Israel’s bid to purchase dozens of ultra-expensive stealth aircraft went sour as the offer exceeded Israeli expectations by three times.
The F-35, like other military aircraft, sells initially for a very high price to offset R&D expenses. The mass-production price was expected to be in the $70-85 million range, which still made the plane too expensive to risk in any serious combat. The Russian S-400 battery reportedly targets the F-35 reliably.