America’s F-22 Raptor Hits Mach 2, One of The Fastest Ever Built

By Chris Lange Published Aug 14, 9:30AM EDT

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America’s F-22 Raptor Hits Mach 2, One of The Fastest Ever Built — © Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

The U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor isn’t just a stealth fighter, it is one of the fastest combat aircraft on the planet. Capable of hitting speeds over Mach 2, the Raptor puts almost all other fighter jets in the dust when it comes to pure velocity. Originally introduced in 2005 as the world’s first fifth-generation fighter, it was built to outrun and outfight anything else in the sky. While it isn’t the fastest fighter jet out there, it’s near the top of the heap. Here, 24/7 Wall Street. is taking a closer look at fighter jets in service around the world and which ones are the fastest.

To identify the fastest fighter jets currently in military service, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2025 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft according to top speed. Note that we have combined some aircraft that are similar variations into a single entry. We also included supplemental data on the type of aircraft, year entered service, and armament, if applicable.

Here is a look at the fastest fighter jets in service around the world:

Why Are We Covering This?

F-35 Army Fighter jet flying over mountains

Knowing which fighter jets are the fastest is a window into how nations project power, deter adversaries, but especially maintain air superiority. Speed in combat aircraft determines the success of interception missions and increases survivability in hostile airspace. Ultimately, this speed allows rapid deployment across vast distances. Understanding these capabilities gives context to defense spending, technological innovation, and strategic advantages in general.

33. Mirage 2000D

Mirage 2000d (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Rob Schleiffert

Type: Tactical bomber
Year introduced: 1986
Top speed: 1,074 mph
Armament: 30mm CC630 gun pods, Magic missiles, MICA missiles, Apache missiles, SCALP EG missiles, laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs

32. F-5E Tiger II

Type: Multirole fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1962
Top speed: 1,077 mph
Armament: 20mm M39A2 automatic cannons, Sidewinder missiles, Maverick missiles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, guided bombs

31. JH-7 Flounder (Flying Leopard)

Type: Fighter-bomber / strike aircraft
Year introduced: 1992
Top speed: 1,118 mph
Armament: 23mm cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-radiation missiles, conventional drop bombs

30. EA-18G Growler

Type: Carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft
Year introduced: 2009
Top speed: 1,181 mph
Armament: Detection pods, high band jamming pods, low band jamming pods, AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR, SHARP, Harm missiles, AMRAAM missiles, Joint stand-off weapons

29. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assig... by Official U.S. Navy Page

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assig... (CC BY 2.0) by Official U.S. Navy Page

Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1999
Top speed: 1,187 mph
Armament: 20mm M61A1 Vulcan automatic cannon, Sidewinder missiles, AMRAAM missiles, Harpoon missiles, HARM missiles, Maverick missiles, joint direct att munitions, Rockeye II bombs, general purpose bombs

28. F/A-18A/C/D Hornet

A Catapult Crewman Watches an F/A-18C Hornet Launch From the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier, USS Enterprise

Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1983
Top speed: 1,190 mph
Armament: 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon, Sidewinder missiles, Sparrow missiles, Maverick missiles, Harpoon missiles, HARM missiles, laser-guided / precision drop bombs, gun pods, rocket pods, nuclear-tipped ordnance

27. F-35 Lightning II

Australian Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II - Luke Air Force Base, AZ, UNITED STATES 06.27.2018 by aeroman3

Australian Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II - Luke Air Force Base, AZ, UNITED STATES 06.27.2018 (PDM 1.0) by aeroman3

Type: Multirole 5th generation aircraft
Year introduced: 2016
Top speed: 1,199 mph
Armament: 25mm GAU-12/U automatic cannon, Sidewinder missiles, Paveway guided bombs, Rockeye II bombs, Brimstone missiles, Storm Shadow missiles, drop bombs

26. Tu-22M Backfire

Tupolev, Tu-22M Backfire by SDASM Archives

Tupolev, Tu-22M Backfire (Public Domain) by SDASM Archives

Type: Strategic maritime bomber
Year introduced: 1972
Top speed: 1,243 mph
Armament: 23mm GSh tail-mounted cannon, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, conventional drop bombs, laser-guided bombs, cruise missiles

25. Tu-160 Blackjack

Tupolev Tu-160 (Russian: u0422u0443u043fu043eu043bu0435u0432 u0422u0443-160 u0411u0435u043bu044bu0439 u043bu0435u0431u0435u0434u044c, romanized: Belyy Lebed, lit. 'White Swan'; NATO reporting name: 'Blackjack') (PDM 1.0) by aeroman3

Type: Strategic heavy bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1989
Top speed: 1,243 mph
Armament: Kent cruise missiles, Kickback nuclear missiles, conventional drop bombs, air-to-surface missiles

24. J-20 Fagin (Mighty Dragon)

Type: Multirole 5th generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2017
Top speed: 1,305 mph
Armament: Internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-radiation missiles, laser-guided bombs, conventional bombs

23. J-15 Flanker-X2 (Flying Shark)

Type: Air superiority strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2013
Top speed: 1,317 mph
Armament: 30mm internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-radiation missiles

22. F-16C Fighting Falcon

General Dynamics F-16C 'Fighting Falcons' by aeroman3

General Dynamics F-16C 'Fighting Falcons' (PDM 1.0) by aeroman3

Type: Multirole 4th generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1978
Top speed: 1,317 mph
Armament: 20mm M61 automatic cannon, Sidewinder missiles, AMRAAM missiles, Maverick missiles, Penguin missiles, Runway denial bombs, cluster bombs, laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs

21. Su-34 Fullback

Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2014
Top speed: 1,367 mph
Armament: 30mm GSh internal cannon, Archer missiles, Moskit missiles, air-to-ground missiles, air-to-air missiles, guided munitions, rocket pods

20. J-7 Fishcan

Type: Interceptor / strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1980
Top speed: 1,367 mph
Armament: 30mm internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs

19. JAS 39 Gripen (Griffen)

Slovakia+military+aircraft | JAS-39 Gripen Czechia

Type: Multirole 4th generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1997
Top speed: 1,370 mph
Armament: 27mm Mauser BK-27 Revolver internal automatic cannon, Sidewinder misssiles, Skyflash missiles, Meteor missiles, MICA missiles, Maverick missiles, anti-ship missiles, cluster bombs, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, laser-guided bombs

18. Dassault Rafale

Dassault Rafale C (CC BY 2.0) by Dave_S.

Type: Multirole fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2001
Top speed: 1,383 mph
Armament: 30mm GIAT 30/M791 internal automatic cannon, MICA missiles, Meteor missiles, Exocet missiles, laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, rocket pods, cruise missiles, Apache missiles, nuclear stand-off missiles

17. MiG-21 Fishbed

Type: Multirole fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1959
Top speed: 1,386 mph
Armament: 23mm GSh-23 internal automatic cannon, air-to-air missiles, Molniya missiles, drop bombs

16. Su-24 Fencer

Type: Long-range strike / attack aircraft
Year introduced: 1974
Top speed: 1,439 mph
Armament: 23mm GSh internal six-barrel cannon, Ahpid missiles, Archer missiles, Kingbolt missiles, Krypton missiles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, guided bombs

15. J-10 Firebird (Vigorous Dragon)

Type: Multirole 4th generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Top speed: 1,452 mph
Armament: 23mm internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, laser-guided bombs, glide bombs, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs

14. Mirage F1EQ

Dassault Mirage F1 EQ by Falconu00ae Photography

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

Type: Interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1973
Top speed: 1,453 mph
Armament: 30mm DEFA internal automatic cannons, Sidewinder missiles, Magic missiles, Matra missiles, conventional drop bombs, rocket pods, Armat missiles

13. Mirage 2000-5F

Mirage 2000-5f (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Rob Schleiffert

Type: Multirole fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Top speed: 1,453 mph
Armament: 30mm DEFA internal automatic cannon, Magic 2 missiles, Matra missiles, laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, anti-runway munition dispensers, cluster bombs, Exocet anti-ship missiles, nuclear stand-off missiles

12. J-8 Finback

Type: Multirole fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1980
Top speed: 1,453 mph
Armament: 23mm cannon, air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, air-to-surface missiles, conventional drop bombs

11. F-4 Phantom II

Type: Strike fighter
Year introduced: 1960
Top speed: 1,473 mph
Armament: 20mm M61 Vulcan, Skyflash missiles, Sparrow missiles, Sidewinder missiles, rocket pods, gun pods, conventional drop bombs, guided bombs

10. Panavia Tornado IDS

Type: Low-level strike aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Top speed: 1,491 mph
Armament: 27mm Mauser internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, conventional drop bombs, guided bombs, cruise missiles, special mission pods

9. F-16I Sufa (Storm)

IA... (CC BY 4.0) by Major Ofer, Israeli Air Force

Type: Lightweight multirole fighter
Year introduced: 2004
Top speed: 1,501 mph
Armament: 20mm M61A1, short-range air-to-air missiles on wingtip launchers

8. MiG-29/35 Fulcrum

Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1984
Top speed: 1,519 mph
Armament: 30mm GSh-1 internal automatic cannon, Alamo missiles, Adder missiles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, guided bombs

7. F-14 Tomcat

Type: Swing-wing, carrierborne fleet defense fighter
Year introduced: 1974
Top speed: 1,544 mph
Armament: 20mm internal gatling gun, Phoenix missiles, Sparrow missiles, Sidewinder missiles, conventional drop bombs, guided bombs

6. Eurofighter Typhoon

31+01 Eurofighter Typhoon by Bernhard Fuchs

31+01 Eurofighter Typhoon (CC BY 2.0) by Bernhard Fuchs

Type: 4th generation multirole aircraft
Year introduced: 2003
Top speed: 1,550 mph
Armament: 27mm Mauser BK-27 internal cannon, Sidewinder missiles, IRIS-T missiles, Meteor missiles, Storm Shadow missiles, MATRA missiles, Taurus stand-off missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-radiation missiles, laster-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs

5. Su-27/30/35 Flanker

Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
Year introduced: 1985
Top speed: 1,553 mph
Armament: 30mm GSh internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, conventional drop bombs, cluster bombs, anti-ship missiles, anti-radar missiles

4. F-22 Raptor

Type: 5th generation air dominance fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Top speed: 1,599 mph
Armament: 20mm automatic cannon, Sidewinder missiles, AMRAAM missiles, joint drop munitions, drop bombs, air-launched cruise missiles

3. Su-57 Felon

Su-57 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Vladislav06112019

Type: Multi-role stealth aircraft
Year introduced: 2019
Top speed: 1,616 mph
Armament: 30mm GSh internal cannon, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, guided bombs

2. MiG-31 Foxhound

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

Type: Interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1979
Top speed: 1,864 mph
Armament: 23mm GSh-6 internal cannon, Amos missiles, Aphid missiles, Acrid missiles

1. F-15 C/E/EX Eagle II

Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1976
Top speed: 1,875 mph
Armament: 20mm M61A1 automatic cannon, Sidewinder missiles, Sparrow missiles, Maverick missiles, HARM missiles, laser-guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions, cluster bombs, nuclear bombs

About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.