The first operational fighter jets, the first generation Me 262, emerged on the scene in the mid-1940s and were used during the last few years of the Second World War. The succession of fighter jets since then has only improved with each new generation, and while these early models are no longer in use, they paved the way for the next generations, many of which are still used today.
Developed and introduced in the 1950s and 1960s, the third generation of modern fighter jets came roughly two decades after the invention of jet propulsion, and still have some models in use today. These jets were characterized by their supersonic speed and advanced missiles and could fill multiple roles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
Between research and development, new fighter jets typically take many years to create and in the 1970s, the fourth generation fighter jet debuted. This generation 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.)
With ever-evolving technology, each new generation has a different focus, and the most recent round of fighter jets, the fifth generation, is geared more toward stealth capabilities and radar denial. Only now emerging on the scene, their prevalence across global militaries is not as pronounced as in previous generations.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed Military Factory’s catalogs of third-, fourth-, and fifth-generation aircraft to identify the oldest and newest fighter jets in modern air forces. Aircraft were ordered on this list 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. The U.S. Air Force is currently pursuing the development and procurement of a sixth-generation fighter jet, and according to the Defense News, the jet is expected to include new technologies ranging from cutting-edge adaptive engines to an autonomous drone flying alongside its wings.
Here are the oldest and newest fighter jets in modern air forces.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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