These Are the Lightest Modern Fighter Jets in Existence

Military

Published: July 1, 2024 10:50 am

Footage has been released of the U.S. Air Force’s most recent drone project, the XQ67A which had its maiden flight back in February. Like most drones, the XQ-67A was designed to be light and highly maneuverable. Being light has its advantages when it comes to aerial combat, surveillance, or reconnaissance. Many modern fighter jets base their designs around this premise. (These are the stealth planes used by global superpower air forces.)

Weight is a critical factor when designing a fighter jet. Generally speaking, lighter fighter jets are more agile which enables them to perform complex maneuvers in combat or for evading enemy fire. Weight also impacts speed as lighter fighter jets require less thrust to reach higher speeds, allowing for faster acceleration. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at some of the lightest fighter jets in the world.

To determine the lightest modern fighter jets, 24/7 Wall St. referenced Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more used by militaries worldwide. These aircraft were ranked by their empty weight. Supplemental data regarding manufacturer, type, speed, and more also came from Military Factory.

The Harrier II is known as one of the lightest fighter jets in service today. This plays heavily into its functionality, compared to other jets. Unlike most fixed-wing aircraft, the Harrier II is unique in terms of its vertical/short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) capabilities. Its relatively light weight allows for a vertical takeoff, which makes runways unnecessary and this jet incredibly versatile.

There’s a number of other fighter jets that are lighter than the Harrier II but are still in need of a runway. (Exploring the fastest and most powerful fighter jets in existence.)

Here is a look at the biggest and smallest modern fighter jets:

Why Are We Covering This?

Source: usnavy / Flickr

Understanding fighter jets and their size provides insight into global military capabilities and defense strategies. Also knowing these aircraft helps in threat assessment and the development of effective countermeasures.

42. Mig-31 (Foxhound)

MiG... (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Vitaly Kuzmin

Empty weight: 48,116 lbs
Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Top speed: 1,864 mph

41. Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Grumman F-14 'Tomcat' (PDM 1.0) by aeroman3

Empty weight: 43,740 lbs
Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
Year introduced: 1974
Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
Top speed: 1,544 mph

40. Sukhoi Su-57 (Felon)

Source: Dmitry Potashkin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Empty weight: 40,786 lbs
Type: Multi-role stealth aircraft
Year introduced: 2019
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Top speed: 1,616 mph

39. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)

Sukhoi Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 & S... by Alan Wilson

Sukhoi Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 & S... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

Empty weight: 39,022 lbs
Type: Twin-engine air superiority strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1996
Manufacturer: Sukhoi Design Bureau
Top speed: 1,317 mph

38. Shenyang J-15 (Flying Shark)

Source: 日本防衛省・統合幕僚監部 / Wikimedia Commons

Empty weight: 39,022 lbs
Type: Carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2013
Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Top speed: 1,305 mph

37. Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle)

J-20... (CC BY-SA 4.0) by N509FZ

Empty weight: 38,801 lbs
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2017
Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Top speed: 1,305 mph

36. Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker)

Source: Flight Video & Photo / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Empty weight: 37,920 lbs
Type: Multi-role heavy combat fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2014
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
Top speed: 1,491 mph

35. Shenyang J-11 (Flanker B+)

J-11... (CC BY 4.0) by Mil.ru

Empty weight: 37,192 lbs
Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
Year introduced: 1998
Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Top speed: 1,553 mph

34. Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)

Source: Jozsef Soos / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Empty weight: 36,112 lbs
Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
Year introduced: 1985
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Top speed: 1,553 mph

33. Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D)

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 36,110 lbs
Type: Carrier-based air defense fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1994
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
Top speed: 1,553 mph

32. F-22 Raptor

F-22 Raptor (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

Empty weight: 31,998 lbs
Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin
Top speed: 1,599 mph

31. Xian JH-7 (Flounder) / FBC-1 (Flying Leopard)

Source: Alert5 / Wikimedia Commons

Empty weight: 31,967 lbs
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1992
Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation
Top speed: 1,118 mph

30. F-15E Strike Eagle

Source: usairforce / Flickr

Empty weight: 31,526 lbs
Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1988
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
Top speed: 1,653 mph

29. Panavia Tornado IDS

Source: Public Domain via my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 30,644 lbs
Type: Low-level strike aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems
Top speed: 1,491 mph

28. Panavia Tornado ECR

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 30,644 lbs
Type: Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Aircraft
Year introduced: 1990
Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems / MBB
Top speed: 1,491 mph

27. F/A-18 Super Hornet

Source: U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kevin T. Murray Jr. /Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Empty weight: 30,565 lbs
Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1999
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
Top speed: 1,187 mph

26. F-4 Phantom II

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 30,329 lbs
Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1960
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
Top speed: 1,473 mph

25. F-35 Lightning II

Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr

Empty weight: 29,002 lbs
Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2016
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAe Systems
Top speed: 1,199 mph

24. F-15 Eagle

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 27,000 lbs
Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1976
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
Top speed: 1,875 mph

23. Sukhoi Su-17 / Su-20 / Su-22 (Fitter)

NATO Airfield | Two Polish Air Force Su-22 fighter-bombers at a NATO exercise.

Source: Timm Ziegenthaler/Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

Empty weight: 26,808 lbs
Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1970
Manufacturer: Sukhoi
Top speed: 718 mph

22. Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000)

EGVA - Eurofighter Typhoon EF2... by Steve Lynes

EGVA - Eurofighter Typhoon EF2... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Lynes

Empty weight: 24,251 lbs
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2003
Manufacturer: BAe Systems / Eurofighter GmbH
Top speed: 1,550 mph

21. MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F)

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 24,251 lbs
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2020
Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MIG
Top speed: 1,491 mph

20. MiG-29 (Fulcrum)

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 24,028 lbs
Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1984
Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Top speed: 1,519 mph

19. F/A-18 Hornet

F-18 Hornet (CC BY 2.0) by VALDITHRASH

Empty weight: 22,928 lbs
Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1983
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop
Top speed: 1,190 mph

18. Dassault Rafale

Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr

Empty weight: 22,708 lbs
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2001
Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
Top speed: 1,383 mph

17. F-16V (Viper)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Empty weight: 22,046 lbs
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2017
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Hellenic Aerospace Industry
Top speed: 917 mph

16. Shenyang J-8 / J-8 II (Finback)

Source: allenthepostman / Flickr

Empty weight: 21,649 lbs
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1980
Manufacturer: Aviation Industry Corporation of China
Top speed: 1,453 mph

15. Chengdu J-10 (Vicious Dragon)

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Empty weight: 21,451 lbs
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Top speed: 1,452 mph