Summary
- The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is the fastest aircraft in the USAF, reaching top speeds of Mach 2.5.
- The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor excels as the best dogfighter with superior maneuverability in combat.
- The F-35 Lightning II is the most versatile fighter jet, effectively handling various missions.
The fighter jet fleet of the United States Air Force is undeniably one of the most dynamic on the globe, with an impressive inventory and unique jets prepared to serve every purpose. From the latest stealth fighters like the F-22 Raptor to the decades-old reliable all-purpose fighters like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-15 Eagle, everyone brings something to the table.
Determining the most effective aircraft can be difficult, as it varies heavily with each jet's design, purpose, and mission capabilities. The best fighter jet in a dogfight may not be the best air superiority fighter. When ground-attack operations are considered, it could be a new plane altogether.
Nonetheless, a few fighters stand out from all the rest and excel in specific categories, setting them apart from others in the fleet. This article will take a deeper look at the best fighter jets in the United States Air Force.
The fastest in the skies
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is undeniably the fastest United States Air Force aircraft. This asset can push it above and beyond most others in the fleet regarding combat capabilities. According to Air and Space Forces Magazine, the impressive aircraft can reach a top speed of Mach 2.5, pushing far beyond other fighter jets like the F-22 Raptor, which only hits a maximum velocity of Mach 2.2.
The aircraft stands out as the third-fastest fighter aircraft ever built worldwide, lagging behind only the experimental YF-12 interceptor variant of the SR-71 Blackbird high-altitude program and the Soviet Union's MiG-25 and MiG-31 supersonic fighters. While the MiG-25 only remains active in a few countries like Libya and Syria, the MiG-31 is still a crucial part of the Russian Aerospace forces and remains active today.
Badass Fighter Jet: What's So Cool About The F-15?
The type will remain in service with the USAF into the 2030s.The F-15 is heavily armed and incredibly capable, making it an excellent combat fighter that has lasted for decades. The aircraft's impressive specifications can be seen in the table below:
|
Category: |
F-15 Specification |
|---|---|
|
Maximum range: |
3,500 miles (with external fuel tanks) |
|
Powerplant: |
2 Pratt & Whitney F-100 afterburning turbofan engines |
|
Service ceiling: |
65,000 feet (20,000 meters) |
|
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): |
68,000 lbs (30,000 kg) |
Furthermore, the F-15 Eagle is undeniably here to stay and will continue to fly for the Air Force for decades. The F-15EX, the latest aircraft variant, continues to roll off of manufacturer Boeing's assembly lines and offers an impressive armament and further-improved operational capabilities.
The best dogfighter
When one thinks of a fighter jet in a classical sense, one tends to picture a single combat between two aircraft in which one pilot wins and the other loses. While this was undeniably the case back in the First and Second World Wars, this is not entirely the case today, as fighters serve an impressive array of purposes.
Why Was The F-22 Fighter Jet Program Cancelled?
A look at why the USAF scrapped the program after just 186 jets.Nonetheless, there is something to be said about which US fighter jet remains the best dogfighter today, as one-on-one duels between fighters are still common today. No jet in this category compares to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.
According to the National Interest, the F-22 distinguishes itself by impressive maneuverability and battlefield capabilities, allowing it to move and engage with its targets far more effectively than any other fighter. While the F-35, the nation's newest all-purpose fighter jet, was designed to serve many different roles, the F-22 Raptor was designed with a single focus in mind: to be the best air superiority fighter ever to enter the skies.
The aircraft also offers next-generation stealth technology, keeping it invisible to enemy radars and offering the jet first-kill opportunities. The plane is equipped with 6 AIM-120C/D air-to-air missiles alongside a pair of AIM-9M/X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, which can be precisely targeted and launched by the F-22's suite of advanced avionics and mission systems to make the aircraft an unquestionable killing machine.
The most versatile
The latest fighter jet to join the United States Air Force is the newest clean sheet design from manufacturer Lockheed Martin and was able to serve the needs of three different branches of the United States armed forces. Impressive in design, the F-35 Lightning II stands out not because of an individual asset it has, but rather due to its ability to perform almost any task with extreme effectiveness.
The aircraft is the most technologically advanced fighter ever to enter service with the force and can handle even the most challenging missions. According to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is prepared to handle next-generation threats, with integrated technology allowing the jets to communicate to hunt down and target enemy jets simultaneously.
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The plane boasts the most effective stealth technology to enter service with a fighter jet, keeping the aircraft invisible to enemy radar and allowing for unchallenged first-strike capabilities. With over 1,000 aircraft built and planes still rolling off of Lockheed Martin's assembly lines, the F-35 will remain the backbone of the US Air Force's fighter fleet for decades.
The bottom line
Identifying any specific fighter to be the best in the Air Force's inventory can be challenging, as almost all are optimized for a slightly different purpose. As a result, it is unsurprising that the organization keeps dozens of each type of fighter on hand should the need arise.