Below are the ten most expensive fighter jets ever built, ranked by approximate unit cost, with one strategic bomber included as a benchmark outlier.
Best Fighter aircraft
For more than three decades since the end of the Cold War, the United States has remained the world’s leading air power.
The following list details the top 10 most dangerous fighter jets currently in service, ranked by capability and combat potential.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II remains the most advanced fighter jet in the world as of 2025, leading a global field of cutting-edge aircraft built for speed, stealth, and combat superiority.
From the Tupolev Tu-128 to the Chengdu J-20, today’s biggest fighter jets dominate airspace with sheer size and combat reach.
Dassault Aviation has signed four major Production Transfer Agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to manufacture complete Rafale fighter jet fuselages in India.
The first prototype of the TEJAS MK-1A, which is actually the intended mass-production version of the TEJAS and the base for all others, has made its first flight in secrecy, according to Indian authorities.