50 Best Military Aircraft of All Time, Ranked

Love it or hate it, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is the most ambitious military aircraft program ever attempted. Over 1,300 have been delivered to 12 nations, with total program costs exceeding $1.7 trillion over its lifetime. Three variants, the conventional F-35A, short-takeoff F-35B, and carrier-based F-35C, were designed to replace nearly every tactical fighter in Western arsenals. No defense technology program has ever operated at this scale.

Critics point to cost overruns, delays, and maintenance challenges. But the F-35's sensor fusion, electronic warfare suite, and low-observable stealth represent a generational leap. In Red Flag exercises, F-35 pilots have achieved 20:1 kill ratios against fourth-generation opponents. The aircraft's real power isn't just its own capabilities, it's the networked battlefield picture it shares with every friendly platform in the fight. Twelve nations have staked their air power futures on this jet, and production is ramping up to 156 aircraft per year.