It is believed that the fighter jet is a true marvel of the aviation industry, which is developing faster than the speed of sound. The world’s first Fighter Jet, Messerschmitt Me 262, also called Schwalbe, was launched through Germany during WW2 in 1944.
Within the next three years, the sound barrier was broken by the Bell X-1, a rocket-powered aircraft developed by Bell Aircraft Corporation.
Before diving into the topic, let’s address the elephant in the room, the SR-71 Blackbird and NASA X-43.
NASA X-43
The NASA X-43 is the fastest Aircraft humankind has ever built, with a speed of a whopping 9.6 Mach 10700 Km/h. It was an experimental unmanned hypersonic aircraft to test various aspects of the hypersonic flight that was under development in the 1990s.
The X-43 was stacked on a wing booster rocket and dropped launched from a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress; the stack was ejected at the required speed and altitude, and it continued to fly on its own scramjet Engines.
SR-71 Blackbird
The SR-71 Black Bird was a long-range Mach 3 plus strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed by the Sunks work division of Lockheed Cooperation in 1960.
The SR-71 wasn’t fitted with missiles or bombers to carry out air-to-air or air-to-ground combat missions; rather, it was built for Surveillance and aerial Photography missions.
The SR-71 was retired from the US Air Force in 1990 due to its high operating costs.
The SR-71 was retired from the US Air Force in 1990 due to its high operating costs. As Technology improved, it was replaced by satellites and more advanced Unmanned Vehicles.
When we discuss the world’s fastest Aircraft, the SR-71 Blackbird and NASA X-43 are the most common Aircraft that come to mind.
These aircraft are engineering marvels, though they were never intended for air-to-air combat and were not equipped with missiles, bombers, or artillery. They were solely designed for research and surveillance purposes.
If this is clear, let’s dive into our main topic of discussion: the Top 10 Fastest Fighter Jets in the World.
1. MIG 25
MIG-25 was designed by the Soviet Union’s Mikoyan-Gurevich before his retirement in 1964.
MIG-25 was powered by a massive Tumansky R-15 Turbojet engine capable of clocking 3.2 Mach but was restricted to 2.83 Mach to prevent engine overheating at higher airspeed.
The plane is capable of cruising at 89,000 feet and was equipped with Powerful radar and four air-to-air missiles.
The aircraft ceased production in 1984 after entering service in 1970. It became one of the fastest serially produced interceptor aircraft, with 1,186 units manufactured.
2. MIG-31
The MIG-31 is the fastest operational combat aircraft in the world. The plane was capable of flying three-plus Mach, reaching a service ceiling of 82,000 feet.
The MiG’s primary roles include intercepting cruise missiles and their launch platforms immediately after departure from the loiter area.
It also involves detecting and eliminating low-flying cruise missiles, UAVs, and helicopters while providing long-range escort services for strategic bombers.
MIG 31 was produced between 1975 and 1994 in 3 variants, including 349 MIG31 base models, 101 MIG-31DZ, and 69 MIG-31B, totaling 519 units.
3. F-15 Eagle
The F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing).
he F-15 Jet is One of the most accomplished modern fighters, with over 100 victories and zero losses in aerial combat, primarily attributed to the Israeli Air Force.
he F-15 is Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofans, each capable of Producing 23,770lbs of thrust and knocking 2.5 Mach or 1600 mph.
Since its introduction in 1976, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle has been utilized by the United States Air Force and six other nations: Israel, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Singapore.
4. F-111 Aardvark
The F-111 Aardvark is a retired supersonic medium-range multirole combat aircraft capable of air interdiction, strategic bombing, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare.
The Jet is named after the Aardvark, a nocturnal and burrowing animal, native to Africa, resembling long nose and low-level, terrain-following capabilities.
The Jet extensively served the U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force between 1967 and 2010.
The F-111 featured internal and external weapons, which could carry missiles, bombs, canons, or simply auxiliary fuel tanks.
5. Su 27 flanker
The Su-27 is a Russian-origin twin-engine supersonic and super maneuverability multirole fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi.
The Su 27 was the first soviet Jet installed with an operational fly-by-wire control system, based on the Sukhoi OKB’s experience with the T-4 bomber project.
The Su-27 entered service in 1985 and was built parallel to MIG 29 to compete directly with fourth-generation US fighter jets such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.
Due to heavy ordnance, high maneuverability, and advanced avionics, the aircraft has been adopted by many nations for their defense, such as China, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Angola, etc.
6. Grumman F-14 Tomcat
The F-14 is a supersonic, all-weather capable, variable-sweep-wing fighter aircraft designed by Grumman Airspace Corporation.
The F-14 Tomcat was the first fighter jet of the American teen series, designed to incorporate air combat experience against MIG fighters during the Vietnam War.
The F-14 took its inaugural flight on December 21, 1970, and saw its initial deployment in 1974 with the U.S. Navy on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), taking over from the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.
The F-14 served as the U.S. Navy’s primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor, and tactical aerial reconnaissance platform into the 2000s. The Tomcat was retired by the U.S. Navy in 2006, giving charge to Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
7. Mig-29
MIG-29 is a twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft entered with the Soviet Air Force in 1983.
MIG-29 was developed in 3 major variants: MIG-29M was furnished as a multirole combat aircraft, MIG-29K was a navalised version, and MIG-35 was the most advanced member of the family.
In 1984, India bought its first MiG-29 jets, making it the first country outside the Warsaw Pact to do so. The Indian Air Force (IAF) ordered 44 aircraft: 40 single-seat MiG-29 9.12Bs and four twin-seat MiG-29UBs.
8. Lockheed Martin F-22
The F-22 is a single-seat, twin-engine supersonic fighter Jet. It is designed as an air superiority fighter but also incorporates ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities.
Pratt and Whitney F119 engines are used on the F-22 and are capable of producing 35,000 Pounds of force, which aids in gliding in the supersonic range without an afterburner.
The F-22 is an important puzzle piece of USAF tactical airpower and will remain the cornerstone of the fighter fleet until its succession by the crewed Next Generation Air Dominance fighter.
9. F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a supersonic jet interceptor and bomber with a tandem two-seat configuration, initially developed for the United States Navy.
During Its production span from 1958 to 1961, the Phantom II became a cornerstone of American military aviation, with a remarkable 5,195 units manufactured. Its significance during the Cold War era remains unparalleled.
Due to its exceptional ground attack and aerial reconnaissance capabilities, the F-4 Phantom II played crucial roles in major conflicts around the globe in the last century, including the infamous Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, and the Iran-Iraq War.
What’s your Favorite Fighter Jet do let me Know in Comments!