Special Report
Ranking of All Modern Fighter Jets from Slowest to Fastest
KuntalSaha / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Published: February 21, 2024 1:30 pm
In the decades since the humble beginnings of the first military plane, the 1909 Wright Military Flyer purchased by the Aeronautical Division of the then-U.S. Army Signal Corps, the field of aviation has evolved tremendously. The 1909 Wright Military Flyer was constructed of wood and muslin and traveled at a top speed of 42.5 mph. Although this first aircraft was never used in combat, it was used to train pilots and paved the way for aviation of the future.
It wasn’t until the Second World War that the United States began to invest heavily in aircraft, and today they are used in practically every aspect of society, including waging war. Military aircraft, in particular, saw rapid evolution in just a few decades, from basic reconnaissance biplanes to $100 million fighter jets.
N ow in its fifth generation, the modern fighter jet boasts a wide range of new technology, including stealth, low-probability-of-intercept radar, and supercruise performance, which is a core requirement for the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter program. From a top speed of 42 mph, today’s fighter jets fly at supersonic speed. The new F-35 Lightning II is pushing top speeds close to 1,200 mph — and there are faster jets still.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed Military Factory’s catalogs of aircraft – from third- , fourth- , and fifth-generation – to determine the ranking of all modern fighter jets from slowest to fastest. Each aircraft was ranked by its maximum speed, and supplemental information from Military Factory regarding the type of aircraft, the year it was introduced, country of origin, manufacturer, and production was included. Aircraft that did not make it out of the prototype or proposal stage were excluded.
The majority of fighter jets mentioned here were built in the 1970s or later, and while this might suggest newer jets are faster, this is not necessarily the case. There are technological and biological limiting factors to consider when designing high-speed aircraft, and the focus of militaries in recent decades has been to improve stealth capabilities and modernize fleet technology as opposed to focusing on speed.
An iconic aircraft near the top of this list is the F-14 Tomcat, despite entering service in 1974 . This fighter jet was capable of hitting roughly 1,550 mph, just over Mach 2, making it an ideal naval interceptor in the latter stages of the Cold War. The F-14 Tomcat also made an appearance in the film “Top Gun,” solidifying its spot in American culture. (These are the 24 planes that form the backbone of the U.S. Air Force .)
Here is a ranking of all modern fighter jets from slowest to fastest.
42. AV-8B Harrier II Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 665 mph
Type: Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) strike aircraft
Year introduced: 1985
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / BAe Systems
Production run: 500
41. Sukhoi Su-17 / Su-20 / Su-22 (Fitter)
Maximum speed: 718 mph
Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1970
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: Sukhoi
Production run: 2,867
40. KAI KF-16 Fighting Falcon Source: Public Domain / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
Maximum speed: 870 mph
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1991
Country of origin: South Korea
Manufacturer: Korean Aerospace Industries
Production run: 140
39. F-16V (Viper) Source: usembassyjakarta / Flickr
Maximum speed: 917 mph
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2017
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Hellenic Aerospace Industry
Production run: 100
38. Xian JH-7 (Flounder) / FBC-1 (Flying Leopard) Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Maximum speed: 1,118 mph
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1992
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation
Production run: 240
37. F/A-18 Super Hornet
Maximum speed: 1,187 mph
Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1999
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
Production run: 615
36. F/A-18 Hornet Source: JohnnyPowell / E+ via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,190 mph
Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1983
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop
Production run: 1,480
35. F-35 Lightning II
Maximum speed: 1,199 mph
Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2016
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAe Systems
Production run: 785
34. PAC JF-17 Thunder Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
Maximum speed: 1,218 mph
Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2007
Country of origin: Pakistan
Manufacturer: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
Production run: 132
33. HAL Tejas LCA
Maximum speed: 1,227 mph
Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2015
Country of origin: India
Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Production run: 33
32. Shenyang J-15 (Flying Shark)
Maximum speed: 1,305 mph
Type: Carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2013
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Production run: 25
31. Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle)
Maximum speed: 1,305 mph
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2017
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Production run: 55
30. Mirage III Source: edurivero / Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,312 mph
Type: Interceptor aircraft / Strike fighter
Year introduced: 1961
Country of origin: France
Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
Production run: 1,422
29. F-16 Fighting Falcon Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,317 mph
Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1978
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
Production run: 4,604
28. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C) Source: scaliger / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,317 mph
Type: Twin-engine air superiority strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1996
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Sukhoi Design Bureau
Production run: 635
27. JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin) Source: dynasoar / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,370 mph
Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1997
Country of origin: Sweden
Manufacturer: Saab AB
Production run: 247
26. F-CK-1 (Ching-Kuo)
Maximum speed: 1,379 mph
Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1994
Country of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
Production run: 131
25. Dassault Rafale Source: Andrew_Harker / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,383 mph
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2001
Country of origin: France
Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
Production run: 201
24. MiG-21 (Fishbed) Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,386 mph
Type: Single-seat supersonic fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1959
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
Production run: 11,496
23. Chengdu J-10 (Vicious Dragon) Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Maximum speed: 1,452 mph
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Production run: 350
22. Mirage F1 Source: Maltaguy1 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
Type: Interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1973
Country of origin: France
Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
Production run: 750
21. Shenyang J-8 / J-8 II (Finback) Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1980
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: Aviation Industry Corporation of China
Production run: 325
20. Mirage 2000 (M2000)
Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Country of origin: France
Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
Production run: 611
19. F-4 Phantom II Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,473 mph
Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1960
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
Production run: 5,195
18. MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F) Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2020
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MIG
Production run: 10
17. Panavia Tornado ECR
Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
Type: Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Aircraft
Year introduced: 1990
Country of origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems / MBB
Production run: 52
16. Panavia Tornado IDS Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
Type: Low-level strike aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems
Production run: 400
15. Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker) Source: Flight Video & Photo / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
Type: Multi-role heavy combat fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2014
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
Production run: 130
14. IAI Kfir (Lion Cub)
Maximum speed: 1,516 mph
Type: Multi-role combat aircraft
Year introduced: 1976
Country of origin: Israel
Manufacturer: Israel Aircraft Industries
Production run: 230
13. MiG-29 (Fulcrum) Source: Milous / iStock via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,519 mph
Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1984
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Production run: 1,625
12. Grumman F-14 Tomcat Source: Willard / iStock via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,544 mph
Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
Year introduced: 1974
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
Production run: 712
11. Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000)
Maximum speed: 1,550 mph
Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2003
Country of origin: Germany
Manufacturer: BAe Systems / Eurofighter GmbH
Production run: 570
10. MiG-23 (Flogger)
Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
Type: Swing-wing fighter-interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1970
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
Production run: 5,047
9. Mitsubishi F-2
Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2000
Country of origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi / Lockheed Martin
Production run: 98
8. Shenyang J-11 (Flanker B+)
Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
Year introduced: 1998
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Production run: 255
7. Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker) Source: Jozsef Soos / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
Year introduced: 1985
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Production run: 809
6. Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D)
Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
Type: Carrier-based air defense fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1994
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
Production run: 35
5. F-22 Raptor
Maximum speed: 1,599 mph
Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin
Production run: 195
4. Sukhoi Su-57 (Felon) Source: Dmitry Potashkin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maximum speed: 1,616 mph
Type: Multi-role stealth aircraft
Year introduced: 2019
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Production run: 25
3. F-15E Strike Eagle
Maximum speed: 1,653 mph
Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1988
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
Production run: 420
2. Mig-31 (Foxhound)
Maximum speed: 1,864 mph
Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
Production run: 500
1. F-15 Eagle Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Maximum speed: 1,875 mph
Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1976
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
Production run: 1,500
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