These Fighter Jets Pack the Biggest Punch

As of May 2025, the next-generation stealth fighter (F/A-XX) set to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornet may face a pause of up to three years due to engineering and production concerns. Congress was undecided over who would gain the hundred-of-billions defense contract, but rumor has it that Northrop Grumman and Boeing were both being considered. However, in light of recent stalling, the program could be cancelled. Many are concerned about the future of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft and whether a modern fighter will be ready to fight an advancing Chinese military.

24/7 Wall St. ranked fighter jets by order of which can carry the biggest payload. To find our data, we reviewed Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. The following list is ordered by the maximum payload weight each jet can carry. We added supplemental data, which also came from Military Factory.

This post was updated May 15, 2025 to include information on paused funding for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation fighter jets.

Why Are We Covering This Now?

At over, 28,000 pounds, the latest generation of F-15EX jets will boast even greater payload capacities than any on this list. Understanding fighter jets with maximum payload capacity offers valuable insights into global military capabilities and defense strategies. This knowledge is critical for accurate threat assessment and the development of effective countermeasures.

These are the fighter jets that carry the biggest payloads:

42. MiG-23 (Flogger)

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogge... (CC BY 2.0) by Clemens Vasters

• Maximum payload: 4,400 lbs
• Type: Swing-wing fighter-interceptor aircraft
• Year introduced: 1970
• Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich

41. MiG-21 (Fishbed)

• Maximum payload: 4,400 lbs
• Type: Single-seat supersonic fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1959
• Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich

40. F-22 Raptor

File:F-22 Raptor edit1.jpg (Public Domain) by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway

• Maximum payload: 5,000 lbs
• Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2005
• Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin

39. Mirage III

• Maximum payload: 8,800 lbs
• Type: Interceptor aircraft / Strike fighter
• Year introduced: 1961
• Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation

38. Sukhoi Su-17 / Su-20 / Su-22 (Fitter)

• Maximum payload: 8,800 lbs
• Type: Strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1970
• Manufacturer: Sukhoi

37. PAC JF-17 Thunder

• Maximum payload: 8,800 lbs
• Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2007
• Manufacturer: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex

36. MiG-29 (Fulcrum)

• Maximum payload: 8,800 lbs
• Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1984
• Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation

35. Shenyang J-8 / J-8 II (Finback)

• Maximum payload: 8,818 lbs
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year introduced: 1980
• Manufacturer: Aviation Industry Corporation of China

34. F-CK-1 (Ching-Kuo)

IDF-Wan Chien (CC BY 3.0) by O8447

• Maximum payload: 9,000 lbs
• Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1994
• Manufacturer: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation

33. AV-8B Harrier II

• Maximum payload: 9,200 lbs
• Type: Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) strike aircraft
• Year introduced: 1985
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / BAe Systems

32. Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)

• Maximum payload: 9,770 lbs
• Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
• Year introduced: 1985
• Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation

31. HAL Tejas LCA

HAL LCA Tejas (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ashwin Kumar

• Maximum payload: 9,900 lbs
• Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2015
• Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

30. JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin)

• Maximum payload: 11,700 lbs
• Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1997
• Manufacturer: Saab AB

29. Chengdu J-10 (Vicious Dragon)

• Maximum payload: 12,345 lbs
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year introduced: 2005
• Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)

28. F/A-18 Hornet

• Maximum payload: 13,700 lbs
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1983
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop

27. Mirage F1

Dassault Mirage F1 EQ (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Falconu00ae Photography

• Maximum payload: 13,900 lbs
• Type: Interceptor aircraft
• Year introduced: 1973
• Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation

26. Mirage 2000 (M2000)

M2000 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by RomainSeaf

• Maximum payload: 13,900 lbs
• Type: Strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1979
• Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation

25. Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D)

Sukhoi Su-3... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Dmitry Terekhov

• Maximum payload: 14,300 lbs
• Type: Carrier-based air defense fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1994
• Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB

24. Shenyang J-15 (Flying Shark)

• Maximum payload: 14,330 lbs
• Type: Carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2013
• Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)

23. MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F)

• Maximum payload: 14,330 lbs
• Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2020
• Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MIG

22. Grumman F-14 Tomcat

• Maximum payload: 14,500 lbs
• Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
• Year introduced: 1974
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft

21. F-15 Eagle

• Maximum payload: 16,000 lbs
• Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1976
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing

20. KAI KF-16 Fighting Falcon

• Maximum payload: 17,000 lbs
• Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1991
• Manufacturer: Korean Aerospace Industries

19. F-16V (Viper)

• Maximum payload: 17,000 lbs
• Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2017
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Hellenic Aerospace Industry

18. F-16 Fighting Falcon

• Maximum payload: 17,000 lbs
• Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1978
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin

17. Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker)

• Maximum payload: 17,630 lbs
• Type: Multi-role heavy combat fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2014
• Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB

16. Shenyang J-11 (Flanker B+)

J-11... (CC BY 4.0) by Mil.ru

• Maximum payload: 17,636 lbs
• Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
• Year introduced: 1998
• Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)

15. F/A-18 Super Hornet

• Maximum payload: 17,750 lbs
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1999
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing

14. Mitsubishi F-2

• Maximum payload: 17,824 lbs
• Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2000
• Manufacturer: Mitsubishi / Lockheed Martin

13. F-35 Lightning II

• Maximum payload: 18,000 lbs
• Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2016
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAe Systems

12. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)

• Maximum payload: 18,000 lbs
• Type: Twin-engine air superiority strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1996
• Manufacturer: Sukhoi Design Bureau

11. F-4 Phantom II

• Maximum payload: 18,650 lbs
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1960
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas

10. Panavia Tornado ECR

Panavia Tornado ECR u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u009846+57u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• Maximum payload: 19,800 lbs
• Type: Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Aircraft
• Year introduced: 1990
• Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems / MBB

9. Panavia Tornado IDS

• Maximum payload: 19,800 lbs
• Type: Low-level strike aircraft
• Year introduced: 1979
• Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems

8. Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000)

EGVA - Eurofighter Typhoon EF2... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Lynes

• Maximum payload: 19,800 lbs
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year introduced: 2003
• Manufacturer: BAe Systems / Eurofighter GmbH

7. Xian JH-7 (Flounder) / FBC-1 (Flying Leopard)

• Maximum payload: 20,000 lbs
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year introduced: 1992
• Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation

6. Mig-31 (Foxhound)

MiG... (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Vitaly Kuzmin

• Maximum payload: 20,000 lbs
• Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Year introduced: 1979
• Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation

5. IAI Kfir (Lion Cub)

IAI Kfir C-7 u00c3u0097u00c2u009bu00c3u0097u00c2u00a4u00c3u0097u00c2u0099u00c3u0097u00c2u00a8 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by brewbooks

• Maximum payload: 20,701 lbs
• Type: Multi-role combat aircraft
• Year introduced: 1976
• Manufacturer: Israel Aircraft Industries

4. Dassault Rafale

Dassault Rafale C (CC BY 2.0) by Dave_S.

• Maximum payload: 20,900 lbs
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year introduced: 2001
• Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation

3. Sukhoi Su-57 (Felon)

• Maximum payload: 22,046 lbs
• Type: Multi-role stealth aircraft
• Year introduced: 2019
• Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation

2. F-15E Strike Eagle

• Maximum payload: 23,000 lbs
• Type: Strike fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 1988
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing

1. Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle)

J-20... (CC BY-SA 4.0) by N509FZ

• Maximum payload: 24,000 lbs
• Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
• Year introduced: 2017
• Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)