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- North American X-15 (4,520 mph) Top Speed: 4,520 mph (Mach 6.70) Max range: 280 Miles (450 km, 240 nmi) The North American X-15 is a hypersonic rocket plane that was part of the US Air Force and NASA’s X-plane program.
- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (2,500 mph) click / tap to open full screen gallery. front high view from a tanker of a SR 71 Blackbird. credit: CC0.
- The Lockheed YF-12 (2,275 mph) click / tap to open full screen gallery. YF-12A. credit: U.S. Air Force. Lockheed YF-12.
- North American XB-70 Valkyrie (2,050 mph) click / tap to open full screen gallery. North American XB-70A Valkyrie in flight. credit: Insomnia Cured Here.
- MiG-25. Top speed: Mach 2.83 (3,000 km/h / 1,900 mph / 1,600 kn at 70,538 ft / 21,500 m) Designed in the late 1960s the MiG-25 was arguably the most feared fighter jet of the Cold War, and is responsible for the US scrambling to develop the F-15.
- MiG-31. Top speed: Mach 2.83 (3,000 km/h / 1,900 mph / 1,600 kn at 70,538 ft / 21,500 m) The MiG-31 was based on the legendary MiG-25 and was also intended to replace it.
- McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. Top speed: Mach 2.5 (2,655 km/h / 1,650 mph / 1,434 kn at 40,000 ft / 12,000 m) Probably one of the most well-known US-made aircraft, the F-15 is operated by the USAF, Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
- Sukhoi Su-27 family. Top speed: Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h / 1,600 mph / 1,300 kn at 36,000 ft / 11,000 m) The Su-27 was one of the most prolific late-Cold War jets, giving rise to an entire family of aircraft that includes the Su-30, the Su-34, the Su-35, the J-11, and J-16 among others.
- F-15E Strike Eagle – Mach 2.5 class. The F-15E Strike Eagle built by Boeing Defence, Space & Security is a multi-role strike fighter that forms the backbone of the US Air Force.
- Su-27SK – Mach 2.35. The Su-27SK multi-role fighter is an export variant of the Su-27 (Nato reporting name: Flanker) fighter developed by Sukhoi Design Bureau.
- Shenyang J-11 Fighter – Mach 2.35. Shenyang J-11 is the Chinese-built variant of the Russian Su-27SK multi-role fighter aircraft. The J-11s are in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
- MiG-23 Flogger – Mach 2.35. Flight speeds of up to Mach 2.35 make the MiG-23 (Nato code name: Flogger) one of the world’s fastest military aircraft. More than 5,000 aircraft were delivered to various export customers across the world.
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- 1 The YF-12
- 2 MiG-25 and MiG-31
- 3 The F-15 Eagle
- 4 Su-27 Flanker
- 5 Maverick and Iceman’s Old Ride
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Top Speed: 1,977 knots
There was a variant of the SR-71 Blackbird called the YF-12. This fighter retained the SR-71's J58 afterburning turbojets but also packed Hughes AIM-47 Falcon air-to-air missiles. The idea was to build YF-12s to replace F-106 Delta Dart homeland defense interceptors. However, the Vietnam War of the 1960s and intelligence showed that there was no need for a 2,070 mile per hour (3,330 km/h) interceptor; the YF-12 was kept in the prototype stage. Nonetheless, the type held an altitude record of...
Top Speed: 1,619 knots
The MiG 25 Foxbat is the world's second-fastest fighter jet. The same fighter jet built to intercept a US Mach 3 bomber kept at the prototype stage and the YF-12's successor, the SR-71 Blackbird. But for all the Soviets' best efforts, the MiG-25 Foxbat was not fast enough, at 1,864 mph or 3,000 km/h. Nonetheless, the MiG-25 had reconnaissance and, as you can see below, trainer variants: The Foxbat, though, did create a perception that, alongside Soviet surface-to-air missiles, brought an earl...
Top Speed: 1,615 knots
Yes, the US designed & built fighter jet intended to counter the MiG-25 Foxbat is the world's third-fastest fighter jet. The F-15 A/B/C/D air superiority Eagle eventually inspired the E Strike Eagle interdiction/multirole variant & spin-offs. Now, what's this about an A/B/C/D? The F-15 Eagle had a first-generation A/B, with the B being a two-seater. But by 1978, the aircraft was upgraded to a C/D – again, the D being the two-seater – that added more fuel and take-off weight capability. Additi...
Top Speed: 1,350 knots
The Soviet's response to the F-15 Eagle, the Su-27 Flanker, is the fourth-fastest fighter jet. Like the F-15 Eagle, the Flanker has inspired many variants, including two two-seater strike variants in the Su-30 & Su-34. Su-27 Flankers have also inspired a follow-on single-seat variant on the Su-35. But unlike the F-15, the Su-27 has also inspired People's Republic of China (PRC) variants built in the PRC. The Flanker was intended to intercept bandits like the MiG-25 & MiG-31 and engage in air...
Top Speed: 1,338 knots
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat concludes the list at 1,540 MPH or 2,480 km/h. The F-14 Tomcat was designed and built to be a high-speed naval interceptor to go after supersonic bombers and cruise missiles with the 100+ mile maximum range AIM-54 Phoenix, the follow-on to the AIM-47 Falcon. The F-14's radar, the AN/AWG-9, and subsequent APG-71 also improved the YF-12's AN/ASG 18 radar. Although the F-14 Tomcat only went through three upgrades – ending up in the D model – the aircraft, unlike the other...
Learn about the history and performance of the world's fastest fighter jets, from the YF-12 to the F-22. See photos, videos, and facts about each aircraft and its variants.
- Joe Kunzler
Mar 9, 2024 · Learn about the world's fastest military jets, from the experimental NASA X-43 to the supersonic SR-71 Blackbird. Find out their max speeds, designs, and histories in this comprehensive ranking.
- info@wrightexperience.com
Mar 8, 2024 · Learn about the seven fastest jets in aviation history, from the experimental X-43 that reached Mach 9.6 to the legendary SR-71 Blackbird that flew at Mach 3.30. Discover the challenges, achievements and controversies of these supersonic aircraft.
Aug 20, 2023 · Learn about the top 12 fastest fighter jets in the world, from the SR-71 to the MiG-25. Find out their speeds, altitudes, histories, and features.
