | USA, Australia, Kuwait |
| Manufactured | 1995 – present |
| Number built | 630+ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.6 |
| Range | 1,800 nmi |
Developed from the McDonell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, is a carrier-capable multirole fighter, equipped for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. The Super Hornet costs from $67 million to $73 million, depending on the block, and comes in two variants – the F/A-18E, which is a single seat aircraft, and the F, which is a tandem seat aircraft.
The Super Hornet entered operations with the US Navy in 2001, replacing the Grumman F-4 Tomcat, which was fully retired by 2006. It is around 20% larger than the original Hornet and carries a third more fuel, giving it a much-improved range and endurance compared to the legacy model.
The E/A-18G Growler is a specialized version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, designed primarily for electronic warfare. Its highly advanced capabilities make it the most expensive fighter jet in the F-18 family, costing around $80 million per aircraft, depending on the configuration.
10. Shenyang FC-31/J-35: $70 million
| Shenyang FC-31/J-35 key statistics | |
| Origin | China |
| Primary users | China |
| Manufactured | 2021 – present |
| Number built | Flight testing |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.8 |
| Range | 1,800 nmi |
The Shenyang FC-31 (J-31), also known as the Gyrfalcon, is China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. It is designed as a lighter, more versatile alternative to China’s primary fifth-generation fighter, the Chengdu J-20, and is seen as China’s answer to the F-35 Lightning II, with an emphasis on stealth, maneuverability and multirole capabilities.
It has stealth-optimized shaping, including angled fuselage lines, canted twin tails, and an internal weapons bay to reduce radar cross-section. Unlike the single-engine F-35, the J-31 is a twin-engine fighter, providing better redundancy and thrust. The naval version of the J-31, the J-35, is expected to serve as China’s carrier-based stealth fighter, competing with the F-35C.
Estimates suggest that if mass-produced, the J-31 could cost between $70 million and $85 million per unit. Unlike the J-20, which will not be exported, China is actively marketing the FC-31 and its derivatives as cost-effective alternatives to other stealth multirole fighters.
