10 Of The Most Advanced Fighter Jets Currently Flying In 2024

If you want to determine which is the best fighter jet in the world, you could look at raw performance numbers like top speed or maximum ordnance load, or look at how successful it has been in combat. You could look at how many have been exported to countries around the world, or even the sheer number of aircraft built since its introduction.

However, all of those have limitations. After all, fighters very rarely engage in direct combat with other aircraft and many fighters can't be exported out of the country of origin due to security concerns. A good way of deciding just how impressive a fighter actually is involves looking at the aircraft's overall capabilities. This takes into account all of the technology, equipment, weapons, and avionics of a fighter to get a more complete view of how well it can perform and what it is capable of.

When looking at the most advanced fighters currently in operation, these are the aircraft that stand out as the best of the best.

While the United States Air Force opted for the F-16 Fighting Force, the U.S. Navy felt that a twin-jet fighter would be more appropriate for launching from aircraft carriers. That led to the development of a completely new fighter in the form of the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Development began on the fighter as far back as the late 1980s, with testing starting in the early 1990s and continuing until it entered into service in 1999. Based on the earlier McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, which served during the Cold War, it serves as both a fighter and an attack aircraft — as noted by its F/A designation.

Along with its agility, the F/A-18 Super Hornet can serve this dual role largely thanks to the fact it has such a powerful array of weaponry it can call upon. In addition to a standard Vulcan 20mm cannon, the Super Hornet can be armed with everything from AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to Paveway laser guided bombs. This allows it to engage a variety of different targets in a range of environments and conditions.

Although it isn't the fastest fighter, the Super Hornet can still reach a top speed of Mach 1.8 and a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet. The aircraft is also equipped with a touchscreen control, a digital fly-by-wire system, and a flight-control system that automatically detects any damage and adjusts to ensure the fighter stays in the air.

France was not part of the Eurofighter Typhoon project and instead embarked on its own fourth-generation fighter program. The result was the Dassault Rafale, a multirole fighter that is now operated by France, Egypt, Croatia, Greece, and India. Dubbed a 4.5-generation fighter, the Dassault Aviation aircraft can take on multiple duties, ranging from air superiority to surveillance and reconnaissance. Like many similar fighters, it is also capable of carrying out ground strikes and even has the ability to act as a nuclear deterrent as it can carry a number of nuclear armaments.

What you need to know about the Dassault Rafale is that it is intended to act as a bridge between the fourth and fifth-generation of fighters, able to be upgraded with new systems and match some of the capabilities of fighters such as the American F-35 and Chinese J-20. The aircraft comes in a twin-jet delta wing configuration, which gives it a distinctive appearance and ensures it can operate from land or sea.

One of the strengths of the Dassault Rafale is its agility and acrobatic abilities. The jet features front canards that are placed in the perfect position to perform extreme aerial maneuvers. Combine that with its top speed of Mach 1.8, a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, and avionics that include advanced radar and 3D map generation, and the Dassault Rafale is not to be underestimated.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a fourth-generation fighter with a distinctive delta wing design that operates as a multirole aircraft, capable of carrying out missions such as bombing ground targets, providing surveillance, and establishing air superiority. A joint project between several European nations — including the U.K, Italy, Spain, and Germany — the Eurofighter Typhoon began development during the 1980s and made its maiden flight in 1994. Less than 10 years later, the fighter was introduced to the air forces of the European countries that built it.

Although it faced multiple delays due to problems with flight systems and the onboard computers, the Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the best fighters ever built. It has a maximum speed of Mach 2.35 (equivalent to 1,320 mph) and an operating range of 1,800 miles — significantly longer than the F-22 Raptor, albeit at a slower speed. The fighter can also carry a variety of missiles, ranging from air-to-air to anti-ship weapons, in addition to laser-guided bombs.

In terms of avionics, the aircraft features an active electronically scanned array known as the European Common Radar System developed especially for the fighter along with the Passive Infra-Red Airborne Tracking Equipment and Praetorian DASS, which helps detect incoming threats and deploy countermeasures automatically. The jet's unique shape also means it can turn in the air at a higher rate, making it an effective dogfighter.

The Chengdu J-20 is China's answer to the fifth-generation fighters of the United States and Russia. Nicknamed the Mighty Dragon, the Chengdu J-20 is a multirole fighter that leans more toward stealth and air superiority. In that sense, it is more of a rival to the F-22 Raptor than the F-35 Lightning II, although it certainly doesn't have the same capabilities as the U.S. aircraft.

The Chengdu J-20 made its very first flight way back in 2011 and then went on to enter active service with China's air force in 2017. In the seven years it has been in production, more than 200 units have been built and delivered, making it the second most common fifth-generation fighter in the world after only the F-35. The aircraft shares many similarities with the F-22 — largely due to the fact that China was able to steal plans for the fighter — and has some of the same technologies and stealth elements. This includes an array of radar absorbent materials to help stop electronic detection and sensors intended to confuse trackers.

However, it is the speed of the Chengdu J-20 that really makes it stand out as one of the most advanced fighters. It can reach a top speed of Mach 2.55 (or 1,650 mph) after engaging its afterburners, although the aircraft is limited to only being able to travel at that speed for a short amount of time. However, that is still enough to make it one of the fastest fighters ever.

Despite being relatively old — especially when it comes to fifth generation fighters — the F-22 Raptor remains one of the most advanced jets ever created. Officially designated the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, it made its first flight almost three decades ago. Development of the aircraft can be traced back to the 1980s, with Lockheed Martin and Boeing eventually winning the contract. The project to replace the F-15 led to what is now widely regarded as the pinnacle of jet fighters.

A quick look at the F-22 Raptor reveals it has a lot of strengths. As an air superiority fighter, it is intended to take control of the skies and prevent any other aircraft from operating within its range. Unlike other more versatile fifth-generation fighters, the F-22 has a particular focus on stealth and maneuverability so it can dispatch enemy targets quickly and efficiently. Even without engaging its afterburners, it can cruise at a speed of Mach 1.5 and make sharp turns that other fighters are incapable of doing.

Combining a lightweight fiber composite body with a design and shape that makes it practically invisible to radar and electronic tracking systems, locking onto the F-22 is nearly impossible with current technology. That means it has a distinct advantage over any other aircraft in a dogfight. All of that comes at a price, though, and the F-22 is estimated to have cost the U.S. $350 million per unit to produce, leading to the government choosing to reduce its initial order from 750 to just 186.