The F-35 Lightning II Is By Far the World’s Most Ordered Combat Aircraft

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24/7 Wall St. Insights:

• The F-35 Lightning II is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world
• The cost for each fighter jet ranges between $110 million and $136 million depending on the variant
• Only 20 countries have ordered or use F-35 Lightning II fighter jets
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The F-35 Lightning II is one of the newest and most technologically advanced fighter jets to enter service in the last decade. It was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin in partnership with BAe Systems and Northrop Grumman. Considering it's position as one of the top fighter jets in existence, militaries around the world are ordering these jets en masse. (This is every aircraft in the U.S. Air Force. )

These jets do not come cheap, the cost for the F-35 ranges depending on the variant and is fairly high compared to other fighter jets. The F-35A is the stock standard variant and costs roughly $110 million per unit. The B variant costs slightly more at around $136 million per unit but it incorporates a short take-off and vertical landing system, which allows it to take off from extremely short runways as well land vertically. The C variant is designed to be launched from aircraft carriers and costs about $117 million per unit.

What makes the F-35 Lightning II special is that it brings next-level features like stealth, maneuverability, and the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds without afterburners. Also, it's versatile with its weapons load, and capable of carrying up to 18,000 pounds of munitions.

So far, only 20 countries, all allies of the U.S., have ordered or use these jets. This means it's pretty unlikely that rivals like China or Russia will get their hands on an F-35 anytime soon. (These are the stealth aircraft used by global superpower air forces. )

24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at military aircraft on order by the world's militaries. To identify the combat aircraft of the future, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft by how many are currently on order by militaries around the world. We also included supplemental data on the type of aircraft, how many of these aircraft are in active service, and what militaries employ these aircraft.

Here is a look at the combat aircraft on order by the world's militaries: Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the combat aircraft used by the militaries around the world provides insight into joint military capabilities and defense strategies. Also knowing what other countries have in their arsenals further explain relative military capabilities.

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