Most Expensive and Most Powerful Fighter Aircrafts in the World

Here, the fighter aircraft are expensive because of its advanced technology being used as these aircraft are fast and powerful.
To strengthen the military supremacy of the ‘superpowers’, modern and advanced fighter aircraft were developed and modified from time to time. These aircraft were designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft. These are also capable of ground-attacks. Without these prolific flying machines as weapon, victory in warfare is unattainable.

1. Sukhoi Su-37 ($147.7 million)

The Russian-made Sukhoi Su-37 or Flanker-F (by NATO) is an experimental multi-role jet fighter aircraft is a single seat fighter. It was developed from Su-35. This vessel which is 22.18 meters long was first flown in 1996 by Russian Air Force.

Sukhoi Su-37 has a maximum speed of 1,550 mph. This is one of the most expensive jet fighters in history, as of 1996, it has a jaw-dropping price of $147.7 million. Only 2 units were built. It is equipped with GSh-30 cannon with 150 rounds.

2. F-22 Raptor ($142.6 million)

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is the most popular and most prolific of all the modern-day jet fighters. This single seat vessel is believed to be the best fighter aircraft in the world. This twin engine 5th generation aircraft which was developed by the US uses stealth technology. F-22 was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter and is capable also of ground attack, electronic warfare and signal intelligence roles. It is claim that no aircraft can matched the F-22 Raptor and is regarded the most outstanding fighter plane ever built.

This 18.9 meter long fighter aircraft costs $142.6 million as of 2009. It has a breathtaking maximum speed of 1,500 mph. It is equipped with M61 A2 Gatling Gun, air-to-ground missiles and others.

3. Mitsubishi F-2 ($108 million)

The Japanese fighter aircraft named Mitsubishi F-2 was jointly manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin. This 15.52 meter long multi-role fighter is worth $108 million dollars. Its maximum speed is 2.0 mach.

Weapons included on its armaments include; 20 mm JM61A1 cannon, free fall bombs with GCS-1 IIR seeker heads, anti-ship missiles, air-to-ground weapons and others.

4. Sukhoi Pak FA ($100 million)

The Russian fighter aircraft called Sukhoi PAK FA will be the replacement of Mig-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker.  It is designed to directly compete with F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. This stealth multi-role fighter with a length of 22 meters and with a maximum speed of 2.45 mach or 1,615 mph will be introduced in 2013. One thousand units are projected to be built and a unit will cost $100 million.

Its main weapon is a 30mm GSh-30-1 gun and 10 missiles.

5. F-15K Slam Eagle ($100 million)

The F-15K Slam Eagle is an advanced derivative of the F-15E, ordered and being delivered to Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). One of its many advance features not found on F-15E include; AAS-42 Infrared Search and Track – IRST, Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System- JHMCS and advanced AN/APG-63(V01 radar which makes it much more expensive. It can also launch many advanced weapons.

6. Dassault Rafale M ($90.5 million)

The French-made Dassault Rafale is fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. This 15.27 meter long twin-engine delta-wing multirole fighter aircraft used by French Air Force and Navy has also been marketed for export to several countries but has not yet received orders. It cost $90.5 million per unit and can attain a maximum speed of 2.0 mach.

7. Eurofighter Typhoon ($86 million)

The Eurofighter Typhoon, which is operated by British Royal Air Force, German, Italian, Austrian and Spanish Air Forces, is a twin-engine canard-delta wing aircraft. . This multirole fighter aircraft is 15.96 meters in length. It has a maximum speed of 2+ mach or 1,550 mph. It is equipped with laser guided bombs and air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles.

It has a gun, missiles and bombs,

8. F-35 Lightning II ($83 million)

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat and single-engine fighter aircraft was manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It is capable of performing close air support, tactical bombing and air defense missions. This 15.67 meter long stealth multirole fighter will be introduced to the US Armed Forces in 2010. It will cost $83 million. It has a maximum speed of 1.67 mach or 1,283 mph.

Some of its weapons include; laser guided bombs, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and many more.

9. Dassault Rafale C ($82.3 million)

The French-made Dassault Rafale is fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. This 15.27 meter long twin-engine delta-wing multifold fighter aircraft used by French Air Force and Navy has also been marketed for export to several countries but has not yet received orders. It cost $82.3 million per unit and can attain a maximum speed of 2.0 mach.

Included on its armaments are; air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground nuclear missiles and a 30 mm cannon with 150 rounds.

10. EA-18G Growler ($73 million)

The EA-18G Growler manufactured by Boeing is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft. It is a specialized version of F/A-18F Super Hornet and will be the replacement of the EA-6B Prowler being used by US Navy. Its production started in 2007 and entered operational service in 2009. This $73 million aircraft is 18.31 meter long and can attain a maximum speed of 1.8 mach or 1,190 mph.

It has no gun but it has missiles.

11. Sukhoi Su-35BM ($65 million)

The Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35BM is a long-range and multi-role fighter. It is considered to be 4++ generation fighter first flown in 1998. This heavy class fighter aircraft is quite long compared to other fighter planes at 21.9 meters. It has a maximum speed of 2.25 mach or 1.500 mph.

It is equipped with different types of missiles and different laser-guided bombs.

12. Sukhoi Su-35 ($65 million)

The Sukhoi Su-35 or Flanker-E is a heavy class and multirole fighter used by the Russian Air Force. This 21.9 meter long vessel which was developed from Sukhoi Su-27 is worth $45 to $65 million. This long range fighter can attain a whooping speed of 2.35 mach or 1,553 mph.

This aircraft have weapons such as; 30 mm GSh-30 cannon with 150 rounds, different types of missiles and different types of bombs.

13. Saab Jas 39 Gripen ($61 million)

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a Swedish-made lightweight multirole fighter aircraft. It is used by the Swedish, Czech, Hungarian and South African Air Forces. This aircraft which is manufactured by Saab AB may cost between $40 and $61 million. It only has a length of 14.1 meters and has a maximum speed of 2 mach or 1,372 mph. Its name in English is Griffin. It is equipped with laser guided bombs.

It has a 27 mm cannon with 120 rounds, various missiles and bombs.

14. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet ($60.3 million)

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which is manufactured by Boeing, is a carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E single-seat variant and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced versions of F/A-18 Hornet. This aircraft that is worth $60.3 million has a length of 18.31 meters and can attain a maximum speed of 1.8 mach or 1,190 mph. It is equipped with air-to-air, air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles. Also included on its various armaments are laser-guided missiles.

This aircraft is loaded with missiles and bombs. It also has also a 20 mm M61 Vulcan gatling gun with 578 rounds.