http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/F-18-Super-Hornet.html http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/F-18-Super-Hornet.html F-18E/F: $65.3 million (flyaway cost) or $80

http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/F-18-Super-Hornet.html http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/F-18-Super-Hornet.html F-18E/F: $65.3 million (flyaway cost) or $80.7 million incl. support costs. You'll see a number of places quoting slightly different per unit costs for an F-18E/F, but they cluster around that figure. The cost of an F-35 in the latest LRIP lot (8) was as follows: http://www.janes.com/article/46129/pentagon-finalises-f-35-lrip-8-contract http://www.janes.com/article/46129/pentagon-finalises-f-35-l... "The US buy is for 19 F-35A conventional take-off and landing aircraft at USD94.8 million apiece; 6 F-35B short take-off and landing aircraft for USD102 million each." That does not include an F-135 engine for each jet, which is anywhere from $10 to $15 million depending on the variant. So while the F-35 is more expensive than the F-18, I do not believe the figures bear your "3x or more" assertion. Also it's difficult to compare the operating costs of a fully mature aircraft like the F-18 with the F-35, which is still being tested and developed. I don't think that is an apples/apples comparison. Disclaimer: all opinions my own, not those of my employer, etc.