These 13 Fighter Jets are the Fastest in the World

Speed may not be the pinnacle in the modern era of air combat but it is one of the key elements in air superiority. Stealth, maneuverability, weapons, and the disruption of weapons, are all additional crucial components in obtaining supremacy in the air. However, the quickness that a jet can acquire has great value – allowing a pilot to close the distance to targets and scramble quickly to defend an important asset. This is why many of the latest-generation aircraft can break the sound barrier several times over.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed aviation information site Aero Corner’s list, The Top 13 Fastest Fighter Jets in The World to identify the fastest warplanes. Jets only those used in armed combat were ranked by their top speed. Aero Corner often used government sources to find the speed performance of many of these aircraft. (See if the U.S. Air Force is the world’s largest air force.)

The first warplane developed by the Chinese, the J-10, can challenge Western fighters in performance and capabilities. Development began in 1988, and its mission was to counter threats from the Soviet Union. The J-10 went into service in the Chinese Air Force in 2004. However, the J-10 cannot match the performance of similar Western warplanes such as America’s F-16 and the Eurofighter Typhoon. 

On this list of fighter jets that are the fastest in the world are several Russian-made jets, including the SU-27 Flanker and the SU-35 Flanker. The SU-35 Flanker is also serving in the Ukraine Air Force. Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down an SU-35 Flanker in early April. This fighter jet is one of Russia’s newest fighters and has been in service in the Russian air force since 2014.

The United States has six of the fastest warplanes on the list. (see the 30 combat aircraft being built for the U.S. Military) The F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation stealth warplane that had been discussed as an enforcer of a no-fly zone over Ukraine. 

These fighter jets are the fastest in the world

13. Mirage 2000

Dassault Mirage 2000 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Falconu00c3u0082u00c2u00ae Photography

• Top speed: 1,453 mph
• Maker: Dassault
• Nation: France

12. F-4 Phantom II

McDonnell Douglas (Mitsubishi) F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, Japan - Air Force AN2289664 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Fu00e6

• Top speed: 1,472 mph
• Maker: McDonnell Douglas
• Nation: United States

11. Su-35 Flanker-E

• Top speed: 1,500 mph
• Maker: Sukhoi
• Nation: Russia

10. F-22 Raptor

• Top speed: 1,500 mph
• Maker: Lockheed Martin
• Nation: United States

9. F-106

Convair F-106 (CC BY 2.0) by Clemens Vasters

• Top speed: 1,526 mph
• Maker: Convair
• Nation: United States

8. F-14 Tomcat

• Top speed: 1,544 mph
• Maker: Grumman
• Nation: United States

7. Eurofighter Typhoon

• Top speed: 1,544 mph
• Maker: Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH
• Nation: Multinational

6. Su-27 Flanker

• Top speed: 1,600 mph
• Maker: Sukhoi
• Nation: Russia

5. F-15 Eagle

• Top speed: 1,650 mph
• Maker: McDonnell Douglas
• Nation: United States

4. F-111 Aardvark

• Top speed: 1,650 mph
• Maker: General Dynamics
• Nation: United States

3. J-10

• Top speed: 1,687 mph
• Maker: Chengdu
• Nation: China

2. MiG-25 Foxbat

• Top speed: 1,900 mph
• Maker: Mikoyan
• Nation: Soviet Union

1. MIG-31 Foxhound

Mikoyan MiG-31 (CC BY 2.0) by Sergey Vladimirov

• Top speed: 1,900 mph
• Maker: Mikoyan
• Nation: Soviet Union