Cost Of Buying & Operating Fighters

[VCheng]

It takes a lot of resources to play in the big leagues, including money.

"The sinews of war are infinite money." - Marcus Tullius Cicero.

 

[Manticore]

April 21, 2013: The U.S. Air Force prefers to use its F-16 fighters for everything. While the F-16 is a capable and versatile aircraft, the main reason for using it so much is because it is so cheap to operate. It costs the air force $23,000 per hour to operate an F-16C. Other fighters are much more expensive. An F-22 costs $68,000 an hour, while an F-15C costs $42,000, and an F-15E $36,000.

The only aircraft that beats the F-16C is the A-10C, which costs $18,000 an hour. But the A-10 is not a fighter and is optimized for ground support. The F-16 can also do that but not as well. The other ground support aircraft, the AC-130U costs $46,000 an hour. That’s why these are being replaced by C-130 transports ($18,000 an hour), with special cargo containers consisting of sensors and weapons similar to those on the AC-130.

The F-16, like the A-10 can also drop smart bombs. Both aircraft are much cheaper at this than the bombers. The B-52H costs $70,000 an hour, the B-1B $58,000, and the B-2 $169,000. The problem with the bombers is that with smart bombs you don’t need a lot of bombs. So what the F-16 can carry (a dozen or more, depending on weight) is usually adequate in places like Afghanistan. For an attack on, say, North Korea, the bombers would come into their own, at least for the initial assault when there are a lot of targets to hit.

With the right sensors, missiles, and electronic weapons, plus well-trained pilots, the F-16 can beat just about any other fighter out there. For stealth fighters that would have to include sensors that can handle stealth. But stealth fighters often have the best sensors and electronics as well. Thus against most foes a well tricked out F-16 can do it all.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20130421.aspx

 

[mil-avia]

To be cost effective "at least three to four (J-10B) squadrons would justify the additional wherewithal and maintenance facilities that would be needed"

 

[Luftwaffe]

Add Kfir Block 60 vs JF-17; lower price than JF-17 with AESA, israel claims it also costs less over all and comes out 0 zero hours out of factory 1/3 the price of modern 4th Gen Fighters.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

As I have stated a multiple of times before----your better long distance missile on an average aircraft will give a better bang for your buck. As pakistan cannot afford to catch up to its adversary---it can maintain and manage a status quo with lesser investment into a quality BVR system and radar than a high tech aircraft.

 

[Luftwaffe]

Hi,

As I have stated a multiple of times before----your better long distance missile on an average aircraft will give a better bang for your buck. As pakistan cannot afford to catch up to its adversary---it can maintain and manage a status quo with lesser investment into a quality BVR system and radar than a high tech aircraft.

That is what israel is offering to countries that can't afford new gen aircraft offering a capable Kfir with 4th/5th gen missiles.
http://www.defence.pk/forums/air-warfare/280720-iai-kfir-fighter-jet-received-new-lease-life.html#post4850225

Some highlights:
Kfirs Block 60
- The combat edge comes from systems & weapons
- First to detect and acquire in A/C systems, First to shoot, First to kill
- Sensor Fusion
- Latest generation Active Electronically Scan Array (AESA) radar
- Link 16
- Net centric
- Tactical Situation Display (TSD) to include Info from advanced Radar, Advanced Data link (targets, allay formations and wingmen, formation data), EW systems data, Digital moving map, zones and threats, RWR and more.
- Data link based cooperation in Air to Air and Air to ground
- Fully NATO compatible
- 9 stations
- BVR and 5th Gen IR (Python 5) missiles
- A/G – LGB, GPS guided, Autonomous TV guided
- Full glass cockpit
- Short delivery
- Similar results as new 4th Gen aircraft - At a 1/3 of the price.
- Long term affordability – 1/4 of 4th Gen aircraft maintenance costs

 

[Manticore]

Rising Fighter Aircraft Costs
American Innovation: Rising Fighter Aircraft Costs




USAF Fighter Aircraft Cost over time 1945-2011

The dates listed are references to how much each aircraft was worth at that time followed by a; with the modern equivalent in 2011 dollars. The dates do not reflect when the aircraft went into service.

P-51 Mustang $50,000 (1945); $627,005.56 (2011)
F-86A Sabre $178,408 (1950); $1,670,979.69 (2011)
F-4C Phantom II $1,900,000 (1965); $13,614,977.78 (2011)
F-15A Eagle $27,900,000 (1998); $38,635,851.53 (2011)
F-22A Raptor $150,000,000 (2009); $157,820,329.36 (2011)
F-35A Lighting II $122,000,000 (2011)




BAF Fighter Aircraft Cost over time 1939-2011

Note: the following figures are already adjusted for inflation and converted from their original respective currencies i.e. pounds or euros. The dates after the arrow indicated when each aircraft went into service.

Supermarine Spitfire $800,971.69 (2011) ->1939
Harrier Jump Jet $23,000,000 (2011) -> 1969
Panavia Tornado $29,393,436.93 (2011) -> 1979
Eurofighter Typhoon $141,784,192.02 (2011) ->2003
F-35A Lighting II $122,000,000 (2011)





Russian Air force Fighter Aircraft Cost over time 1959-2010
Note: the following figures were not adjusted to 2011 dollars as references for these date of each dollar equivalent could not be found with the exception of the SU-35S and Pak FA T-50


Mig-21 $1,500,000 (2011) -> 1959
Mig-29 $29,000,000 (2011) -> 1982
SU-27 $30,000,000 (2011) -> 1984
SU-35S $65,000,000 (2011) -> 2005
PAK FA T-50 $100,000,000 (2011) -> 2010


Commentary

Since their inception over the skies of Western Europe during World War I, fighter aircraft have become more technologically advanced and capable with each newer generation. But as a result of this increased capability comes an astronomical increase in cost. For the most part, the astronomical increase in price HAS been worth the near exponential increase in capabilities. During World War II, hundreds of B-29 Super Fortress' dropped thousands of bombs in a saturation attempt to often hit one factory. Today, a single B-2 Spirit can hit 16 different targets with JDAM 2,000 pound GPS guided munitions while remaining undetected by the enemy. The same increase in cost and lethality is true for fighter aircraft.

The F-15 Eagle is the most decorated fighter in modern history with an unparalleled 104 to ZERO kill ratio. Although the F-15 costs much more than its predecessor the F-4 Phantom II, its service record PROVES that its increased lethality justified its cost. In the same way, the latest generation of stealth aircraft will be justified. In mock dogfights, veteran F-15C and F-16C pilots are pitted against F-22A raptor pilots. Raptor pilots commonly fight 4 to 5 F-15Cs and "don't break a sweat" according to one pilot. This is one RAAF pilot who describes fighting F-22As during a Red Flag exercise in 2007.

"'I can’t see the [expletive deleted] thing,” said RAAF Squadron Leader Stephen Chappell, exchange F-15 pilot in the 65th Aggressor Squadron. “It won’t let me put a weapons system on it, even when I can see it visually through the canopy. [Flying against the F-22] annoys the hell out of me.'”- Austrian Exchange pilot, Red Flag 2007, from Defense Industry Daily




Currently, the F-22A holds a 144-1 kill ratio in simulated dogfights. Its cheaper less capable cousin the F-35, is "400%" more capable than any 4th generation fighter according to the USAF.

In conclusion, aircraft with continue to become more technologically advanced and as a result, become much more expensive. Despite what politicians say, this trend has been going on since the creation of fighter aircraft. And in my view, the increase in cost of these aircraft is worth their increase in capability (F-22A and F-35A not the Eurofighter, a separate article will discuss that in detail). It simply means that we require less aircraft to get the job done which is a major bonus for logistical support.

 

[sancho]

USAF F15E Costs per flight hour from 2008 to 2012:

@Nihonjin1051 and @500

Do you have any sources from the Japanese or Israeli Government / Forces for the F15 costs, to compare the difference?

 

[UgandaToRawanda]

Can u give me per hour cost of fighters like f16,rafale,typhoon,su-30,m2k,etc??

 

[Indus Falcon]

Can u give me per hour cost of fighters like f16,rafale,typhoon,su-30,m2k,etc??

More than cost per hour Air Forces or decision makers look at availability rate & ease of maintenance, of an aircraft when deciding in what to procure.

Cost per hour, would be an over simplification of that process.

 

[Daneshmand]

 

[Manindra]

Su-30 MKI $ 16000 per hour

 

[Tea addict]

these are only flyaway cost...what will be the per hour cost if we consider the maintenance cost, fuel cost,crew cost and over hauling cost in mid life?

 

[mil-avia]

Gripen operational cost lowest of all western fighters (Jul 4, 2012)

Saab reveals full Gripen E design, cost savings (13 Mar 2014)

Sweden’s Ultra-Cheap Fighter Jet Still Isn’t Cheap Enough for Switzerland (May 22, 2014)

Scorpion: The Budget-Priced American Fighter Jet (Sep 16, 2013)

Affordable $20 million fighter planes (May 9, 2015)

 

[mil-avia]

Is it time for a low-cost stealth fighter? Why air arms won’t see sense (Dec 5, 2013)