The C-130 Hercules is one of the most pervasive aircraft throughout the U.S. Armed Forces. It fulfills a variety of roles from transport to tanker, and even combat in some cases. With a typical speed of more than 300 mph, this aircraft is designed more for stability than speed to best perform its roles. The U.S. military employs a wide array of aircraft, each with different capabilities and speeds. Here 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at some of the fastest and slowest aircraft in the U.S. military. (These are the nations with the largest air forces in the world.)
24/7 Wall St. referenced the report, 2024 World Air Forces, from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website to identify all of the planes in active service in the U.S. military. We ranked aircraft by top speed. We excluded all trainer aircraft and helicopters and all aircraft from the Coast Guard. Supplemental data regarding the type of aircraft, how many are in active service, and how many are on order came from FlightGlobal.
The F-22 Raptor is one of the fastest operational jets in the U.S. military’s arsenal. It was designed for high-speed interception and precision attack roles, and can reach speeds over Mach 2.25. Although it was introduced to service in 2005, the F-22 Raptor is still one of the most technologically advanced fighter jets in the world.
Out of all these aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II is one of the most recent to enter service. With over 350 units in service, the F-35 forms the backbone of the military’s air dominance strategy. This advanced multirole fighter, developed by Lockheed Martin, combines stealth capabilities, advanced sensors, and networking technology, making it an indispensable tool for maintaining military superiority. (These are the oldest and newest fighter jets in modern air forces.)
Here is a Look at the slowest and fastest U.S. military planes:
Why Are We Covering This?
Source: Thinkstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images
Understanding the diversity in speed and capabilities for these aircraft is important for a couple reasons. It highlights the technological breadth and versatility of these U.S. aircraft. Recognizing the different speeds and operational roles helps appreciate how these elements come together to form a robust national defense.
49. Douglas C-41
Source: Jud McCranie / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 198 mph
- Branch: Army
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 5
- On order for the military: 0
48. DHC-6 Twin Otter
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 213 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 1
- On order for the military: 0
47. Cessna 208 Caravan
- Top speed: 214 mph
- Branch: Air Force, Army
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 3
- On order for the military: 0
46. de Havilland Canada Dash 7
Source: Alan Radecki Akradecki / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 266 mph
- Branch: Army
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 3
- On order for the military: 0
45. Beechcraft 1900
- Top speed: 284 mph
- Branch: Air Force, Army
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 6
- On order for the military: 0
44. AC-130W Stinger II
Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Westin Warburton / Public Domain
- Top speed: 300 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 3
- On order for the military: 0
43. U-28A Draco
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 322 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission, transport
- Active in military: 35
- On order for the military: 0
42. Fairchild C-26 Metroliner
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 331 mph
- Branch: Army, Navy
- Type: Special mission, transport
- Active in military: 21
- On order for the military: 0
41. C-146 Wolfhound
- Top speed: 335 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 20
- On order for the military: 0
40. Beechcraft C-12 Huron
Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr
- Top speed: 336 mph
- Branch: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps
- Type: Special mission, transport
- Active in military: 255
- On order for the military: 2
39. E-3 Sentry
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 360 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 21
- On order for the military: 0
38. C-130 Hercules
- Top speed: 366 mph
- Branch: Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy
- Type: Special mission, transport, tanker
- Active in military: 539
- On order for the military: 51
37. Leonardo C-27 Spartan
- Top speed: 374 mph
- Branch: Army
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 7
- On order for the military: 0
36. AC-130J Ghostrider
- Top speed: 384 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 29
- On order for the military: 0
35. C-2 Greyhound
- Top speed: 395 mph
- Branch: Navy
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 26
- On order for the military: 0
34. E-2 Hawkeye
Source: Balon Greyjoy / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 400 mph
- Branch: Navy
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 83
- On order for the military: 25
33. Bombadier Dash 8
Source: JoeClemson / iStock via Getty Images
- Top speed: 415 mph
- Branch: Air Force, Army
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 19
- On order for the military: 0
32. A-10C Thunderbolt II
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 420 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 270
- On order for the military: 0
31. EP-3 Ares II
Source: sdasmarchives / Flickr
- Top speed: 440 mph
- Branch: Navy
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 9
- On order for the military: 0
30. Martin P-3 Orion
Source: sdasmarchives / Flickr
- Top speed: 473 mph
- Branch: Navy
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 8
- On order for the military: 0
29. Citation Encore/Sovereign/Ultra
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 490 mph
- Branch: Army, Marine Corps
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 38
- On order for the military: 2
28. C-17 Globemaster III
- Top speed: 517 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 228
- On order for the military: 0
27. C-5M Super Galaxy
Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Top speed: 518 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 52
- On order for the military: 0
26. PA-31 Navajo
- Top speed: 520 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 1
- On order for the military: 0
25. U-2 Dragon Lady
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 528 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 26
- On order for the military: 0
24. Learjet 35
- Top speed: 530 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 19
- On order for the military: 0
23. KC-135 Stratotanker
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- Top speed: 530 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Tanker
- Active in military: 377
- On order for the military: 0
22. Boeing P-8 Poseidon
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 564 mph
- Branch: Navy
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 118
- On order for the military: 10
21. KC-46 Pegasus
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 570 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Tanker
- Active in military: 72
- On order for the military: 99
20. Boeing RC-135
Source: lynothehammer / Flickr
- Top speed: 580 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 22
- On order for the military: 0
19. E-8 Joint STARS
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.
- Top speed: 587 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 4
- On order for the military: 0
18. B-52H Stratofortress
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 595 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 72
- On order for the military: 0
17. Boeing E-6 Mercury
Source: AllenJMSmith / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Top speed: 601 mph
- Branch: Navy
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 16
- On order for the military: 0
16. Boeing E-4
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 602 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 4
- On order for the military: 0
15. Boeing C-32
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 605 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 4
- On order for the military: 0
14. KC-10 Extender
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 610 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Tanker
- Active in military: 20
- On order for the military: 0
13. C-40 Clipper
- Top speed: 615 mph
- Branch: Marine Corps, Navy
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 18
- On order for the military: 0
12. B-2 Spirit
- Top speed: 630 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 17
- On order for the military: 0
11. Gulfstream C-20
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 652 mph
- Branch: Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy
- Type: Transport
- Active in military: 5
- On order for the military: 0
10. Gulfstream G550
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 670 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission, transport
- Active in military: 2
- On order for the military: 9
9. AV-8B Harrier II
- Top speed: 673 mph
- Branch: Marine Corps
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 87
- On order for the military: 0
8. Bombadier Express E-11
- Top speed: 675 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 7
- On order for the military: 4
7. B-1B Lancer
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Top speed: 950 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 42
- On order for the military: 0
6. EA-18G Growler
Source: Public Domain / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
- Top speed: 1,190 mph
- Branch: Navy
- Type: Special mission
- Active in military: 153
- On order for the military: 0
5. F-35 Lightning II
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,190 mph
- Branch: Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 376
- On order for the military: 1,855
4. F/A-18 Hornet / Super Hornet
Source: public domain / flickr
- Top speed: 1,200 mph
- Branch: Marine Corps, Navy
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 561
- On order for the military: 76
3. F-16C Fighting Falcon
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,345 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 738
- On order for the military: 0
2. F-22 Raptor
- Top speed: 1,500 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 178
- On order for the military: 0
1. F-15EX Eagle II
Source: tomasdelcoro / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,650 mph
- Branch: Air Force
- Type: Combat aircraft
- Active in military: 377
- On order for the military: 102
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