The Best Fighter Aircraft In The World

What is the best fighter aircraft in the world?

Our Top 10 analysis is based on the combined score of stealthiness, armament, speed, range, maneuverability and technology.

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.

This list do not contains aircraft that are currently under development of at the prototype stage. It includes only operational warplanes.

N10. The MiG-31BM (Russia)

The MiG-31BM is the latest version of the MiG-31 interceptor, which forms the backbone of Russia's air defenses.

The upgraded MiG-31BM received a ground attack capability and became a true multi-role fighter.

This aircraft is 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.

This fighter has a high speed, altitude and rate of climb; however, it sacrifices maneuverability in order to achieve these capabilities. The MiG-31BM is among the fastest production aircraft. It can reach a maximum speed of up to 3000 km/h.

N9. The F-15 Eagle (USA)

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.

This aircraft has been exported to Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

N8. The Rafale (France)

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.

N7. The Eurofighter (EU)

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.

However, it seems that Typhoon is superior to the F-15F, French Rafale, evolved Russian Su-27 variants and many other aircraft.

N6. The F/A-18C/D Hornet (USA)

The Super Hornet is the most capable US Navy's multi-role fighter. It is based on the aircraft carriers can attack both air and surface targets.

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.

N5. The SU-35 (Russia)

The Su-35 multi-role fighter. It is a very fast and highly maneuverable fighter with very long range, high altitude capability and heavy armament. It poses great threat to Western 4+ generation fighters.

The Su-35 is primarily an air superiority fighter. However, it has secondary air-to-ground capability. This aircraft can carry enormous amount of weapons. It has 12 wing and fuselage hardpoints and can carry ordnance with a maximum weight of up to 8 000 kg.

Its large and powerful engines give it ability to supercruise for a long time. Also its engines allow to reach supersonic speeds without using an afterburner. Engines have a three-dimensional thrust vectoring and make this aircraft very maneuverable.

N4. The Chengdu J-20 (China)

The Chengdu J-20 is the new China's stealth fighter. It was designed to compete against fifth-generation fighters, such as the US F-22 Raptor and advanced fighters, such as the Russian Su-57.

The new J-20 is a medium- and long-range air superiority fighter, which might also have a secondary ground attack capability. The new Chinese warplane is an advanced forth-generation fighter, rather than a true fifth-generation fighter.

This Chinese fighter has two large internal weapon bays for long-range air-to-air missiles and two small side-mounted weapon bays for short-range air-to-air missiles. Missiles are stored in these weapon bays in order to reduce the radar cross-section. It also has large fuel tanks for long-range missions. It carries more fuel and weapons than the American F-22 Raptor. Furthermore, this aircraft is capable of high-speed operations.

N3. The SU-57 (Russia)

The Su-57 is a new Russian fighter aircraft. Is a stealthy air superiority fighter.

However, it turned out that this aircraft has a secondary ground attack capability and can engage surface targets.

Two large internal weapon bays are mounted in tandem between the engines. This fighter has 10 internal and 6 external hardpoints for various air-to-air, air-to-surface, anti-radiation missiles and even guided bombs. There are also two sidebays for short-range air-to-air missiles. It is believed that this aircraft will carry up to 7 500 kg of ordnance. That's enormous amount of weapons.

N2. The F-35 (USA)

The F-35 is a new multi-role fighter. This multi-role fighter can perform on air defense missions, close air support and tactical bombing. It is compatible with the latest air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

The F-35 was developed under a Joint Strike Fighter program, which was intended to replace existing aircraft types with a common fighter. In the near future, the F-35 will replace the AV-8B, A-10, F-16 and F/A-18 warplanes in service with the US military. Also, it is being exported to a number of countries.

The F-35 has a configuration similar to that of Lockheed Martin's own F-22 design, however it is slightly smaller and has one engine instead of two. It exploits stealth technology, which reduces its radar cross-section and makes it harder to detect.

N1. The F-22 (USA)

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.

It was never offered for export customers, even other allies and NATO countries. Currently it is the best fighter aircraft ever built.

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 ground attack capability was added.