Top Ten Fighter Jets in the World...

10.  F-18 (USA)

 The F-18 Super Hornet designed and manufactured by the US has the following features:

• Max speed: 1,190 mph or 1,900km/hr at an altitude of 40,000 ft or 12,190 m
• It has a range of 1,275 nmi or 2,346 km without refueling
• Has a ferry range of 2,070 mi or 3,330 km
• Has a combat radius of 449 mi or 722 km in interdiction missions
• Service ceiling is 50,000+ft or 15,000+m
• Thrust is 0.93
• Wing loading is 453kg/m² 

 

9.  J-10 (China)

 The J-10 from China makes part of the leading fighter jets in the world. It has the following features:

• Max speed of Mach 1.2 at sea level and Mach 1.9 cruising at altitude
• Combat radius of 2,540km or 1,370nmi on high-low-high missions  and 1,310km or 710nmi on low-low-low missions (these figures include 4,000lb or 1,814kg of two missiles and bomb load)
• Max range: 3,400km or 2,113mi without refueling
• Wing loading is 335 kg/m²
• Service ceiling is 18,000m or 59,055ft 

 

8.  Rafale (France)

 The French Rafale comes in at 8 with the following features:

• Max speed: Mach 2 or 1,290 knots are high altitude and 750 knots or 1,390km/hr at low altitude.
• Combat radius is 1,852+km or 1,000+nmi during penetration missions
• It has a range of 3,700km or 2,000nmi
• Service ceiling is  16,800m or 55,000ft
• Wing loading is 326kg/m²
• Thrust is 1.13

7.  F-16 E (USA)

 The F-16 comes in at 7 with the following specifications:

• Max speed at low altitude is Mach 1.2 or 1,470km/hr and at high altitude is Mach 2+ or 2,414km/hr
• Combat radius: 550km or 295nm on a high-low-high mission and 450kg bomb load
• Service ceiling: 18,000+m or 60,000+ft
• Ferry range: 4,220km or 2,280nm
• Rate of climb: 254m/s
• Thrust: 1.095
• Wing loading: 430kg/m²

6. Mig 35 (Russia)

In at 6 among the best fighter jets in the world is the Russian made Mig-35.

• Max speed at altitude: Mach 2.25 or 2,400km/hr
• Range: 1,240mi or 2,000km
• Service ceiling: 57,400ft or 17,500m
• Ferry range: 1,930mi or 3,100km carrying 3 fuel tanks
• Rate of climb: 65,000ft/min or 330m/s
• Thrust is 1.03

5.  Su 27 (Russia)

 Another Soviet product at 5, the Su-27 has the following features:

• Max speed at altitude: Mach 2.35 or 2,500km/hr
• Range at altitude: 3,530km; at sea level 1,340km
• Rate of climb: 64,000ft/min or 300m/s
• Service ceiling: 62,523ft or 18,500m
• Wing loading is 371kg/m²
• Thrust: 1.09

4.  F-15 Eagle (USA)

 The F-15 fighter jet boasts the following features:

• Max speed: Mach 2.5+ or 2,660+km/hr at high altitude and Mach 1.2 or 1,450 at low altitude
• Ferry range: 5,550km with an additional three fuel tanks to the conformal tanks.
• Combat radius: 1,967km for interdiction operations
• Service ceiling: 20,000m or 65,000ft
• Wing loading: 358kg/m²
• Rate of climb: 254m/s
• Thrust:1.30

3.  Su 35 (Russia)

 At third place is the Russian-made Su-35 with the following specifications:

• Max speed at altitude: 2,410km/h or Mach 2.25
• Ferry range: 2,430nmi or 4,500km
• Range is 3,600km or 1,580km at low altitude
• Service ceiling: 59,100ft or 18,000m
• Wing loading: 84.9lb/ft²
• Rate of climb: 55,100ft/min
• Thrust: 1.14

2.   Euro-fighter Typhoon (Germany, UK, Italy and Spain)

 The list would not have been complete without the Europeans in the skies. The Euro-fighter at second among the best fighter jets in the world has the following features:

• Max speed: Mach 2+ or 2,495km/hr at altitude; Mach 1.2 or 1,470km/hr at low altitude; Mach 1.1 at supercruise
• Combat radius:
  • Low-low-low ground attack: 601km
  • High-low-high ground attack: 1,389km
• Range is 2,900km
• Ferry range: 2,300mi or 3,790km
• Rate of climb: 62,000ft/min or 315m/s
• Service ceiling: 65,000ft or 19,810m
• Wing loading is 63lb/ft² or 307kg/m²

 

1.  F-22 Raptor (US)

 Top of the range fighter jets in the world to lead the pack is the F-22 Raptor. This ultimate state of the art weapon was designed and manufactured for the US Air Force. It bears the following features:

• Max speed: Mach 2.25 or 2,410km/hr at altitude; Mach 1.82 or 1,963km/hr at supercruise
• Combat radius: 759km or 410nmi
• Service ceiling: 19,812m or 65,000ft
• Ferry range: 3,219km or 1,738nmi
• Wing loading: 375kg/m²
• Thrust: 1.08
• 1.26 with 50% fuel and loaded weight