If you’ve been following our show from the beginning, you’ll know that from time to
time we pit some of the world’s leading military aircraft against each other.
You’ll also know that in terms of sheer numbers of aircraft, the USA leads the way,
but that’s not to say that other countries haven’t developed some impressive flying
machines designed to protect and serve the populace.
The most recent report on the largest defense budgets by country puts the U.S. at the top
by a long way, followed by China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, France and the UK.
Not surprisingly, many of the leading fighter jets were developed in those countries.
As not all fighter jets are alike, and as the superlative jet is an ongoing matter of
debate, our list is in no particular order.
Today you will decide what’s best, in this episode of the Infographics Show, The World’s
Most Powerful Fighter Jets.
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Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 Taking off from where the Sukhoi Su-27 left
off, the Su-35 is Russia’s main fighter jet.
The single seat supermaneuverable multirole fighter first appeared at a Russian air show
in 2007 and was hailed by the Russian Military of Defense as the greatest fighter jet ever
created.
Russia is building them as we speak, and many of the new 50-75 million dollar units will
be exported.
To fly the jet costs around 35,000 dollars an hour.
As for specs, it has a top speed of around 1,726 miles per hour (2,777 kph) and a range
of 1,940 miles (3,122km).
Just so you know, range is how far the aircraft can fly between take-off and landing.
It has a service ceiling of 59,000 ft (18,000 meters), meaning how high it can fly and be
fully-operational.
It’s extolled for its thrust-vectoring strength, capable of possibly unmatched maneuverability.
While its electronic warfare system is classified information, we know its infrared-search-and-track
sensors can scan other planes’ heat signatures from an impressive range.
It carries a bounty of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, rockets, bombs, and a
30mm GSh-30 internal cannon with 150 rounds.
Dassault Rafale Needless to say, all of these aircraft carry
weapons capable of shooting pretty much anything out of the sky.
The question is, can they do it before something else sees them?
The Rafale’s omnirole capabilities, according to its own designers, make it the “poster
child” of transformational aircraft.
This means it is capable of switching from a strike force mission to a show of strength
mission.
Each unit costs around 86 million dollars, depending on which model, and it costs around
28,000 dollars an hour to fly.
It’s capable of a top speed of around 1,200 miles per hour (1,912kph) and has a range
of around 2,000 miles (3,218 km).
Its service ceiling is 50,000 ft (15,240 meters).
It has air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, a GIAT 30/M791 autocannon with 125 rounds
and also carries an ASMP-A nuclear missile.
It has excellent radar and onboard electronic warfare system, with one military pundit saying
it “has a significant advantage in situational awareness over the F-35.”
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II The USA’s much praised F-35 multi-role stealth
fighter has been called the stealthiest of stealth aircraft, although some comparisons
make it a fairly equal match to the Rafale.
One report tells us, however, that the F-35 will detect the Rafale at 70.2-92.5 miles
(113-149 km), while the Rafale will detect the F-35 at 40.3-43.4 miles (65-70km).
The F-35 three models are built for short take-off, normal take-off, and catapult assisted
take-off.
They cost from 95.6-122.8 million dollars, and are around 42,169 dollars per hour to
fly.
The F-35’s expense has resulted in some pundits saying it is too expensive to lose.
It can reach speeds of 1,200 miles per hour (1,912kph) and has a range of 1,367 miles
(2,200km).
Its service ceiling is 60,000 feet (18.288 meters).
What makes it so special is its electronic warfare suite, which some have said means
it’s a flying hacker like no other.
It’s able to jam other planes’ signals perhaps better than foes and has unprecedented
situational awareness.
Some experts say its pilots have a God-like advantage over enemies in terms of awareness.
J-20 stealth fighter One of the reasons the U.S. is pushing the
advancement of the former aircraft is partly due to other countries pushing their own ultra-modern
fighter jets.
One of which is China’s fairly new J-20 multi-role stealth fighter.
This 110 billion dollar aircraft has a top speed of 1,305 miles per hour (2,100 kph)
and according to one U.S. military analyst has “longer range, more internal fuel capacity,
and larger internal weapons capability” than the F-35 and the F-22.
The same analyst also goes on to say that the J-20 probably does not have the same hyper-connectedness
that the F-35 has.
What it is capable of is still somewhat of a mystery.
National Interest could not provide all the specs for the J-20, but did say in 2017 that
“China will not enjoy military superiority over the United States but its latest stealth
fighter moves it closer to regional hegemony.”
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor The aforementioned United States F-22 air-superiority
fighter, introduced in 2005, is often seen on the top of lists of the world’s best
fighter jets.
It’s also staggeringly expensive at around 339 million dollars a unit and an hourly flying
cost of 68,362 dollars.
This makes it the most expensive fighter jet in the world.
The F-22 has a top speed of around 1,500 miles per hour (2,414kph) and a range of around
1,840 miles (2,961km).
Its service ceiling is 65,616 feet (20,000 meters).
It packs all the necessary missiles, guns, bombs, to do the same damage as the rest of
the planes on this list, but in comparisons was given the stealth advantage over aircraft
such as the Su-35 due to its Beyond Visual Range capabilities.
Some pundits have compared finding the F-22 like finding a needle in a haystack, one reason
for its vast expense.
Eurofighter Typhoon This 4.5 generation multirole fighter was
a collaboration between the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, although France wasn’t
so keen on some of the design aspects and left to concentrate on building its Dassault
Rafale.
The ET has been compared to the F-22, and although it lacks the stealth capabilities
of the latter it is said to have superior detection systems and so can still find a
target from a very long distance.
Surprise, surprise, when U.S. and European pilots went up against each other in a training
exercise, both came back saying their plane was superior.
Each unit costs around 140 million dollars and per hour is around 14,000 dollars to fly.
Its top speed is 1,550 miles per hour (2,495 kph) and it has a range of around 1,800 miles
(2,900km).
Its service ceiling is 65,000 feet (19,812 meters).
The ET calls itself the most advanced “swing-role” aircraft ever made.
Swing-role is slightly different from multi-role.
According to one air defense expert swing-role means having the “capability to switch between
different roles within a sortie, whereas multi-role and multi-mission implies the ability to reconfigure
air platforms for different roles and missions between sorties.”
In simple terms, it’s a multi-tasker.
Saab JAS 39 Gripen The Saab JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter aircraft
is the creation of Swedish aerospace company Saab.
According to National Interest the aircraft has a low unit cost – 30-60 million dollars
– which makes them a good alternative to some of the more advanced planes featured
in this show.
It’s not only cheap to buy, but also cheap to fly, at around 4,700 dollars per hour.
It still has impressive specs, having a top speed of 1,370 miles per hour (2,204 kph)
and a range of 1,983 miles (3,200 km).
Its service ceiling is 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
Its payload and radar systems might not be as advanced as some other aircraft on this
list, but it can take-off and land in a very small area as well as refuel very quickly.
It’s one of the value for money fighters on this list, and it’s certainly in contention
for one of the best fourth generation fighters in the world.
F-15 Strike Eagle This multi-role fighter has been around for
some time, but still packs a punch.
The F-15 has a top speed of 1,650 miles per hour (2,665 kph) and a range of around 1,222
miles (1,967 km).
Its service ceiling is 65,000 feet (20,000 meters).
The unit cost back when it was being made in the 90s was 31.1 million dollar, although
the upgraded F-15K cost as much as 100 million dollars in 2006.
The last iteration is the F-15S.
These machines are equipped with excellent digital electronic warfare and radar suites
and according to one analyst it “is still more useful than either the F-22 or the F-35
in certain situations.”
That situation would be intercepting other aircraft, but the downside is it’s not so
good at playing the hide part in the game hide and seek.
If it’s found, though, it’s hard to beat in a dogfight situation.
Mikoyan MiG 35 Russia’s MiG-35 multirole fighter follows
its progenitor the MiG29.
According to analysts it’s about as nimble as an aircraft can get, but for its agility
it has also had to make some sacrifices.
The 40 million dollar plane has a top speed of 1,490 miles per hour (2,400 kph) and a
range of 1,240 miles (2,000 km).
Its service ceiling is 62,340 feet (19,000 meters).
According to National Interest its radar and missile capabilities should make any foe quiver,
and it’s thought its optical locator system should make finding stealth fighters less
of a problem.
Like the JAS 39 Gripen it is often said to be inferior to some of the planes on this
list, but in terms of value for money it’s perhaps the best fighter jet there is.
So, which of the aforementioned jets do you think reigns superior?
Let us know why in the comments!
Also, be sure to check out our other video called Top 10 Weakest Militaries in the World!
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