Side by side
Route cost is the full bill from the starting F/A-18C: every prerequisite jet and part. Green marks the lower number in each row.
| F-35C Lightning II | X-40 Nightmare | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Multirole | Multirole |
| Node price (MRP) | 550,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Full route cost (MRP) | 1,495,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Prerequisite jets paid for | 2 | 2 |
| Upgrade parts on route | 12 | 11 |
| Wingman copy (MRP) | 68,750 | 125,000 |
| Extra special weapons (MRP) | 110,000 | 200,000 |
| Part slots body / arms / misc | 5 / 7 / 3 | 5 / 7 / 3 |
| Runs of Mission 16 from 0 MRP | 22 | 30 |
| Data confidence | Reported | Estimated |
Buying both
The two routes share 9 nodes (Aileron Auxiliary Pressurization Device, Lightweight Blisk, Flap Auxiliary Pressurization Device, Takeoff Weight Augmentation (MSL) and 5 more), and a shared node is only paid once. Buying both costs 3,185,000 MRP instead of 3,595,000, saving 410,000 MRP. At Mission 16 that is 45 runs, about 3 h 32 min with 1.5 minutes of loading per run.
Which one first?
If you only want one jet, the F-35C Lightning II needs 605,000 fewer MRP. Role matters too: the F-35C Lightning II is multirole and the X-40 Nightmare is multirole. Special weapon sets differ, so check the full lists on each guide.
F-35C Lightning II full route X-40 Nightmare full route Calculate with your MRP
Mission figures are compiled from public reports and not measured here. Part of the F-22A branch comes from a single guide, so treat those totals as estimates. Data checked October 5, 2026.
F-35C Lightning II vs X-40 Nightmare: FAQ
Which is cheaper, the F-35C Lightning II or the X-40 Nightmare?
The F-35C Lightning II is cheaper by 605,000 MRP on the full route. The F-35C Lightning II totals 1,495,000 MRP and the X-40 Nightmare totals 2,100,000 MRP.
How much MRP do I need for both?
3,185,000 MRP, because the shared nodes are bought once.