Top 10 Most Expensive Fighter Jets in the World

Fighter jets are a key asset for nations seeking to safeguard their airspace and secure their position as leading military powers globally.

However, fighter jets are incredibly expensive. Their production is complex, limiting the number of countries capable of manufacturing them independently. This naturally drives up their cost.

Below are the 10 most expensive fighter jets in the world in 2021.

1. Lockheed Martin F-35B – US$ 135.8 million (Rp 1.95 trillion)
2. Eurofighter Typhoon – US$ 124 million (Rp 1.78 trillion)
3. Lockheed Martin F-35C – US$ 117.3 million (Rp 1.68 trillion)
4. Dassault Rafale – US$ 115 million (Rp 1.65 trillion)
5. Chengdu J-20 – US$ 100 million (Rp 1.43 trillion)
6. McDonnell Douglas F-15EX Strike Eagle – US$ 87.7 million (Rp 1.26 trillion)
7. Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker E – US$ 85 million (Rp 1.22 trillion)
8. Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen – US$ 85 million (Rp 1.22 trillion)
9. Lockheed Martin F-35A – US$ 77.9 million (Rp 1.12 trillion)
10. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – US$ 67.4 million (Rp 968 billion)

The Lockheed Martin F-35B, a US-made fighter jet, is the world's most expensive. This jet is designed for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL).

Its production is primarily funded by the United States, with additional funding from NATO countries and close US allies, including the UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

The F-35B entered service with the US Marine Corps in July 2015, followed by the US Air Force F-35A in August 2016 and the US Navy F-35C in February 2019. The F-35 was first used in combat in 2018 by the Israeli Air Force.

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