3. TIL the F-35 fighter is the most expensive weapons program ever with a price tag...

TIL the F-35 fighter is the most expensive weapons program ever with a price tag of $1.5 trillion, and it's still three years away from launch

The F-35 ownership and operation is not that expensive relative to other aircraft in FY2014 USD.

Aircraft Cost $M [Service Life]
Hours Yrs
F-35A2 $75 8,000 30
F-16 Blk 52M $76 8,000 30
F/A-18C $76
F/A-18E/F $79 20
F/A-18E/F (w/SLEP) $107 30
F-15E $100 8,000+
Gripen4 $85
Rafale C4 $90
Rafale M4 $104

These flyaway costs do not include all systems needed for operations, including targeting/nav and ECM pods, whose capabilities come built-in on the F-35. On top of all that the F-16 and F-35 both cost ~$8 million/yr to operate.

For a comparison of export purchase with the F-18E, $218.75M/plane for Australia. And here are contracts for the F-35: 201.09M/plane for Norway, 150.58M/plane for the Netherlands and 198M/plane for Australia. Keep in mind I have accounted for inflation, all are in FY2014 USD, and the purchases are equivalent.

And to anyone thinking the F-35 can't carry an adequate weapons load. The F-35 can carry up to 22,300 lbs of weapons. Compared to 16,000 of the A-10, 17,000 of the F-16 and 17,750 for the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

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