Military
This is the Fastest Military Stealth Plane Ever: The Top 20, Ranked
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Stealth technology was formally revealed to the public during a news conference at the Pentagon in 1980. The Secretary of Defense at the time, Harold Brown, lauded the innovation, stating, “It is not too soon to say that by making existing air defense systems essentially ineffective, this alters the military balance significantly.” Brown was correct in his assumption, as stealth bombers would lead America to victory during Operation Just Cause in Panama.
Stealth technology has come a long way since its first combat debut in 1989. Next generation stealth aircraft, whether bombers, fighter jets, or uncrewed, would incorporate technology that engineers are innovating to this day. Speed was combined with stealth in many of the fourth generation fighter jets even though they would still be detectable on radar systems. As a result, the fifth generation, and now sixth, are less focused on speed and more on stealth. However, that is not to say speed is any less important. Many of the newer generation stealth aircraft are capable of going supersonic, and then some. (These are the world’s future military aircraft.)
The Sukhoi Felon (Su-57) fielded by Russia in 2019 is one of the fastest stealth planes currently in service. The Felon has two NPO Saturn AL-41FI turbofan engines capable of outputting over 33,000 lbs of thrust each, reaching a top speed of over Mach 2. On the American side, the F-35 Lightning II is not nearly as fast as its Russian counterpart, but it is capable of playing more roles within the U.S. Air Force. With only a single engine, the Pratt & Whitney F135 F119-OW-100 turbofan, the Lightning II is capable of outputting over 28,000 lbs of thrust dry and 43,000 lbs of thrust with reheat. (Learn more about the 42 most popular fighter jets used in today’s air forces.)
To identify the fastest stealth planes in world militaries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the report 2023 World Air Forces from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website, as well as other sources. We ranked stealth aircraft, including uncrewed aerial vehicles, by top speed. Supplemental data regarding the type of aircraft, top speed, manufacturer, and armament came from Military Factory. Data on notable countries that operate these aircraft came from FlightGlobal.
Why This Matters
Source: USAF / Getty Images
The United States spends billions of dollars on national security every year. We’re covering the defense industry to help you understand how the economy is affected by large defense contracts – on a national and local level. A sizeable chunk of the defense budget is spent on military contracts with companies on this list, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing. These companies engineer products that bring in millions of dollars in sales. If the products developed do not deliver results, a company can lose its military contract. This results in massive layoffs that affect the local economies where these products are developed.
Scroll below to see the fastest military stealth plane ever: the top 20, ranked:
20. WZ-10 Cloud Shadow
The WZ-10 Cloud Shadow is a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle that touts a speed of 390 mph. It entered service in 2016 and is manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. Its armaments include air-to-surface missiles, light cruise missiles, and precision-guided bombs.
19. AQM-91 Firefly
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The AQM-91 Firefly is a Reconnaissance drone that touts a speed of 505 mph. It entered service in 1968 and is manufactured by Ryan Aeronautical / Teledyne-Ryan.
18. CH-7
The CH-7 is a high-altitude, long-endurance stealth combat drone that touts a speed of 550 mph. It entered service in 2022 and is manufactured by the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Its’ armaments include air-to-surface missiles, anti-radiation missiles, precision-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs.
17. Tupolev PAK DA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Tupolev PAK DA is a fifth generation strategic stealth bomber that touts a speed of 559 mph. It is expected to enter service in 2023 and is being manufactured by Tupolev / United Aircraft Corporation. Its’ armaments will include air-launched cruise missiles, precision guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, nuclear ordnance.
16. RQ-170 Sentinel
The RQ-170 Sentinel is an unmanned aerial vehicle that touts a speed of 590 mph. It entered service in 2007 and is manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
15. RQ-180
Source: JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The RQ-180 is a reconnaissance stealth unmanned aerial vehicle that touts a speed of 590 mph. It entered service in 2016 and is manufactured by Northrop Grumman.
14. B-21 Raider
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The B-21 Raider is a sixth generation long range strategic stealth bomber that touts a speed of 621 mph. It is expected to enter service in 2028 and is being manufactured by Northrop Grumman. Its’ armaments will include precision guided drop bombs, conventional drop bombs, nuclear ordnance.
13. GJ-11 Gongji
The GJ-11 Gongji is a stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle that touts a speed of 621 mph. It entered service in 2019 and is manufactured by State Factories. Its’ armaments include laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, air-to-surface missiles.
12. B-2 Spirit
The B-2 Spirit is a strategic heavy stealth bomber that touts a speed of 628 mph. It entered service in 1997 and is manufactured by Northrop Grumman. Its’ armaments include air-launched cruise missiles, free-fall nuclear bombs, conventional drop bombs, joint direct attack munitions, air-to-surface missiles.
11. F-117 Nighthawk
Source: Getty Images / Getty Images
The F-117 Nighthawk is a stealth strike aircraft that touts a speed of 646 mph. It entered service in 1982 and is manufactured by Lockheed. Its’ armaments include laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, Maverick missiles, HARM anti-radiation missiles, and Sidewinder missiles.
10. XQ-58 Valkyrie
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The XQ-58 Valkyrie is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle that touts a speed of 652 mph. It entered service in 2020 and is manufactured by Kratos unmanned systems division. Its’ armaments include precision guided drop bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
9. Su-75 Checkmate
The Su-75 Checkmate is a fifth generation multirole stealth aircraft that will tout a speed of 808 mph. It is expected to enter service in 2026 and is being manufactured by Sukhoi OKB / Rostek State Corporation. Its’ armaments will include internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, laser-guided bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
8. F-35 Lightning II
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth generation strike fighter / fighter-bomber aircraft that touts a speed of 1,199 mph. It entered service in 2016 and is manufactured by Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman. Its’ armaments include 25mm GAU-12/U, Sidewinder missiles, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, Paveway II/III guided bombs, Rockeye II cluster bombs, and joint direct attack munitions.
7. J-20 Black Eagle
The J-20 Black Eagle is a fifth generation multirole stealth aircraft that touts a speed of 1,305 mph. It entered service in 2017 and is manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group / Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Its’ armaments include internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-radiation missiles, laser-guided bombs, and conventional drop bombs.
6. J-16 Red Eagle
The J-16 Red Eagle is a fourth generation strike fighter aircraft that touts a speed of 1,522 mph. It entered service in 2013 and is manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Its’ armaments include 30mm GSh-30-1 internal cannon, PL-15, PL-12, PL-9 air-to-air missiles, conventional drop bombs, laser-guided munitions, rocket pods, anti-ship missiles, and anti-radiation missiles.
5. J-11 Flanker B+
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The J-11 Flanker B+ is a fourth generation air superiority fighter that touts a speed of 1,553 mph. It entered service in 1998 and is manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Its’ armaments include 30mm GSh-30-1 internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, cluster bombs, and rocket pods.
4. F-22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is a fifth generation air dominance fighter that touts a speed of 1,599 mph. It entered service in 2005 and is manufactured by Lockheed Martin / Boeing. Its’ armaments include 20mm internal automatic cannon, Sidewinder missiles, AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, joint direct attack munitions, air-launched cruise missiles, and guided bombs.
3. Su-57 Felon
Source: Dmitry Potashkin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The Su-57 Felon is a fifth generation multirole stealth aircraft that touts a speed of 1,616 mph. It entered service in 2019 and is manufactured by Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation. Its’ armaments include 30mm GSh-20-1 internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and guided bombs.
2. A-12 Archangel
Source: sdasmarchives / Flickr
The A-12 Archangel is a high-altitude strategic reconnaissance stealth aircraft that touts a speed of 2,212 mph. It entered service in 1963 and is manufactured by Lockheed.
1. SR-71 Blackbird
The SR-71 Blackbird is a high-altitude, high-speed reconnaissance aircraft that touts a speed of 2,274 mph. It entered service in 1966 and is manufactured by Lockheed.
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