Strategy in aerial warfare draws from the best technological innovations, from the military balloons of Ancient China to the war drones of the twenty-first century. Today, nations continue racing to stay ahead with new aircraft, as seen in the upcoming sixth-generation fighter jets. Recently in May 2024, the U.S. Air Force announced their plans for their own project, which will include a $2.3 billion budget in addition to $595 for engine development. (These are the newest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force.)
Among many improvements to the fifth-generation fighter jets, the future sixth-generation models are expected to showcase advancements in stealth, long-range weaponry, mobility, and speed. Although speed isn’t the only factor in aerial warfare, it is an impressive feat. Many of these fighter jets can reach extraordinary speeds, with some exceeding 1,500 miles per hour. (These are the 42 most popular fighter jets used in today’s air forces.)
To identify upcoming combat aircraft from the world’s militaries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of aircraft from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries worldwide. We focused exclusively on fixed-wing combat aircraft, excluding drones, helicopters, and non-combat aircraft. The resulting list, organized by the top speed of each aircraft, also provides information regarding the type of aircraft, country of origin, manufacturer, and armament.
Why We’re Covering This
Source: ashwinkumar / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Flickr
The worldwide development of combat aircraft is a great example of the cutting-edge technology shaping today’s modern warfare. These next-generation vehicles reflect a country’s investments in defense and strategic plans for the future. Understanding these features helps us to gain valuable insights into government spending priorities and potential shifts in global power dynamics.
Here’s a look at the upcoming combat aircraft of the world’s militaries, from slowest to fastest:
20. Bronco II
The Bronco II is a light attack / close-air support aircraft from the United States. Manufactured by Bronco Combat Systems / Vertex Aerospace, it can reach a top speed of 311 mph. Its armament includes gun pods, cannon pods, rocket pods, laser-guided bombs, conventional bombs, anti-tank guided missiles, and air-to-air missiles.
19. Wasp
Source: CatEyePerspective / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The Wasp is a close-air support attack aircraft from Canada. Manufactured by Icarus Aerospace, it can reach a top speed of 414 mph. Its armament includes a 20mm/30mm automatic cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, gun pods, cannon pods, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, and precision-guided bombs.
18. HJT-36 Sitara (Star)
The HJT-36 Sitara (Star) is a light attack aircraft from India. Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, it can reach a top speed of 528 mph. Its armament includes a 12.7mm heavy machine gun pod, 57mm rocket pods, and conventional drop bombs.
17. Tupolev PAK DA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Tupolev PAK DA is a fifth-generation strategic stealth bomber from Russia. Manufactured by Tupolev / United Aircraft Corporation, it can reach a top speed of 559 mph. Its armament includes cruise missiles, nuclear ordnance, precision-guided bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
16. F/A-259 Striker
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The F/A-259 Striker is a light attack aircraft from the Czech Republic. Manufactured by Aero Vodochody, it can reach a top speed of 587 mph. Its armament includes air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, rocket pods, cannon pods, and gun pods.
15. H-20
Source: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
The H-20 is a subsonic strategic stealth bomber from China. Manufactured by the Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation, it can reach a top speed of 600 mph. Although its armament remains undisclosed, it is assumed to include support for dumb bombs, precision-guided bombs, air-to-surface missiles, and nuclear weapons.
14. Yasin
The Yasin is a light attack aircraft from Iran. Manufactured by Iran Aircraft Industry Company / Iran Aviation Industries Organization, it can reach a top speed of 621 mph. Its armament includes gun pods, rocket pods, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
13. B-21 Raider
Source: Tech. Sgt. William OBrien, 94th Airlift Wing photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The B-21 Raider is a sixth-generation long-range strategic bomber from the United States. Manufactured by Northrop Grumman, it can reach a top speed of 621 mph. Its armament includes conventional drop bombs, precision-guided bombs, and nuclear ordnance.
12. Checkmate (Su-75)
The Checkmate (Su-75) is a fifth-generation attack aircraft from Russia. Manufactured by Sukhoi OKB / Rostek State Corporation, it can reach a top speed of 808 mph. Although its armament remains undisclosed, it is assumed to have support for Russian air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and precision-guided bombs.
11. Dassault FCAS
The Dassault FCAS is a sixth-generation fighter aircraft from France. Manufactured by Dassault / Airbus, it can reach a top speed of 1,243 mph. Its armament is undisclosed.
10. F-21 (Fighting Falcon)
Source: y / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The F-21 (Fighting Falcon) is a multirole 4.5 generation fighter aircraft from the United States. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, it can reach a top speed of 1,317 mph. Its armament includes a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan gatling-style internal cannon, rocket pods; support for Indian Air Force munitions including air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-ship missiles.
9. J-35
Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
The J-35 is a fifth-generation carrierborne fighter from China. Manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation, it can reach a top speed of 1,367 mph. Its armament includes air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, anti-ship missiles, and anti-radiation missiles.
8. J-31 Gyrfalcon (FC-31 / F-60)
The J-31 Gyrfalcon (FC-31 / F-60) is a multirole fourth-generation fighter aircraft from China. Manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation, it can reach a top speed of 1,367 mph. Although its armament remained undisclosed, it is assumed that there is support for an internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and conventional drop bombs.
7. HAL AMCA
Source: Sarath S / Public Domain / Flickr
The HAL AMCA is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft from India. Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, it can reach a top speed of 1,370 mph. Its armament includes a 20mm internal automatic cannon, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-surface missiles.
6. Tejas AF
The Tejas AF is a multirole combat aircraft from India. Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, it can reach a top speed of 1,429 mph. Its armament includes a 23mm GSh-23 internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, anti-radiation missiles, anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
5. Mitsubishi F-X
The Mitsubishi F-X is a sixth-generation air superiority fighter aircraft from Japan. Manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, it can reach a top speed of 1,460 mph. Its armament includes a 20mm internal automatic cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, and microwave-based weapons.
4. Kaan (TF-X / F-X)
The Kaan (TF-X / F-X) is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft from Turkey. Manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries, it can reach a top speed of 1,491 mph. Its armament includes a 20mm internal automatic cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, laser-guided bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
3. KF-21 Boromae (KF-X)
The KF-21 Boromae (KF-X) is a multirole fifth-generation aircraft from South Korea. Manufactured by Korean Aerospace Industries, it can reach a top speed of 1,553 mph. Its armament includes a 20mm gatling-style internal automatic cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided drop bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
2. Tempest FCAS
The Tempest FCAS is a sixth-generation fighter aircraft from the United Kingdom. Manufactured by BAe Systems, it can reach a top speed of 1,553 mph. Its armament includes air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided munitions, direct-energy weapons, hypersonic weapons, and swarm weapons,
1. MiG-41 (PAK DP)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The MiG-41 (PAK DP) is a high-altitude, long-range interceptor from Russia. Manufactured by Mikoyan OKB, it can reach a top speed of 2,284 mph. Its armament includes long-range, high-speed air-to-air missiles.
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