F-35A: $98M (low rate initial production and not including the engine, full production in 2018 to be $85M)
F-35B: US$104M (low rate initial production and not including the engine)
F-35C: US$116M (low rate initial production and not including the engine)
Note that the prices for the F-35 do not include the engine, which means that the cost is for an aircraft suitable for static display, not a flyable a/c.
F-22 $150 million (flyaway cost for FY2009)
F-16C/D: US$18.8 million (1998 dollars)
Given that it is possible to acquire five F-16's for less than one F-35 and have money left over why are we even thinking of the F-35.
Yep! As stated previously the F-35 is the poster child for the military/industrial complex.
I spent 12 years in the F-16 program and while the F-16 may not do everything right it is still the best "bang for the buck" out there. Why not "superiority through numbers".
drover
Last edited by drover; 07/01/15. Reason: clarity
