Aerial war has become a very expensive and high-tech one, so the cost is huge. Many countries spend billions to develop and manufacture the most advanced, fastest, and most heavily armed planes to maintain their superiority in the air. Below are ten of the most expensive fighter jets that are still operational in 2024, starting with the least expensive ones and moving up to the most powerful ones.
10. Shenyang FC-31/J-35 – $70 Million
The Shenyang FC-31, J-31, or “Gyrfalcon,” is a fifth-generation stealth fighter designed to be versatile and exportable. Twin engines, a sleek radar-evasion shape, and an internal bay for weaponry put it on par with top Western aircraft at a small fraction of the cost. Its J-35 carrier-capable naval version starts at $70 to $85 million based on configuration, making it one of the cheaper stealth fighters on the international market.
9. Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet – $73 Million
The F/A-18 Super Hornet forms the core of the Navy carrier air wings. A development of the old Hornet, it features more fuel, longer range, and higher payload. It comes in the form of a single-seater (E) or double-seater (F) version and is priced at approximately $73 million, with the electronic warfare model E/A-18G Growler commanding a higher price tag. Since it replaced the F-14 Tomcat in 2001, it has served as a steady multirole fighter for the U.S. and its allies.
8. Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen – $85 Million
Sweden’s Gripen E/F is small, nimble, and loaded with cutting-edge electronics. The latest models come with AESA radar, increased range, greater payload, and contemporary electronic warfare. Low operating cost and easy maintenance render it appealing to smaller air forces who want modern performance without outrageous expense. Each one is currently valued at about $85 million, down from initial projections of more than $100 million.
7. Sukhoi Su-35 – $85 Million
Russia’s top 4.5-generation fighter, the Su-35, is a direct descendant of the Su-27 Flanker. Equipped with thrust-vectoring engines, advanced avionics, and phenomenal maneuverability, it is a dogfighting machine. Not as stealthy as fifth-generation aircraft, but raw power and maneuverability make it a threat. Prices are usually around $85 million, although end costs are based upon customer requirements and configurations.
6. Boeing F-15EX Eagle II – $97 Million
The F-15EX Eagle II updates one of the classics of aviation design. Able to fly at Mach 2.5 and carry over 13 tons of bombs and missiles, it serves as a “missile truck” backing up more stealthy planes. Originally projected to cost less than $80 million, added features and inflation drove the price to roughly $97 million. Its strength and reduced maintenance requirements mean it will be flying for decades to now.
5. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II – $109 Million
It is the world’s most cutting-edge fighter and costliest weapons program ever, with an estimated lifetime price of $1.7 trillion. It has three variants: F-35A for traditional runways, F-35C for carriers, and F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing capability. F-35B is the most costly, at about $109 million per plane. Stealth, sensor fusion, and cutting-edge networking make it the hub of allied air power.
4. Eurofighter Typhoon – $117 Million
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a joint UK, German, Italian, and Spanish project. This twin-engine fighter has a Mach 2-plus speed and a thrust-to-weight ratio of close to 1:1. Its advanced AESA radar, infrared search-and-track system, and defensive suite make it capable of air superiority and strike missions. The export price is around $117 million, though partner countries pay less.
3. Dassault Rafale – $125 Million
France’s Rafale is highly adaptable, with strengths in air-to-air combat, strike missions, and nuclear deterrence. Its delta-canard configuration offers agility, and the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite boosts survivability. The Rafale can supercruise and operate on carriers, and it has a price tag of about $125 million per aircraft. Major export contracts, such as the UAE’s purchase of 80 aircraft, reflect its global popularity.
2. Chengdu J-20 – $110 Million
The J-20 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter capable of long-range missions. Radar-absorbing materials, internal weapon bays, and a canard-delta design reduce its radar cross-section. Later variants include indigenous engines capable of supercruise and future thrust vectoring. The cost of each unit is approximately $110 million, which makes it one of the most advanced flying combatants today.
1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor – $143 Million
The F-22 Raptor is still the gold standard when it comes to air supremacy. Equipped with advanced stealth, thrust-vectoring engines, and supercruise capability at Mach 1.8, it is unrivaled in the skies. The flyaway cost is $143 million, but adding R&D, each aircraft costs more than $350 million. Only 195 were made, and U.S. law forbids foreign sales to safeguard its cutting-edge technology.
From record-breaking maneuverability to state-of-the-art stealth, these planes embody the height of aerospace engineering. In modern times, air superiority is less a question of speed or firepower—it’s a question of who can afford to invest in technology that controls the skies.