The principle of “you get what you pay for” is often applied to consumer goods, but this saying is especially true when it comes to military spending. For example, when it comes to building military aircraft, which cost tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. These are technologically advanced weapons that can wreak havoc and destruction almost anywhere on Earth. Here are the top 10 most expensive military aircraft in 2023-2024.
10. Chengdu J-20 Black Eagle
Cost: $110 million
The single-seat fifth-generation stealth fighter (according to Western classification), produced by the Chinese company Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, made its first flight in January 2011, and since March 2017 has been “put into service” with the Air Force of the People's Republic of China.
Each J-20 costs about $110 million, and the total program costs are estimated at about $4.4 billion. Several media outlets reported that the Chinese fighter is equipped with Russian AL-31FN engines, designed for fourth-generation fighters. In the future, the aircraft will receive an improved AL-41 engine.
The J-20 reaches high altitudes (ceiling 20,000 meters) at supersonic speeds of about 2,100 km/h. It has a combat radius of 2,000 kilometers and a range of 5,500 km.
9. Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
Costs $118 million
The multi-role combat tiltrotor (combining the advantages of an airplane and a helicopter) made its first flight in March 1989. But accidents during flight tests and unstable funding led to delays in the production of this model.
It wasn't until 2007 that the aircraft entered service with the US Marine Corps. The US Air Force introduced its version of the aircraft (CV-22B) in 2009, and the US Navy plans to use the CMV-22B variant in 2021.
The V-22 has the unique ability to take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but has the range, speed, and takeoff weight of a fixed-wing aircraft.
8. F-35 Lightning II
The price of the plane is 122 million dollars.
This winged combat vehicle is completely invisible to enemy radars without sacrificing speed or armament. It can act as a fighter-bomber and conduct air combat if necessary.
The F-35 also has the ability to perform vertical maneuvers, making it the first jet fighter to have this takeoff capability. Although the Lightning II is only the eighth most expensive military aircraft,
It is the most expensive aircraft in the history of aviation, in terms of production costs and other expenses, including consulting and technical support, training pilots to operate the new machine, the cost of auxiliary equipment, etc. All this cost 345 billion dollars.
7. F-35B Lightning II
The aircraft cost $131.6 million to build.
The Marine Corps has chosen the new F-35B fighter jets, which are a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant. These aircraft can take off and land from helicopter carriers and amphibious assault ships equipped with a flight deck. They can also take off and land conventionally when longer runways are available at home bases.
By the way, Lockheed Martin, the developer of the F-35B, has officially acknowledged that the STOVL concept, albeit with significant changes, originates from the Soviet prototype, the Yakovlev Yak-141 design.
6. F-35C Joint Strike Fighter
Price: $131.2 million
Developing one of the world's most expensive combat aircraft and the U.S. Navy's first stealth aircraft has been costly and challenging for the U.S. Department of Defense. Most of the shortcomings were ironed out during the design and development phase, but the fact that the overall cost of the program is $400 billion has led to a number of new problems.
The Pentagon had been eager to speed up production of the F-35C so the Navy could introduce the new jet into its fleet much sooner, but negotiations over price had been holding up the deal. At $131.2 million per jet, orders from foreign buyers were few and far between.
However, in 2019, the commander of Naval Air Forces and the deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for aviation jointly announced that the carrier-based version of the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35C Lightning II, met all requirements. These aircraft will replace the F-14 and earlier F/A-18 models.
5. E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Price of 1 unit is 232 million dollars
In August 2007, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, an upgraded version of the E-2 Hawkeye, first flew. It featured many technological improvements over its predecessor, including the ability to communicate and coordinate with all coastal, land, and open-sea vessels. The upgrade also included an electronic and mechanical active scanning radar (APY-9).
The E-2D features a fully integrated all-glass tactical cockpit, advanced mission computers, advanced electronic support systems, and an upgraded communications and data link suite. The latest version of the aircraft is powered by two Allison/Rolls-Royce T56-A-427A (3,800 kW) turboprop engines.
4. P-8A Poseidon
The production of one aircraft costs 290 million dollars.
This militarized version of the Boeing 737-800ERX performs anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-shipping and electronic reconnaissance missions.
Its arsenal includes torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It can deploy and control sonar buoys.
3. C17A Globemaster III
Price for 1 copy - 328 million dollars
The C17A is a military transport aircraft, but it was designed for extreme circumstances. It has the ability to deliver military equipment, soldiers and vehicles anywhere in the world.
The Globemaster III is also used to transport troops, tanks and other vehicles deep into combat zones, conduct medical evacuations and participate in amphibious operations. This capability gives the U.S. military a distinct advantage over its adversaries in a conflict that involves fighting on land.
2. F-22 Raptor
One Raptor - $350 million
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather tactical stealth fighter designed for the United States Air Force. It was "their answer" to our advanced MiG-29 and Su-27.
An outgrowth of the U.S. Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter program, the aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities including ground attack, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance. This man-made predator can shoot down enemy cruise missiles, fly long distances at supersonic speeds, and avoid virtually all types of radar.
1. B-2 Spirit
The most expensive military aircraft in 2020 is $2.1 billion
The Northrop B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is an American strategic heavy bomber that uses stealth technology designed to penetrate dense air defenses. The B-2 Spirit is designed to deliver conventional or nuclear weapons.
The most expensive production aircraft in history originally cost $737 million, making it the most expensive aircraft ever built. However, upgrades and adjustments in 1997 brought its total cost to $2.1 billion. The B-2 Spirit costs $135,000 per hour to operate.
The aircraft has two main means of protection against radar detection:
- an expensive coating of radio-absorbing materials known as "alternative high-frequency material"
- a design based on the aerodynamic configuration of a flying wing.
Its jets are shielded, making the stealth bomber virtually impossible to detect by infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual or radar signals, making it a valuable but extremely expensive weapon.
Every seven years, the B-2 Spirit aircraft undergo a $60 million total upgrade.
The American government placed an order for 21 of these aircraft, but then stopped production due to the enormous construction costs.
The most expensive military aircraft in Russia
Su-57 fighter
The domestic fifth-generation multifunctional fighter uses innovative technologies, in particular, the latest internal fuselage missiles, which were tested at the end of August of this year.
According to Military Watch magazine, the aircraft may also receive other advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, laser weapons and hypersonic missiles.
In terms of length and wing span (19.4 meters and 14 meters respectively), the Su-57 is superior to the F-22, but inferior to the Su-27. It can perform tasks in integration with the latest Okhotnik drone and is itself capable of flying in unmanned mode over long distances from the base.
In the Russian Air Force, the Su-57 is to replace the Su-27 heavy fighter. The estimated cost of 1 unit is 150-200 million dollars.
Bomber Tu-160M2
This powerful beauty is an updated version of the famous "White Swan" - supersonicgo strategic bomberA-rocket carrierA with variable sweep wing, which made its first flight back in 1981 and entered service 6 years later.
The bomber was used during the Syrian campaign, carrying out missile strikes X-555 by objects banned in Russia «Islamic State».
Demonstration flight partially modernized Tu-160 With serial number 804 (prototype Tu-160M2) took place in 2018, in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, a contract was signed for the supply of 10 new bombers for Long-range aviation Russian Air Force until 2027. Each of the new White Swans costs 16 billion rubles, or $217.5 million at the exchange rate at the time of writing.
The test flight of the deeply modernized Tu-160M took place at the beginning of February of this year at the KAZ airfield. By data TASS, from his predecessor Tu-160M is distinguished by its updated flight and navigation equipment, improved control system and onboard communication system. Also updated were radaroh stationsI and an electronic warfare complex. "White Swans" modifications 160M/M2 will be able to raise up to 12 winged X-SD missiles, which is being developed by Rainbow Company.
At the end of August 2020, information appeared that the installation batch of new engines NK-32 second stage already transferred for installation on modernized Tu-160MThey will provide improved fuel efficiency and range.
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