How much does the Eurofighter cost?

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the fighter jet built in Europe in the largest numbers, with more than 600 aircraft delivered to nine countries, and its price has risen with each tranche because it incorporates electronically scanned radar, new missiles and more electronics. It is a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, so the cost is shared among Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.

The most reliable figures are the signed orders. In November 2020 Germany approved the Quadriga program: 38 Tranche 4 aircraft for about 5,400 million euros, that is, around 140 million per unit including the ECRS Mk1 radar, spare parts and initial support. In 2022 Spain closed the Halcón program, 20 aircraft for 2,043 million, just over 100 million per aircraft. Since then Spain has ordered 25 more (Halcón II), Germany another 20 and Italy has approved a new purchase (2025 figure).

The flyaway price, the aircraft alone with engines and avionics, is estimated at 80-90 million euros. Everything else, from Meteor and IRIS-T missiles to simulators, helmets and training hours, swells the bill. Export contracts are even more expensive: the deals with Qatar or Kuwait were around 200 million per aircraft because they included full weaponry and years of maintenance.

The flight hour of a Typhoon runs around 60,000 to 75,000 euros depending on the country and the calculation method. Over a service life of 6,000 hours, operating the aircraft costs considerably more than buying it, and mid-life upgrades, such as the British ECRS Mk2 radar, add billions more to the program.