http://ca.news.yahoo.com/f-35-now-un...225131128.html
"Over the lifetime of this program, the decade or so, the per-aircraft cost of the 2,443 aircraft we want has doubled in real terms," said Ashton Carter, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
Ouch, even the US says their planes are too expensive. Heck, we only want 65, they plan on 2,443 (to use against whoever replaces Osama Bin Laden?)
The original stated cost was $69 million, but has now inflated to $103 million plane only cost.
If the US is unable to produce working F-35s, we could always go with some Chinese JF-17s. Only $15 million apiece, but probably would strain to do Mach 2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAC_/_PAC_JF-17_Thunder