Mitsubishi F-2

The F-2 program was controversial, because the unit cost, which includes development costs, is roughly 4 times that of a Block 50/52 F-16, which does not include development costs. Inclusion of development costs distorts the incremental unit cost (this happens with most modern military aircraft), though even at the planned procurement levels, the price per aircraft was somewhat high. The initial plan of 141 F-2s would have reduced the unit cost by up to 10 million dollars per unit, not including reduced cost from mass production. As of 2005, up to about 98 aircraft were planned. Also controversial is the amounts claimed to be paid to American side as various licensing fees, although making use of the pre-existing technology was much cheaper than trying to develop it from scratch.