The 1909 Wright Flyer was the first military airplane in the world. Created for the United States Army Signal Corps, which later became the United States Army, this early airplane was used to train Army aviators on flight and didn’t see combat. The first widespread effective use of airplanes came in World War I. Initially, planes were used only as scouts, reporting enemy positions. But as the war went on, they were repurposed for aerial combat with mounted machine guns, leading to the age of WWI flying aces. (These are the greatest fighter pilots in aviation history.)
Although airplanes were a relatively new invention during the First World War, this is when the race for air superiority commenced and since then, military aircraft have evolved considerably. Demonstrating air superiority with increasingly more sophisticated fighter jets is an essential element of modern warfare. No military force can win a war without controlling the skies. Gaining an advantage in the air depends on how fast the plane can fly. Fighter planes that can whip across the skies at tremendous speeds can evade enemy missiles and hit their target sooner. (Here are the most common planes in the US Air Force.)
The U.S. military has some of the fastest warplanes on the planet. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of U.S. military aircraft from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more to determine the fastest planes in the U.S. military. All aircraft were ranked by us according to their top speed, choosing the 20 fastest. Supplemental information on the military branch using the aircraft and the aircraft’s role came from the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft. The first flown dates came from both WDMMA and from Military Factory.
The “slowest” aircraft on the list is the aerial tanker and refueler transport, McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender. It tops out at 600 mph, about the same as large commercial jets with top speeds of 550 to 580 mph. The majority of commercial planes are much slower at 160 to 180 mph.
Here are the fastest planes in the US Military.
20. McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
Source: Clive Wells / iStock via Getty Images
- Top speed: 600 mph
- Category: Aerial tankers, refuelers
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1980
19. Boeing E-4 Nightwatch
Source: ajw1970 / Flickr
- Top speed: 603 mph (tied)
- Category: Special mission
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1973
18. Boeing E-6 Mercury
Source: AllenJMSmith / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Top speed: 603 mph (tied)
- Category: Special mission
- Military branch: US Navy
- First flown: 1987
17. Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Source: ajw1970 / Flickr
- Top speed: 610 mph
- Category: Aerial tankers, refuelers
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1957
16. Cessna Citation
Source: vandervliet93 / Getty Images
- Top speed: 615 mph
- Category: Transports
- Military branch: US Marine Corps, Army
- First flown: 1972
15. Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Source: joncutrer / Flickr
- Top speed: 628 mph
- Category: Bombers
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1985
14. McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 645 mph
- Category: Trainers
- Military branch: US Navy
- First flown: 1988
13. McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
Source: lynothehammer / Flickr
- Top speed: 665 mph
- Category: Trainers, fighters
- Military branch: US Marine Corps
- First flown: 1978
12. Bombardier Global Express
Source: DanKingImages / Getty Images
- Top speed: 684 mph
- Category: Special mission
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1996
11. Rockwell B-1 Lancer
Source: tomasdelcoro / Flickr
- Top speed: 833 mph
- Category: Bombers
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1974
10. Northrop T-38 Talon
Source: Ryan Fletcher / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Top speed: 857 mph
- Category: Trainers
- Military branch: US Navy, Air Force
- First flown: 1959
9. Northrop F-5 Tiger II
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,077 mph
- Category: Trainers
- Military branch: US Navy, Marine Corps
- First flown: 1959
8. Boeing EA-18G Growler
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,181 mph
- Category: Special mission
- Military branch: US Navy
- First flown: 2006
7. McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
Source: edk7 / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,190 mph
- Category: Trainers, fighters
- Military branch: US Navy, Marine Corps
- First flown: 1978
6. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,193 mph
- Category: Trainers
- Military branch: US Navy
- First flown: 1999
5. Lockheed F-35 Lightning II
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,199 mph
- Category: Trainers, fighters
- Military branch: US Navy, Air Force, Navy
- First flown: 2016
4. Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,317 mph
- Category: Fighters, trainers
- Military branch: US Navy, Air Force
- First flown: 1974
3. Lockheed F-22 Raptor
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,599 mph
- Category: Fighters
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1997
2. Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,653 mph
- Category: Fighters
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1986
1. Boeing F-15 Eagle
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Top speed: 1,875 mph
- Category: Trainers
- Military branch: US Air Force
- First flown: 1972
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