Oldest and Newest Fighter Jets Used in Today’s Air Forces

By Chris Lange Published Oct 17, 11:00AM EDT

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Oldest and Newest Fighter Jets Used in Today’s Air Forces — © Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr

The third generation of modern fighter jets were developed and introduced in the 1950s and 1960s, roughly two decades after the invention of jet propulsion. These jets, some still in use today, were characterized by their supersonic speed and advanced missiles, and can fill multiple roles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

The fourth generation of fighter jets, which debuted in the mid-1970s, was even more sophisticated, with advanced technologies such as digital systems and fly-by-wire control systems. Many of these jets, too, are still found in the service of militaries around the world. (These are the largest air forces on Earth.)

The focus of the most recent round of fighter jets, the fifth generation, is more towards stealth capabilities and radar denial. Only now emerging on the scene, their prevalence across global militaries is not as pronounced as previous generations.

To identify the oldest and newest modern fighter jets, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Military Factory’s catalogs of third, fourth, and fifth generation aircraft. We ordered the aircraft by the year they entered service. We included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding the type of aircraft, top speed, country of origin, manufacturer, and production for each aircraft. We excluded aircraft that did not make it out of the prototype or proposal stage. Only aircraft that are currently in service and that had production runs of at least 10 were included.

The earliest fighter jet on our list is the MiG-21, or Fishbed, a third generation fighter jet. The single-seat supersonic interceptor made by Mikoyan-Gurevich was introduced by the Soviets during the Cold War. Over 11,000 MiG-21 have been produced. Although this is not the fastest jet, it proved fundamental to later iterations of the MiG series of fighter jets, which are renowned for their impressive speed. (The newest fighter jet on our list is also a MiG.) An iconic third generation U.S. fighter jet is the F-4 Phantom.

Another Cold War fighter jet, one seen in the movie “Top Gun,” is the fourth generation F-14 Tomcat. First introduced in the mid-’70s, this jet is capable of Mach 2. Although the U.S. military would move away from this design in favor of the F-Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the F-14 Tomcat still holds its place as one of the most iconic fourth generation fighter jets. The Super Hornet was prominently featured in the movie’s highly-popular sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.” (Here is the newest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force.)

While China and Russia already have operational fifth generation jets, other nations are developing them. Also, the sixth generation is on the drawing board and it will be interesting to see what new tech will be instituted next.

Here is a look at the oldest and newest modern fighter jets.

42. MiG-21 (Fishbed)
> Year introduced: 1959
> Type: Single-seat supersonic fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,386 mph
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
> Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
> Production run: 11,496

[in-text-ad]

41. F-4 Phantom II
> Year introduced: 1960
> Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,473 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
> Production run: 5,195

[recirclink id=1311518]

40. Mirage III
> Year introduced: 1961
> Type: Interceptor aircraft / Strike fighter
> Maximum speed: 1,312 mph
> Country of origin: France
> Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
> Production run: 1,422

Sukhoi Su-17 u00e2u0080u009924 blueu00e2u0080u0099 by Alan Wilson

Sukhoi Su-17 u00e2u0080u009924 blueu00e2u0080u0099 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

39. Sukhoi Su-17 / Su-20 / Su-22 (Fitter)
> Year introduced: 1970
> Type: Strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 718 mph
> Country of origin: China
> Manufacturer: Sukhoi
> Production run: 2,867

MIG-23 Flogger (CC BY 2.0) by Ronnie Macdonald

38. MiG-23 (Flogger)
> Year introduced: 1970
> Type: Swing-wing figher-interceptor aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
> Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
> Production run: 5,047

37. Mirage F1
> Year introduced: 1973
> Type: Interceptor aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
> Country of origin: France
> Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
> Production run: 750

36. Grumman F-14 Tomcat
> Year introduced: 1974
> Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
> Maximum speed: 1,544 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
> Production run: 712

[recirclink id=1313258]

IAI Kfir C-7 u00c3u0097u00c2u009bu00c3u0097u00c2u00a4u00c3u0097u00c2u0099u00c3u0097u00c2u00a8 by brewbooks

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

35. IAI Kfir (Lion Cub)
> Year introduced: 1976
> Type: Multi-role combat aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,516 mph
> Country of origin: Israel
> Manufacturer: Israel Aircraft Industries
> Production run: 230

34. F-15 Eagle
> Year introduced: 1976
> Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,875 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
> Production run: 1,500

33. F-16 Fighting Falcon
> Year introduced: 1978
> Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,317 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
> Production run: 4,604

M2000 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by RomainSeaf

32. Mirage 2000 (M2000)
> Year introduced: 1979
> Type: Strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
> Country of origin: France
> Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
> Production run: 611

31. Panavia Tornado IDS
> Year introduced: 1979
> Type: Low-level strike aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems
> Production run: 400

[recirclink id=1311622]

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

30. Mig-31 (Foxhound)
> Year introduced: 1979
> Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,864 mph
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
> Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
> Production run: 500

Shenyang J-8 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by allen watkin

29. Shenyang J-8 / J-8 II (Finback)
> Year introduced: 1980
> Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
> Country of origin: China
> Manufacturer: Aviation Industry Corporation of China
> Production run: 325

28. F/A-18 Hornet
> Year introduced: 1983
> Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,190 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop
> Production run: 1,480

VVS 100th IMG 0691 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Artem Katranzhi

27. MiG-29 (Fulcrum)
> Year introduced: 1984
> Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,519 mph
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
> Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
> Production run: 1,625

26. AV-8B Harrier II
> Year introduced: 1985
> Type: Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) strike aircraft
> Maximum speed: 665 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / BAE Systems
> Production run: 500

[recirclink id=1313513]

25. Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)
> Year introduced: 1985
> Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
> Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
> Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
> Production run: 809

91-0325 F-15E Strike Eagle by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

91-0325 F-15E Strike Eagle (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

24. F-15E Strike Eagle
> Year introduced: 1988
> Type: Strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,653 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
> Production run: 420

Panavia Tornado ECR u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u009846+57u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080... by Alan Wilson

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

23. Panavia Tornado ECR
> Year introduced: 1990
> Type: Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
> Country of origin: Germany
> Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems / MBB
> Production run: 52

22. KAI KF-16 Fighting Falcon
> Year introduced: 1991
> Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 870 mph
> Country of origin: South Korea
> Manufacturer: Korean Aerospace Industries
> Production run: 140

Xian JH-7A (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Alert5

21. Xian JH-7 (Flounder) / FBC-1 (Flying Leopard)
> Year introduced: 1992
> Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,118 mph
> Country of origin: China
> Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation
> Production run: 240

[recirclink id=1257479]

IDF-Wan Chien (CC BY 3.0) by O8447

20. F-CK-1 (Ching-Kuo)
> Year introduced: 1994
> Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,379 mph
> Country of origin: Taiwan
> Manufacturer: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
> Production run: 131

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

19. Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D)
> Year introduced: 1994
> Type: Carrier-based air defense fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
> Country of origin: Russia
> Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
> Production run: 35

18. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)
> Year introduced: 1996
> Type: Twin-engine air superiority strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,317 mph
> Country of origin: Russia
> Manufacturer: Sukhoi Design Bureau
> Production run: 635

17. JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin)
> Year introduced: 1997
> Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,370 mph
> Country of origin: Sweden
> Manufacturer: Saab AB
> Production run: 247

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

16. Shenyang J-11 (Flanker B+)
> Year introduced: 1998
> Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
> Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
> Country of origin: China
> Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
> Production run: 255

[recirclink id=1311518]

15. F/A-18 Super Hornet
> Year introduced: 1999
> Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,187 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
> Production run: 615

Mitsubishi F-2 at Guam (Cropped) by Hohum

Mitsubishi F-2 at Guam (Cropped) (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Hohum

14. Mitsubishi F-2
> Year introduced: 2000
> Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
> Country of origin: Japan
> Manufacturer: Mitsubishi / Lockheed Martin
> Production run: 98

13. Dassault Rafale
> Year introduced: 2001
> Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,383 mph
> Country of origin: France
> Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
> Production run: 201

EGVA - Eurofighter Typhoon EF2... by Steve Lynes

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

12. Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000)
> Year introduced: 2003
> Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,550 mph
> Country of origin: Germany
> Manufacturer: BAE Systems / Eurofighter GmbH
> Production run: 570

J-10B with PL-10 and PL-12 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Alert5

11. Chengdu J-10 (Vicious Dragon)
> Year introduced: 2005
> Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,452 mph
> Country of origin: China
> Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
> Production run: 350

[recirclink id=1313258]

F-22 Raptor (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

10. F-22 Raptor
> Year introduced: 2005
> Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,599 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin
> Production run: 195

9. PAC JF-17 Thunder
> Year introduced: 2007
> Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,218 mph
> Country of origin: Pakistan
> Manufacturer: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
> Production run: 132

PLAN Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter aircraft 20211221 - 3 by u65e5u672cu9632u885bu7701u30fbu7d71u5408u5e55u50dau76e3u90e8

PLAN Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter aircraft 20211221 - 3 (CC BY 4.0) by u65e5u672cu9632u885bu7701u30fbu7d71u5408u5e55u50dau76e3u90e8

8. Shenyang J-15 (Flying Shark)
> Year introduced: 2013
> Type: Carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,305 mph
> Country of origin: China
> Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
> Production run: 25

7. Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker)
> Year introduced: 2014
> Type: Multi-role heavy combat fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
> Country of origin: Russia
> Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
> Production run: 130

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

6. HAL Tejas LCA
> Year introduced: 2015
> Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,227 mph
> Country of origin: India
> Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
> Production run: 33

[recirclink id=1311622]

IAF-F-35I-and-F-16I-nf by Israeli Air Force

IAF-F-35I-and-F-16I-nf (CC BY 4.0 DEED) by Israeli Air Force

5. F-35 Lightning II
> Year introduced: 2016
> Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,199 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAE Systems
> Production run: 785

4. F-16V (Viper)
> Year introduced: 2017
> Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 917 mph
> Country of origin: United States
> Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Hellenic Aerospace Industry
> Production run: 100

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

3. Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle)
> Year introduced: 2017
> Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,305 mph
> Country of origin: China
> Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
> Production run: 55

2. Sukhoi Su-57 (Felon)
> Year introduced: 2019
> Type: Multi-role stealth aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,616 mph
> Country of origin: Russia
> Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
> Production run: 25

[in-text-ad-2]

1. MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F)
> Year introduced: 2020
> Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
> Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
> Country of origin: Russia
> Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MIG
> Production run: 10

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.