Costs per flight hour for modern Western F and F/A

[Skybird]

In another thread I briefly mentioned the low operation costs of the Gripen, and when surfing and reading a bit further about the latest developments of that plane, which is anything but dead, I stumbled over this article that refers to analysis done by Janes, comparing the costs for one flight hour of operation of the current Western fighters/fighterbombers, including the F-35.

http://www.stratpost.com/gripen-oper...fighters-janes

The numbers again confirm the outstanding record of the Gripen (4700 dollars 2013 for one operational flight hour), followed by the F-16 with 7000 dollards and the Eurofighter with 8200 doillars. Then comes the Rafale with 16500 dollars and the F/A-18 E/F ranging from 11000 to 24400 dollars (!).

To my surprise the terrible F-35 really hit the jackpot, and has operational costs that set it apart in a league of its own. Its operational costs for one flight hour varies between 21000 and 31000 dollars! And that thing is said to be "modern"...? In other air forces, airframes costing that much money to maintain them, would get phased out! Didnt that air force colonel or general, who claimed it would be treason to defend the A-10, mention that the air force must save money and become more cost-efficient...?

Modernised versions of the Gripen with new avionics, new radar, as well as a carrier-based version and a version without pilot, are being developed. To me it seems as if it gets rewarded a second spring, like the Hornet being turned into the Superhornet. The Gripen is anything but a dead plane!