24/7 Wall St. Insights
- The U.S. has 553 active F-35 Lightning II Fight Jets.
- 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal to find which countries are buying the most F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
- The F-35 Lightning II costs between $110 million to $136 million per unit (depending on the model.)
- Also, Discover “The Next NVIDIA”
The United States currently has 553 active F-35 Lightning II Fight Jets with plans to acquire 1,855 more. Used by the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy, the F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter that has been replacing the aging A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons. Although the US has the most F-35s with plans to acquire more than any other nation, other countries use the fighter jet as well for their defense. (These are the world’s future military aircraft.)
To identify which countries are buying the most F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ranked these countries based on the number of F-35 jets they have on order. In addition, we included supplementary information about the number of active F-35s in each country’s fleet, the specific military branches that will be using these aircraft, and which variants of the F-35 (F-35A, F-35B, or F-35C) are on order or already in active service.
In June 2024, Lockheed Martin secured a $97 million contract with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to enhance the F-35s with weaponry. The project is planned to be completed by February 2028 and will not only benefit the branches of the US military but will also benefit Foreign Military Sales customers and non-U.S. Department of Defense program participants. (Here is every major fighter plane flown by the U.S. Air Force.)
The F-35 Lightning II has three variants: the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. The F-35A is the standard variant. With conventional takeoff and landing capabilities, it costs around $110 million per unit. The F-35B features a short takeoff and vertical landing system, costing roughly $136 million per unit. Lastly, the F-35C is a carrier-based variant and costs around $117 million per unit. (These are the most iconic aircraft built by Lockheed Martin.)
Why We Are Covering F-35 Lightning II Fighter Jets
The F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is the most advanced military aircraft in the world today, and it is an important element in providing security and preventing future conflicts. Although the cost of each jet is high, it also helps to create jobs and boost the economy, particularly in the United States where the jets are manufactured.
Here is a look at the countries that are buying the most F-35 Lightning II fighter jets:
20. Singapore
- Aircraft on order: 12
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Republic of Singapore Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35
19. Norway
- Aircraft on order: 12
- Active aircraft: 40
- Military branches: Royal Norwegian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
18. Denmark
- Aircraft on order: 17
- Active aircraft: 10
- Military branches: Royal Danish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
17. Netherlands
- Aircraft on order: 18
- Active aircraft: 34
- Military branches: Royal Netherlands Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
16. Czech Republic
- Aircraft on order: 24
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Czech Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
15. South Korea
- Aircraft on order: 25
- Active aircraft: 40
- Military branches: Republic of Korea Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
14. Poland
- Aircraft on order: 32
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Polish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
13. Belgium
- Aircraft on order: 34
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Belgian Air Component
- Variant(s): F-35A
12. Germany
- Aircraft on order: 35
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: German Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
11. Israel
- Aircraft on order: 36
- Active aircraft: 39
- Military branches: Israel Air and Space Force
- Variant(s): F-35I
10. Switzerland
- Aircraft on order: 36
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Swiss Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
9. Australia
- Aircraft on order: 37
- Active aircraft: 63
- Military branches: Royal Australian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
8. Romania
- Aircraft on order: 48
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Romanian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
7. United Arab Emirates
- Aircraft on order: 50
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: United Arab Emirates Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
6. Finland
- Aircraft on order: 64
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Finnish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
5. Italy
- Aircraft on order: 65
- Active aircraft: 25
- Military branches: Italian Air Force, Italian Navy
- Variant(s): F-35A/B
4. Canada
- Aircraft on order: 88
- Active aircraft: 0
- Military branches: Royal Canadian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35A
3. United Kingdom
- Aircraft on order: 105
- Active aircraft: 29
- Military branches: Royal Air Force
- Variant(s): F-35B
2. Japan
- Aircraft on order: 110
- Active aircraft: 36
- Military branches: Japan Air Self-Defence Force
- Variant(s): F-35A/B
1. United States
![us+Air+Force | US Air Force Weapons School [Image 20 of 24]](http://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/imageForEntry19-zKi.jpg)
- Aircraft on order: 1,855
- Active aircraft: 553
- Military branches: United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy
- Variant(s): F-35A/B/C
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