Soaring Giants: Unveiling the Biggest and Most Costly Military Aircraft Ever Built

2. The V-22 Osprey Bell Boeing

Joined the Service in 1989 Not retired: N/A Price: *$118 million The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey was developed by two of the top defence companies in the world. A military crisis in the late 1980s highlighted the need for a new vertical-takeoff, long-range, high-speed aircraft, and the DOD hired Boeing Co. and Textron Inc. to begin building the multi-mission aircraft as soon as feasible. In 1989, the V-22 Osprey made its maiden flight.

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Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey on Twitter at @bullseye2100 The Osprey is engineered to perform similarly to a conventional helicopter. The Osprey, however, possesses the high-speed, long-range cruise capability typically associated with a turboprop, providing it with both practicality and lethality. The V-22 Osprey is used by the Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

3. The MiG-21

Joined the Service in 1955 1985 saw the retirement Price: $25.2 million The Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau's MiG-21 set several aviation records during the Soviet Union. In the past, the Romanian, Croatian, and Indian air forces have all utilised this fighter aircraft in addition to the Soviet Air Force. 10,645 of the 11,496 produced were made by UNAC in the USSR.

Twitter.com / Rowdy Rathore / MiG-21 In the history of aviation, this set a record for the most supersonic jets manufactured. Of all the combat aircraft built after the Korean War, it was also the most produced. After the Fighting Falcon F-16 and the E-15 Eagle, the MiG-21 has the third-longest production run of any combat aircraft and is still in use.