Major countries worldwide have invested heavily in military fighter jets, all equipped with astounding technological advancements. Some of these aircraft are newly developed, while others have been around for a while and continue to receive back-to-back upgrades.
Keep scrolling to discover the most advanced military aircraft so far!
In this article:
Top 10 Most Advanced Fighters In The World
#1. Chengdu J-20
This Mighty Dragon is China’s response to the 5th-gen fighters from Russia and the U.S.! Over the past seven years, over 200 models have been delivered and produced, which makes it the world’s 2nd most common 5th-generation fighter (only behind the F-35).
The J-20 shares many similarities with other U.S. models, such as the F-22. It incorporates similar stealth features and advanced technologies, for example, including radar-absorbent components to evade electronic detections and advanced sensors to confuse enemies’ tracking systems. These sensors frequently use low-pass filters, where the cutoff frequency in low pass filter is crucial for attenuating high-frequency noise and maintaining signal quality.
But what truly makes the J-20 one of the top military jets is its incredible speed. It achieves Mach 2.55 at max (with afterburners), though it can only sustain this speed for short periods. Despite that slight limitation, it still remains one of the world’s fastest fighter models ever built.
#2. F-35 Lightning II/Panther
The F-35 family (F-35 A, B, and C) successfully made it onto this list due to its excellent helmet-mounted displays and sensor fusion.
Specifically, its helmet displays can project 30° vertically and 40° horizontally to show essential data directly to the pilot. It combines bi-ocular vision with heads-up displays for night sight without requiring separate goggles.
Plus, the F35 helmet sights can merge images from 6 visual sensors so that pilots can see right through their advanced aircraft.
The Collins Aerospace displays are tailored for every pilot and boast video recording capabilities, too. If the throttle/stick controls and helmet sight are still not enough, just trust the cockpit to lend extra support via its touch control systems and large, reprogrammable touchscreens.
The F35 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney turbofan afterburning engine, which delivers 28,000 lbs of dry thrust and 43,000 lbs with afterburner. The variant F-35B even goes beyond that to provide 18,000 lbs of thrust via the rear, 20,000 pounds via lift fans, and 3.900 lbs through roll posts.
#3. F-22 Raptor
Despite its age (almost 30 years, with development dating back to the 1980s), the F-22 Raptor is still among the most modern fighter planes ever built.
Specifically, this air superiority fighter is designed to dominate the sky and keep other aircraft models from operating in its range. It can travel at Mach 1.5 without afterburners and execute sharp bends that few other fighters can match.
Better yet, unlike other fifth-gen fighters that often focus on versatility, the F-22 excels at maneuverability and stealth. It combines a lightweight composite fiber body with an advanced design that renders it almost 100% invisible to electronic and radar tracking systems. Simply put, the aircraft is impossible to lock onto, even with the latest technology.
No wonder the F-22 enjoys a huge dogfighter advantage, although such advanced technology comes expensive. As it’s estimated to cost the United States $350 million each (yes, you read that right), the government had to reduce the original order from more than 700 to only 186.
#4. Sukhoi Su-57
Throughout history, Russian and Soviet technology has constantly developed in response to U.S. advancements. This Sukhoi Su-57, which has been under development for over two decades, is no exception.
The model had its first flight test in 2010 before entering active service around 2020, set to replace the Su-47 predecessor. As a 5th-gen fighter, it also features stealth technology like other fifth-generation models, though its performance is more limited than its other U.S. counterparts. Instead of having radar cross-sections, it relies mostly on quality radar-absorbent components to reduce detectability.
Fortunately, the Su-57’s advanced weapon system still sets it apart. It can be equipped with various missiles, including the Kh-38M and R-37 Axeheads, bolstered by an autocannon designed for close-distance combat missions.
The Su-57 can travel to roughly 65,000 feet of altitude and reach Mach 2 at top speed (approximately 1,550 mph). Thanks to its two Lyulka 117S engines, it might climb about 1,000 feet in just a second (or even less), living proof of its impressive agility.
#5. KAI KF-21 Boramae
The KAI KF21 is a multiple-role fighter developed jointly by Indonesia and Korea Aerospace Industries for both militaries. It’s designed to bridge the gap between 4th- and 5th-generation fighters.
Sure, the jet is not yet in official service (it’s set to be released in 2026), but it has already undergone quite a few tests and successfully fired the Meteor missile – a progressive air-to-air solution that hits targets 120 miles away and travels at 4x the speed of sound!
Since the Boramae was reportedly developed solely within Indonesia and South Korea (without direct guidance from the U.S.), it doesn’t possess the same stealth performance as the F35. Nevertheless, there are still modern radar-absorbent materials; plus, the cross-sectional structure makes it difficult to detect and can readily deflect radar waves!
Powered by 2 General Electric engines (F414-GE-400K), this twin-jet fighter can reach Mach 1.8 (at top speed) and around 620 miles of combat range. With the addition of robust Meteor missiles to the mix, the KF-21 is certainly on its way to being one of the world’s most heavily equipped fighters.
#6. F-15EX Eagle II
We expect the F-15EX Eagle II to enter official service this month (July 2024), though the U.S. Air Force has already received several units way earlier than that.
It’s a multiple-role fighter meant to support the small F22 fleet in maintaining air superiority. Sure, the F-15EX might not match some models in stealth capabilities or bypassing anti-aircraft barriers, but it still boasts many significant improvements over its predecessors.
For instance, recent upgrades include extra missile stations, a fly-by-wire digital program, and an AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS (Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System) that can identify incoming attacks, deploy countermeasures, and protect against most electronic warfare.
According to our research, the F-15EX can reach a top speed of about Mach 2.5 (roughly 1,650 mph) at higher altitudes and has an equally impressive service ceiling (60,000 feet). Even better, the aircraft is designed to be economical in terms of longevity, with an estimated lifespan of 20,000+ hours!
#7. Eurofighter Typhoon
The anti-radiation missiles certainly give the Typhoon a huge competitive edge! It easily carries the multimode SPEAR3 guidance missile, not to mention a SPEAR EW variant that can clog enemy defense radars.
We’re also impressed that the Eurofighter Typhoon is highly maneuverable and powered by 2 Eurojet-200 jet engines, each capable of producing 13,500 lbs of thrust (without an afterburner) and 20,200 lbs (with an afterburner). No wonder the Typhoon can achieve impressive speeds and perform incredibly effective air interdictions and intercepts.
Last but certainly not least, the Typhoon boasts a PIRATE (short for Passive InfraRed Airborne Tracking Equipment), which allows it to hunt down other planes without emitting any detectable radar signal.
If desired, one can even fit it with infrared pods (featuring laser designators) to designate and locate enemies for precision-guided bombs.
#8. Dassault Rafale
As one of the most advanced fighter jets, the Dassault Rafale shares quite a lot of similarities with the Typhoon, which makes sense since they originally started as a joint project. Nevertheless, in the 1980s, France split from the program to develop a fighter tailored to its specific needs.
Unlike the Typhoon, this Rafale has many more versions, including high-class stealth versions and carrier-capable ones. Even better, France hasn’t stopped upgrading Rafales since then, with the latest variant being the F3; it features the most recent sensors and weapon systems to ensure the country’s military and tech power always remain on top.
As a multirole jet fighter, Dassault Rafale is armed with twin-jet delta wings that are adaptable for land or sea operations. The strategically positioned canards in the front, along with the 3D map generation feature and innovative radars, enable it to execute remarkable aerial maneuvers.
#9. F/A-18 Super Hornet
This model is inspired by the early McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet used in the Cold War. Development of the Super Hornet started in the 1980s (with testing starting in the 90s) before it entered service roughly 20 years later in 1999.
Thanks to its robust weaponry, the F/A-18 is highly agile and can perform its dual role excellently. It is equipped with a Vulcan 20-mm cannon and can carry a wide range of munitions, including Paveway laser bombs and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. Such versatility enables it to handle numerous targets in varying conditions and environments.
Furthermore, it also features a fly-by-wire digital system, a touchscreen control system, and one flight-control program that automatically spots and compensates for damage to keep the aircraft safely airborne. Although certainly not the fastest model, the aircraft can reach Mach 1.8 (its top speed) and 50,000 feet of altitude – quite astounding!
#10. Sukhoi Su-35
Last but not least, the legendary Sukhoi Su-35!
It comes standard with an electronically passive Irbis-E scanned radar capable of detecting targets 350 kilometers (217 miles) away. The model even boasts an optical and infrared scanner to track airborne targets quietly, plus helmet-mounted sights (similar to those of the Su-27 they’re based on).
And that’s not all; the Su-35 is known for its impressive thrust vectoring capabilities and can carry numerous weapons simultaneously. These include active air-to-air radar missiles (with a range of about 300 km or 190 miles of air superiority), anti-radiation missiles suppressing air defenses, and various air-to-ground precision munitions.
Latest Updates About The Chengdu J-20, The Supposed Rival To The U.S.
According to our research, J-20 will have several variants. Some notable ones include the J20A (the jet’s original version), the J20B with thrust-vectoring performances, and the J20S (the very first stealth fighter model with double seats!).
That’s not all. Reports from China last October also revealed that the country is planning even more upgrades, particularly to increase the number of air missiles the jet can hold and set up extra thrust-vectoring nozzles.
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Conclusion
These most advanced combat aircraft models will continue to amaze us as competition heightens among the “giants” U.S., Russia, and China.
Which next-generation fighter jets do you think will dominate the skies with their excellent technologies and combat capabilities in the next few years? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
