Fighter jet world market continues to grow. Many countries with a lot of reasons to buy fighter to strengthen their air force. This becomes a great opportunity for producers warplanes.
Who still control the sky? This is at most 10 fighters in the world by 2016
10. Chengdu J-7 Fishbed (no longer in production)
Holding steady at No. 10 on this year’s edition of Flightglobal Insight “World Air Forces” report (link leads to a free download of the report) is the Chinese J-7 fighter jet. It’s actually China’s version of the old Soviet MiG-21 and is no longer produced. Still, 418 remain in service, giving the fighter a 3% global market share.
9. Chengdu F-7 Airguard, list price: $2-3 million
The export version of China’s J-7 is dubbed F-7, and it’s likewise a twin to Russia’s MiG-21. The global population of F-7s declined by just one plane over the past 12 months and now stands at 459 aircraft, giving the F-7 a 3% market share as well.
8. Northrop Grumman F-5 Tiger ($20 to $25 million (estimated)
Northrop Grumman’s (NYSE:NOC) F-5 Tiger is no longer in production. Curiously, though, some decommissioned F-5s appear to have been resurrected from the grave over the past year, as Flightglobal says the number of F-5s in service grew from 468 a year ago to 482 today. That works out to a 3% market share as well.
7. Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot ( $11 million)Â
Russia’s answer to the American A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog,” the Su-25 is a dedicated “tank-buster” aircraft. It’s also more popular than the Warthog. According to Flightglobal figures, the U.S. Air Force only has 291 A-10s still in service — but there are 503 Frogfeet flying around the globe, so 3% market share again.
6. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed ( $25,000*)
Once one of the world’s most popular fighter aircraft, the number of working MiG-21s continues to dwindle. Its numbers have fallen from 793 in 2013, to 698 in 2014, 668 in 2015, and just 551 today. Because it’s no longer produced, it’s hard to say how much a new one might cost…but you can apparently buy a used MiG-21 on eBay for about 25 grand.
The MiG-21 still commands 4% market share. And if you count its “twins” — the Chinese J-7s and F-7s — there are 1,428 MiG-21 lookalikes in service, with a market share more than double that of the MiG-21 proper.
5. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum ($40 million)Â
Last year we mentioned that a new variant of the Mig-29, dubbed the MiG-35D, was slated to enter service in 2016, giving a new lease on life — and increased marketshare — to the Moscow warbird. That has now happened, and the world’s most advanced MiG has enjoyed a market share boost to 6% (819 planes) as a result.
4. Boeing F-15 Eagl ($100 million)Â
Losing more and more international fighter jet competitions through a combination of high cost and low stealth, Boeing’s F-15 is down but not out. Last year, Boeing built 12 “F-15 Models” for its customers, helping to grow the plane’s base to 858 aircraft and giving it a 6% market share.
3. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker ($18 million)Â
Thanks to resurgent Russian military spending at home, and a declining ruble abroad (which makes it more competitive in foreign markets), the Su-27 Flanker remains Russia’s most popular fighter jet — and the third most popular fighter in the world. When you include its Su-30 variant, the Flanker fleet boasts 6% global market share, with 943 aircraft in service.
2. Boeing F-18 Hornet ($92 million)Â
While both Boeing’s F-15 and its F/A-18 production lines are reported to be winding down, the Seattle planemaker continues to churn out F/A-18s at its St. Louis, Mo., factory at three times the rate at which it produces the less popular F-15. Boeing delivered 35 Hornet aircraft in 2015, helping to boost it to 7% market share today, with 1,047 planes in service.
1. Lockheed Martin F-16 Falcon ($34 million)Â
And last (first?), but not least, for the third year running, Lockheed Martin’s modestly priced F-16 Falcon tops the rankings in this year’s edition of Flightglobal’s “World Air Forces 2016” report. With 2,264 planes in active service, the F-16 is still the most popular fighter jet on the planet, making up 16% of the world’s air forces.
Source: the fool
