Not quite. In most cases that number you quoted is an F-35 without an engine. You might as well say “Here is a $78 million paperweight!” From Air Space Forces

Not quite. In most cases that number you quoted is an F-35 without an engine. You might as well say “Here is a $78 million paperweight!” From Air Space Forces: “The unit cost of the fighters will average about $75 million a copy, but that is without the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. With the engine, the last three-lot deal achieved a unit cost below $80 million per jet. The JPO did not provide Air & Space Forces Magazine an all-up cost for the fighters in Lots 15-17. For the airframe and mission equipment only, the Lot 15-17 cost of F-35s ranges “from $70.2 million to $69.9 million for the F-35A, $80.9 million to $78.3 million for the F-35B, and $90 to $89.3 million for the F-35C,” a Lockheed spokesperson said.” https://www.airandspaceforces.com/30-billion-f-35-deal-will-see-prices-rise-deliveries-dip/#:~:text=The%20unit%20cost%20of%20the,fighters%20in%20Lots%2015%2D17 https://www.airandspaceforces.com/30-billion-f-35-deal-will-.... I figured why not go on a research tear while I’m doublechecking your numbers. Another research paper states the US government would save 14.1 Billion keeping the A-10s flying. “The current selected acquisition report for the F-35 proposes to acquire 1,763 aircraft. Posit, on a very conservative basis, that 10% of them will be used for CAS in low-intensity conflicts. Not building those 176 planes, over a 15 year period, would save a minimum of $18.3 billion.144 The Air Force estimates that retiring all of the A-10s would save $4.2 billion. Posit that only the 173 A-10s whose service lives have been extended to 2035 were retained, virtually one for one with the F-35s that were cut, and that no dollars were saved by cutting the other 110 A-10s. This budget would still save a minimum of $14.1 billion. More importantly, the United States would retain a far superior capability to fight low-intensity conflicts.” https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/green-zeckhauser031416.pdf https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publi...