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The 10 Most Expensive Fighter Jets in the World

They can carry large amounts of weapons and have sophisticated avionics systems to assist pilots in navigation and target acquisition.

By Writer TigerPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 7 min read
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The 10 Most Expensive Fighter Jets in the World
Photo by Richard R. Schünemann on Unsplash

A fighter jet is a military aircraft designed to engage other planes and missiles in aerial combat. Fighter jets are usually equipped with powerful engines that allow them to fly at high speeds. They can carry large amounts of weapons and have sophisticated avionics systems to assist pilots in navigation and target acquisition.

A fighter plane is a type of military aircraft used for air-to-air combat. These planes are faster than bombers and interceptors, but lack the heavy armament of those two types of aircraft. Fighters typically have four wings, a single engine, and a small crew.

A fighter pilot is someone who flies a fighter plane. This person has special training and certification to operate these types of aircraft.

A fighter jet is an aircraft that is designed to fight other aircraft. There are many different kinds of fighters, including fixed wing, multi-engine, and helicopters.

1. F-22 Raptor - $137 million per copy

The F-22 Raptor is a fifth generation fighter aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter capable of both ground attack and aerial combat against multiple enemy platforms at high subsonic speeds.

The cost of each F-22 Raptor has been estimated at $137 million. This makes it the most expensive military aircraft ever built.

The F-22 is the first fifth generation fighter aircraft. With improvements in stealth technology, the F-22 can evade radar detection and remain undetected on the battlefield.

2. F/A-18E Super Hornet - $128 million per copy

The F/A-18 E Super Hornet is the world’s first and only twin engine supersonic fighter aircraft that can operate from both land and sea. The F/A-18 was designed to provide air dominance against enemy fighters, bombers, cruise missiles, and other high performance threats. It has been used extensively in combat operations around the globe including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Odyssey Dawn.

In 2017, Lockheed Martin received a contract worth $128 million per copy to build 100 F/A-18Es. This is the largest single order for any U.S. military aircraft in history.

The F/A 18E is the latest version of the F/A-18 Hornet, which entered service in 1989. The F/A 18E features a number of improvements over its predecessor, including advanced avionics, stealth capabilities, improved mission systems, and enhanced survivability.

3. F-35 Lightning II - $122 million per copy

The F-35 Lightning II program has been plagued by cost overruns and schedule delays. In fact, the total estimated cost of this project is now over $400 billion. This means that each plane costs about $122 million. That's right -- $122 million per copy.

4. Eurofighter Typhoon - $119 million per copy

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by BAE Systems and EADS (now Airbus) for the European Air Force. The first flight took place on June 25th 1989. In total, over 1,000 Typhoons have been built since then. The Typhoon has been used operationally by several air forces around the world and remains in service today.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) report, the cost of each Eurofighter Typhoon is about $119 million. This includes the cost of the plane, its weapons, training, maintenance, and other costs.

In addition to being able to carry out multiple missions at once, the Typhoon can also carry a large number of bombs. Each Typhoon can hold up to 16 AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, eight AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, four Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and two RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles.

5. Rafale M - $112 million per copy

The Rafale M is a French-made multirole fighter aircraft that has been designed to replace the Mirage 2000. This plane was first unveiled in 2007 and has since then undergone several modifications. In 2016, Dassault Aviation signed a contract with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce 126 Rafale fighters at their facility in Nashik, Maharashtra.

According to the Indian government, the cost of each Rafale fighter is about $112 million. However, this figure does not include the price of weapons, training, maintenance, and other costs associated with the purchase.

In 2010, the Indian Air Force had placed a contract worth around $100 billion for buying 126 Rafales from France. This deal was struck after the previous government cancelled the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft project in favor of the Rafale.

6. Gripen NG - $110 million per copy

The Gripen NG is a Swedish fighter aircraft that has been designed to replace the aging Saab JAS 39 Gripens currently operated by the Swedish Air Force. The Gripen NG is a single-engine multirole fighter jet capable of air superiority missions. It was developed by SAAB and its partner, BAE Systems, and is manufactured at their joint facility in Linköping, Sweden.

The Gripen NG can carry out both ground attack and air defense roles, and is equipped with powerful radar systems, missiles, cannons, and bombs. It is powered by two Rolls Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 634 engines, each producing around 12,000 pounds of thrust. These are coupled to a fly-by-wire flight control system, allowing pilots to control the plane's pitch, roll, yaw, throttle, and brakes using only hand controls.

7. Saab JAS 39 Gripen E - $104 million per copy

The Gripen E is a fifth generation fighter aircraft developed by Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was first unveiled in 2010 before going into production later that year. The Gripen E is designed to replace Sweden's ageing fleet of F-18s and F/A-18 Hornets. The Gripen E has been in service since 2011 and currently operates from four bases across Sweden.

In 2014, Saab announced that they had sold over 100 Gripens to date. The total contract value is estimated at around $104 million (€80 million).

8. Dassault Mirage 2000C - $100 million per copy

The Dassault Mirage 2000C is a French-made twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft that has been used by several air forces around the world. This particular variant was designed primarily for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and is currently operated by them. With its ability to carry out both ground attack missions and aerial combat, this jet is able to perform multiple roles at once. It can be armed with various types of missiles, bombs, rockets, and unguided munitions. In addition, it is capable of carrying out electronic warfare operations.

This plane was first introduced into service back in 1980 and has gone through many upgrades since then. One of these improvements included the installation of a glass cockpit, which allowed pilots to have a better view of their surroundings while flying. Another improvement came in the form of a digital flight control system, which improved the overall performance of the aircraft. These systems were installed on later variants of the plane, including the Dassault Mirage 2000N, which entered production in 1992.

In terms of numbers produced, the Dassault Mirage 2000C has been manufactured in large quantities over the years. As of 2017, the total number of planes built is estimated to be approximately 1,000 units. Each unit costs about $100 million to produce, making this model one of the most expensive jets ever made.

9. Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet - $98 million per copy

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet - This aircraft has been used by the US Navy since the late 1980s. In total, the United States Air Force (USAF) purchased over 1,000 of these planes. These are the only fighter jets that can operate from both land and sea. They are also capable of operating at high altitudes and are able to carry out air-to-air combat missions. The first production model was delivered to the US Navy in 1989.

10. Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon - $90 million per copy

Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons are the world's most advanced multirole fighter aircraft. They have been produced since 1977 and currently serve with over 40 air forces around the globe. Each plane can cost anywhere from $90 million to $100 million depending on the model.

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About the Creator

Writer Tiger

I write articles on Psychology, Technology, Blockchain and information. Most of my time is spent researching and getting the right information.

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