Always we get many questions which
is the best fighter aircraft in the world. Which is the greatest modern fighter
and why. The Top 10 analysis is based on the combined score of stealthiness,
armament, speed, range, maneuverability and technology. We also considered pilot
opinion on capabilities of various warplanes during dog-fight training. All of
these aircraft mentioned here are incredibly powerful and devastating, however
none of them have seen combat against each other during military operations yet.
Our analysis is based on specifications, available data and technical
comparison. Pilot training is also important, as performance of the actual
aircraft depends from the pilot performance. This list do not contains aircraft
that are currently under development of at the prototype stage. It includes only
operational warplanes.
Currently top 10 fighter aircraft in the
world are these:
The F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter is
almost invisible to radars. This aircraft carries a powerful array of weaponry.
It is the most advanced and most expensive production fighter aircraft to date.
Many of sensors and avionics of this plane remain
classified.
Engines of the
raptor allow the aircraft to supercruise over long ranges, while
thrust-vectoring nozzles, combined with a triplex fly-by-wire flight
control system, make it exceptionally maneuverable.
The F-22
started life as a straightforward air superiority fighter. However since its
introduction this aircraft lacks a formidable air threat from other countries
fighters. Later it evolved towards the multi-role fighter, as strike capability
was added.
This advanced
aircraft was never offered for export customers, even other allies and NATO
countries. Currently it is the best fighter aircraft ever built.
The Super
Hornet is the most capable US Navy multi-role fighter. It is based on the
aircraft carriers can attack both air and surface targets. The Super
Hornet is also in service with Australia as the main fighter
aircraft.
The F/A-18E/F
is a larger and more capable derivative of the F/A-18C/D Hornet. The Super
Hornet is fitted with new engines. It has additional hardpoints and can carry
more missiles. This aircraft has extended range due to larger internal storage
of fuel. The Super Hornet also has improved avionics. Some measures were
taken to reduce radar cross section of this aircraft.
In 1986 the Eurofighter consortium was formed by Germany, Italy,
the UK and, later, Spain, to develop a new multi-role combat aircraft, optimized
as a beyond visual range interceptor with a secondary ground-attack
capability. This aircraft
carries advanced European-designed missiles. it is fitted with a very modern and
comprehensive avionics package.
It is claimed
that Typhoon is half as combat effective as the American F-22 Raptor. It is an
approximate estimate, however it seems that Typhoon is superior to the F-15F,
French Rafale, evolved Russian Su-27 variants and many other
aircraft.
The Eurofighter Typhoon will form the cornerstone of European air
power until well into the 21st century.
The Rafale is in service
both with the French Air Force and Navy. This multi-role fighter features some of the very latest avionics systems. Also some measures
were taken to reduce radar cross section of this aircraft. This aircraft is very
maneuverable. The Rafale can
track 40 targets and fire at four targets simultaneously.
This aircraft can
hold its own against the latest versions of the American
F-16. The Dassault Rafale will form the cornerstone of French air power
until well into the 21st century.
The Su-27 was developed
primarily for Soviet air-defense interceptor forces. The requirement was for a
highly maneuverable fighter with very long range, heavy armament and modern
sensors, capable of meeting the F-15 on equal
terms. The result was a very successful series of aircraft. It was the top of
Soviet technology at the time.
Its heavy armament of up
to 10 air-to-air missiles gives excellent combat persistence; outstanding
maneuverability, coupled with a helmet sight to cue agile short-range missiles
also make it a potent close combat fighter, and its large internal fuel capacity
confers a very long range.
Despite its age there
are a
number of modern and improved versions of the Su-27, including the Su-30, Su-35
and many other. The Su-35 is being
offered as the Su-27 replacement. It poses great threat to modern Western
aircraft.
Recently a new Sukhoi PAK
FA stealthy air superiority fighter is being developed in Russia. It will
replace the ageing MiG-29
Fulcrums and Su-27 Flankers.
The F-15 Eagle is a
purpose-built air superiority fighter designed to penetrate enemy defense.
Although now in service for over 30 years, it remains a formidable
warplane. This aircraft scored more than 100 air kills and is considered among
the most successful Cold War era fighters.
The F-15 is
equipped with weaponry and electronics, enabling it to detect, acquire, track
and attack enemy aircraft, while operating in enemy-controlled airspace. This
fighter carries a wide range of air-to-air missiles and is extremely
maneuverable. Also it has strong high-speed maneuverability. Through
modifications and upgrades the F-15 has been constantly
improved.
The F-15 Eagle is
still in service with the US Air Force and is expected to remain operational at
least until 2025. This aircraft has been exported to Israel, Japan and Saudi
Arabia.
The MiG-31 (NATO designation Foxhound-A)
was developed as part of an overall programme to provide the Soviet air defenses
with the ability to meet the threat posed by NATO low-level strike aircraft and
cruise missiles.
This interceptor has a high speed,
altitude and rate of climb, however it sacrifices maneuverability in order to
achieve these capabilities. The MiG-31 is among the fastest production aircraft.
It uses missiles to shot-down enemy aircraft at long distances.
The latest version is the MiG-31BM; this
is billed as a true multi-role Foxhound, able to undertake long-range
interception, precision strike and defense suppression tasks. Both cockpits
feature advanced displays allowing the crew to deploy precision-guided
munitions. A project to upgrade Russian interceptors to the MiG-31BM standard
was begun in 2010. This interceptor continue to form the back bone of Russia's
air defenses.
The F-16 was
lighter, less expensive alternative to the F-15 Eagle. Unlike the F-15, which is
purely an air superiority fighter, the F-16 is a multi-role aircraft, capable of
attacking air and ground targets.
The F-16 has been
produced in large numbers and participated in numerous conflicts. Over 4 500
aircraft have been built. It has been widely exported and is currently
operational with 26 countries around the world. The F-16 is battle
proven.
This aircraft is
small, but highly maneuverable. The F-16 has a
bubble single-piece canopy for excellent pilot visibility, which becomes during
close combat.
The F-16 is
still in service with the US Air Force and will remain operational until 2025.
In the future it will be replaced by the new F-35 Lightning
II.
Developed by Saab the Gripen (griffin) is a
fourth-generation lightweight multi-role combat aircraft. This fighter uses the
latest technologies can perform various missions, such as air defense,
interception, and ground attack and reconnaissance.
This fighter is
very agile for close combat due to its advanced aerodynamic layout. The Gripen
can take of from and land on short-strip airfields. A number of components of
this aircraft are US-supplied.
It is claimed that the Gripen achieves the lowest operating costs
of any fighter, currently in operational service. It is reliable and easy to
maintain. This aircraft will form the core of Swedish air power well into the
21st century. It also received
some export success. The Gripen has been exported to Czech Republic, Hungary,
South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
The J-10 multi-role fighter is the first
Chinese-developed combat aircraft that approaches Western fighters in terms of
performance and capabilities. It was intended to counter threat posed by the
Soviet forth-generation fighters - the MiG-29
and Su-27.
The J-10 was initially planned as an air-superiority fighter, however collapse
of the Soviet Union and changing requirements shifted the development towards a
multi-role fighter.
The J-10 bears some resemblance with
contemporary Western multi-role fighters. Also this plane incorporates
significant Western technology and expertise.
