Top 10 Most Expensive Fighter Jets in the World: The Shocking Price Tag of Number 7

3. F-35 Lightning II: The Versatile Warrior

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With a unit cost ranging from $78 million to $138 million depending on the variant, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is one of the most ambitious military aircraft initiatives in history. This multi-role fighter combines advanced stealth features with comprehensive sensor fusion and network-centric warfare capabilities. The F-35's development costs were driven by its complex requirements to serve multiple military branches and international partners, as well as its cutting-edge electronic systems and production techniques. Despite early cost overruns, the aircraft's price has steadily decreased as production scales up.