Earlier this month, we presented a side-by-side (by side) comparison of some of the cheapest -- and most expensive -- combat aircraft in the world.

Topping the list was Lockheed Martin's (LMT 1.65%) F-22 Raptor, which cost $412 million a pop to build, followed by Lockheed's other stealth fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II (a relative steal at just $154 million per plane), and Boeing's (BA -0.39%) bargain of the week, the $100 million F-15K Slam Eagle (a bargain that, unfortunately for Boeing, South Korea just passed on).

But prices drop steeply from there:

  • $44 million for Russia's Sukhoi F-35 Flanker.
  • $36 million for the Russian Su-34 Fullback.
  • A mere $25 million for the Chinese Chengdu JF-17 Thunder.

Would you care to guess which of these planes is the most popular among military buyers around the world? The result may surprise you.

Take a click-tour of the world's most popular fighter jets in the slideshow below.