Fighter Jets are the most important constituent of a nation’s military might and its air force’s capabilities. We are going to list here the world’s most advanced aircrafts in terms of their performance, their manoeuvrability and speed, their military might and technical ratings. It must be noted that this is a list of the most advanced operational aircrafts, and not the ones which are still in developmental stages.
1. F-22 Raptor – The most advanced aircraft till date, F-22 Raptor is build by Lockheed Martin and Boeing and is a part of the US Air Force fleet. Most expensive aircraft in the world, The F-22 is almost invisible to most radars and its capabilities are not advertised. This aircraft is exclusive to the US and is a single seat, twin engine super craft.
2. F-35 Lightning II – Another specialised aircraft from the Lockheed Martin stable, it is known for its stealth fighting capabilities and modern weaponry. Used by various US military forces and some allied nations, this aircraft is also a single seat fighter jet.
3. Eurofighter Typhoon – Developed by a consortium of companies from the European Union, this aircraft forms the cornerstone of the most advanced European air forces. Nowhere close to the F-22 Raptor or the F-35, the Eurofighter is known for its agility during reconnaissance and strike missions.
4. Sukhoi SU-35 – A fourth generation fighter jet, Sukhoi has been exclusively designed and built in Russia. Developed as an advanced version of the 1980s era SU-27, the SU-35 has a wider manoeuvrability and avionics. It’s one of the best contemporary jets in operation but no match for the F-22 Raptors, and forms the core of the Russian air power.
5. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – The Super Hornet is the advanced version of the Hornet and was designed by McDonnell Douglas which later merged with Boeing. Currently this aircraft is a part of the US Navy and The Royal Australian Air Force. Designed to carry sophisticated air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, this jet can also function as an air tanker, and help in refuelling jets mid-flight.
6. Dassault Rafale – A part of the French fleet since 2006, this aircraft is capable of stealth operations and air-to-ground strikes. Claimed to be a fitting competitor of the Eurofighter Typhoon, this aircraft is a twin-engine multirole aircraft which has the potential to carry out nuclear missions as well.
7. F-15 Eagle – In operation since 1976, the F-15 still functions as an important component of the US Air Force. It has also been exported to allies like Japan, Saudi Arabia and Israel. This twin engine, tactical fighter has many aerial victories to its credit.
