The is a single-engine jet fighter produced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau as an improvement on prior generations of the MiG-17 and MiG-19. It is outfitted with one Tumansky R25-300 turbojet which gives the MiG-21 a maximum speed of 1,350 mph. Built in an era long before advanced radar and avionics, the MiG-21 employs an ambush style of attack. The aircraft relied heavily on speed, attacking its target and speeding off before any enemy-fire could catch it. While they are publicly available and inexpensive today, the MiG-21 cost roughly $2.9 million dollars in 1959 when it was produced. MiG-21 Cost: $25.1 million.
Lockheed Martin’s is a multi-role, single-engine fighter aircraft used frequently in air superiority missions as well as close air support. The current block of F-16s, the C and D variant include an updated performance engine, either the General Electric F110 or the Pratt & Whitney F100. The F-16C is the updated single-seat version and the F-16D is the two-seat version. These two versions of the F-16 first entered service in 1994 and are heavily relied on today. The fighter jet cost $18.8 million dollars in 1998, which in 2018 equates to: F-16C/D Cost: $29.1 million 22. $30.6 million – Dassault Mirage 2000 SRA Greg L. A French Air Force Mirage 2000C drops away from a United States Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker (not shown) after refueling during a Combat Patrol mission while participating in NATO Operation Allied Force.
The KC-135R is based at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England but is being flown by a crew deployed from the 384th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Tankers from RAF Mildenhall make-up a large portion of the tanker forces supporting NATO aircraft during NATO Operation Allied Force.
NATO gave this two-seat supersonic interceptor the name ‘Foxhound’. The MiG-31 first took flight in 1975, entered service in 1982 and is operated almost exclusively by the Russian Air Force and the Kazakstan Air Force. Two Solovyev D-30F6 turbofan shaft engines power the Foxhound to a maximum speed of 2.4 Mach, or approximately 1,900 mph. This interceptor jet is designed to fly at high speeds at low altitude as well as track multiple targets simultaneously at high altitudes. This list most expensive military jets in the world is compiled by Military Machine. MiG-31 Cost: $33.2 million 20. $34.1 million – F/A-18 Hornet Staff Sgt.
Aaron Allmon, U.S. The United States’ first strike fighter, the F/A-18 is a twin engine, multi-mission tactical aircraft. Currently, the D model is the U.S. Navy aircraft for attack, forward air control and tactical air control. The F/A-18 operates from all 10 active aircraft carriers and is a dominant sight at airshows. Two F404-GE-402 enhanced performance turbofan engines power the F/A-18 max speed to Mach 1.7. The Navy priced the F/A-18 at $29 million in 2009, which in 2018 equates to: F/A-18 Hornet Cost: $34.1 million.
Russia ordered the in response to American fourth-generation jet fighters; the F-14 Tomcat and F-15 Eagle. The Su-27 (dubbed “Flanker” by NATO) is a multi-role/air superiority fighter that’s been in service since 1985. Department of Defense actually bought several Sukhoi SU-27s in order to test its own military’s preparedness against the jet fighter. The Sukhoi Su-27 is powered by twin Saturn/Lyulka AL-31F turbofans, giving the aircraft a max speed of 1,550 mph, over Mach 2. Su-27 Cost: $41.2 million. $42.1 million – Su-34 Oleg V. Belyakov This twin-seat fighter/bomber is an offshoot of the Su-27 Flanker.
Russia ordered the Su-34 into production in 2008, it entered service in 2015 and Sukhoi Design Bureau will deliver Su-34s until 2020. The jet, externally, is similar to the Su-27 except the nose of the aircraft is a different shape in order to accommodate a new radar. Two after-burning Saturn AL-31F turbofan engines allow the Su-34 a max speed of Mach 1.6, or 1,200 mph. Su-34 Cost $42.1 million 16. $43.1 million – F-15 Eagle Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers, U.S.
$48.6 million – MiG-35 Fulcrum Russian Air Force This 4.5 generation fighter is an offshoot of the MiG-29, thus they share a name. This multi-role fighter contains advanced avionics and two RD-33MKB engines that give it an estimated max speed of Mach 2.2.
Although it hasn’t entered service, the public had opportunities to see the MiG-35 in action. At an airshow in 2005, the MiG-35 Fulcrum displayed its maneuverability to the crowd.
It made a lasting impression because many now believe that the super-maneuverability capability (ability to sustain angles of attack at increased speed) of the MiG-35 is its best feature. This list most expensive military jets in the world is compiled by Military Machine. MiG-35 Cost: $48.6 million 14.
$45-55 million – Saab JAS 39 Gripen Tuomo Salonen, Finnish Aviation Museum. The most popular strike fighter in Europe, the aging outnumbers the new Eurofighter Typhoon in Europe two to one.
The Tornado, built by Italy and used by nearly every nation of NATO, entered service in 1979 and remains there to this day. One of its most notable features are the “swing wings,” which allow the Tornado to rapidly transition from high-speed, high-altitude combat to low-level and fairly slow bombing runs with ease. Two turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk 103 afterburning turbofan engines power the Panavia Tornado to a max speed of Mach 2.2. That’s an impressive feat for a jet built in the early to mid-1970s. Panavia Tornado Cost: $59.6 million 12. $63.9 million – F-14 Tomcat U.S. A Grumman F-14A Tomcat (BuNo 160391) of fighter squadron VF-84 Jolly Rogers, Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8).
VF-84 flew the F-14A from 1976 until the squadron was disestablished on 01 Oct 1995. From December 1977 to July 1987 VF-84 was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). The paint scheme displayed by the F-14A was typical of the 1970s. VF-84 also became famous when its Tomcats appeared in the movie The Final Countdown (1) (released 1980).
It had been filmed on the Nimitz with CVW-8 during the first half of 1979 in the Caribbean. The represents the new age in electronic aircraft technology. It debuted in 2008 and is the Navy’s first electronic warfare aircraft with a new design in over three decades. The EA-18G took the reigns from the EA-6B “Prowler” as the Navy‘s primary electronic attack aircraft. Two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines give the EA-18G a max speed of 1,190 mph or Mach 1.8.
EA-18G Cost: $74.8 million 10. $76.4 million – Su-35 Flanker-E Aleksandr Markin The latest in the Russia-made Sukhoi family of military fighter jets, the is a single seat, twin-engine multirole fighter. It is an offshoot the Su-27 Flanker. The updated Flanker-E is labeled as a 4.5-generation fighter designed as an intermittent aircraft until the fifth-generation Sukhoi PAK-FA is debuted.
Two Lyulka AL-31FM afterburning turbofan engines power the Su-35 to a max speed of 1,550 mph. Su-35 Cost: $76.4 million. One of the most versatile jets on this list, the The is an evolved F/A-18. It operates off of an aircraft carrier and performs electronic warfare missions, air-to-air interdiction and bombing missions as well as others.
Swing Wing Fighter
It’s first combat mission was in 2002 over the Persian Gulf, where it enforced the “no-fly” zone. Two General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans power this aircraft, giving it a max speed of 1,190 mph or Mach 1.6. This list most expensive military jets in the world is compiled by Military Machine. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Cost: $79.8 million 8. $93.6 million – Dassault Rafale Entering service in 2004, the is France’s most updated multi-role fighter jet. With three main variants, the Rafale is capable of air superiority, aircraft carrier operations, strategic target destruction, and nuclear deterrence missions. Two SNECMA M88-2 afterburning turbofan engines give the Rafale a maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
It has a combat radius of 1000 nautical miles, but can extend to twice that with three fuel drop tanks mounted on its hard points. This list most expensive military jets in the world is compiled by Military Machine. Dassault Rafale Cost: $93.6 million 7.
$94.6 million – F-35A Lightning II Master Sgt John Nimmo Sr., U.S. The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version of the United States’ newest and most technologically advanced jet, the F-35A belongs to the. The fifth-generation fighter combines air-to-air as well as air-to-ground attack capabilities. It’s advanced avionics suite tracks, locks and engages the enemy before the enemy is aware the F-35A is there, eliminating the need for a dogfight scenario. One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine powers the F-35A, giving it a max speed of roughly 1,200 mph or Mach 2.
F-35A Cost: $94.6 million 6. $105.7 million – Eurofighter Typhoon Ronnie Macdonald The is a twin engine multirole fighter. It was created by a large number of European designers, most notably, Eurofighter. It deployed in 2003 and while the multirole fighter isn’t as adept at air-to-ground combat as the Panavia Tornado – it’s been suggested the Typhoon outperforms most American fighters in air-to-air superiority. Two Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines propel the Eurofighter Typhoon’s max speed to 1,550 mph, well over Mach 2. Eurofighter Typhoon Cost: $105.7 million 5.
$107.7 million – F-117 Nighthawk Senior Master Sgt. Kim Frey, U.S. Contracted, designed and built in secrecy, the F-117 is the U.S. Air Force’s first stealth aircraft.
Even breaking the numbered naming norm of American fighters was a move to confuse the enemy. The would have been F-19.
Saturn Fighter Wings
This stealth attack aircraft entered service in 1982 and officially retired in 2008. Two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofans power the F-117 Nighthawk, giving it a max speed of over 700 mph. It comes in at No. 5 on the list of most expensive military jets in the world. This list most expensive military jets in the world is compiled by Military Machine. F-117 Cost: $107.7 million 4. $110 million – Chengdu J-20 Black Eagle People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
The short-takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version of the United States’ newest and most technologically advanced jet, the F-35B belongs to the. The fifth-generation fighter combines air-to-air as well as air-to-ground attack capabilities.
The F-35B contains the Rolls-Royce patented LiftFan propulsion system and an engine that can swivel 90 degrees. This gives the U.S. Marine Corps the option to land at the forefront of battle without a long, structured runway. One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine powers the F-35B, giving it a max speed of roughly 1,200 mph or Mach 2. It comes in at No. 3 on the list of most expensive military jets in the world.
F-35B Cost: $121.8 million 2. $122.8 million – F-35C Lightning II Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Shauna C. Sowersby, U.S. The carrier version of the United States’ newest and most technologically advanced jet, the F-35C belongs to the U.S. The fifth-generation fighter combines air-to-air as well as air-to-ground attack capabilities. The most expensive of the F-35 family, the F-35C has larger wings and more robust landing gear.
One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine powers the F-35C, giving it a max speed of roughly 1,200 mph or Mach 2. It comes in at No. 2 on the list of most expensive military jets in the world.
F-35C Cost: $122.8 million 1. $152 million – F-22 Raptor Rob Schenk. Air Force maintains the F-22 Raptor costs only $143 million per unit, as of 2015. Even then, that price tag may be understated. Regardless, the F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter jet is the most expensive military jet on the planet.
This stealthy fifth-generation fighter entered service in 2005 and projects to be around for three to four decades. Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines with afterburners and two-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles give the F-22 unmatched maneuverability and a top speed of over 1,500mph with supercruise capability.
It is the most expensive out of all the most expensive military jets in the world. F-22 Raptor Cost: $152 million Now let’s test your knowledge.