The most modern combat aircraft in the world. The best combat aircraft
More than a hundred years ago, humanity discovered the third dimension - the Wright brothers' plane took to the skies. Very little time passed, and the ocean of air turned into another battlefield - combat aviation became a significant factor seriously influencing the outcome of ground operations.
For the first time, combat aircraft began to be used en masse during the First World War. At first, military aircraft were unarmed; they were mainly used for aerial reconnaissance and bombing (if this term can be used to describe manually dropping various explosive objects on the enemy’s heads). The very idea of air combat seemed absurd and impossible to many. However, machine guns were soon installed on airplanes, fighter planes appeared, and fierce battles unfolded in the skies.
During the period between the two world conflicts, military aviation developed rapidly - combat aircraft became faster, more powerful, and more deadly.
9. “Ilya Muromets”
In ninth place in the top 10 is the legendary multi-engine aircraft created in Russia on the eve of the First World War. After its start, Ilya Muromets became the world's first heavy bomber. This aircraft set several records for flight range and payload. “Ilya Muromets” became the first successful project of the brilliant Kiev resident Igor Sikorsky.
A total of 76 units of this aircraft of various modifications were built. After the outbreak of World War I, a special squadron was created, consisting of Ilya Muromets heavy bombers. The latest modifications of this aircraft could carry about 1,500 kg of bombs - unheard of power for that time. In addition to bombs, defensive weapons were also installed on the Ilya Muromets - from two to six machine guns.
The remaining countries participating in the First World War quickly appreciated Russia's successful experience - soon heavy multi-engine bombers appeared in service with France, Germany, and Great Britain.
Igor Sikorsky did not accept the revolution and emigrated from Russia to the USA.
8. Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka".
In eighth place in the top 10 is the single-engine German dive bomber Ju-87, one of the most famous combat aircraft of the Second World War. It became a symbol of the German Blitzkrieg in Western Europe and on the Eastern Front.
This aircraft had a non-retractable landing gear (Soviet soldiers called it “laptezhnik”), which significantly worsened its aerodynamics and reduced its speed, but the Ju 87 had no equal in bombing accuracy. Several innovative ideas were used in the design of the Stuka (air brakes, siren), thanks to which the aircraft became so effective. However, after the loss of air supremacy by German aviation, the Yu-87 became an easy target for enemy fighters.
7. IL-2
In seventh place in the top 10 is another legendary combat vehicle from the Second World War - the Soviet attack aircraft Il-2. Luftwaffe fighter pilots called this attack aircraft the “concrete plane,” and the German infantry called it the “Black Death” or “plague.”
Serial production of the Il-2 began on the very eve of the Great Patriotic War, at the beginning of 1941. In total, Soviet industry produced more than 36 thousand units of this machine.
The IL-2 had several innovative solutions in its design, the main one of which was the inclusion of armor directly in the power circuit of the aircraft. Before this, armor was also used to enhance the protection of aircraft, but it was simply hung on top of the hull, which significantly made the structure heavier.
Despite the high security of the aircraft, the losses of these aircraft in the first months of the war were very significant. There is information that the pilots were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for ten successful combat missions on the Il-2 (according to another version, for thirty).
6. Hawker Siddeley Harrier
In sixth place in the top 10 is the British vertical take-off and landing aircraft Hawker Siddeley Harrier. This vehicle first took to the skies in 1966 and gave rise to a whole family of combat vehicles that are still in service with the US Navy and several other countries around the world.
In the 60s, the idea of creating an aircraft that could take off and land without a run-up (VTOL) was very popular. However, developing and manufacturing such a machine turned out to be very difficult. The British turned out to be the most successful; their aircraft could not only operate without a runway, but also effectively perform the functions of a combat aircraft. Hawkers took part in the Falkland Islands War and performed at their best. The main reason for the British success was the excellent Rolls-Royce engine.
The USSR also built VTOL aircraft, but the Soviet Yak-38 turned out to be an unsuccessful machine.
5. MiG-15
This fighter is one of the most famous Soviet aircraft in the West. It was created in the late 40s, had a large number of modifications, and was produced under Soviet license in several countries around the world. The MiG-15 first appeared in the skies of Korea and created a real sensation in the West. Until this point, Soviet technology had been considered backward and outdated, but this fighter jet became a cold shower for Western strategists.
The Americans were preparing an armada of strategic bombers to launch nuclear strikes on the territory of the USSR, but familiarity with the MiG-15 made it clear that the chances of breaking through the screen of Soviet fighters were minimal.
The main opponent of the MiG-15 in the Korean skies was the American F-86 Saber fighter, however, according to most experts, the Soviet aircraft was superior to its opponent.
4. B-17 “Flying Fortress”
In fourth place in the top 10 is another World War II aircraft – the American B-17 strategic bomber. It was developed in 1934 and almost immediately became a legend. It was the first American production all-metal strategic bomber.
He carried out bombing attacks on German cities and took part in combat operations in the Pacific Ocean. Four engines provided the B-17 with a speed of over 500 km/h and a service ceiling of over 10 km, and nine (later twelve) 12.7 mm machine guns made this bomber a very difficult opponent for any fighter.
In addition, the B-17 was distinguished by fantastic reliability. There are documented cases where a plane returned to base with one engine running, with huge holes in the fuselage or with virtually no tail.
3. Su-27
2. F-15 Eagle
In second place is the main potential opponent of the Su-27 - the American F-15 Eagle air superiority aircraft. This machine also belongs to the fourth generation of fighters, but it took off about ten years before the Su-27. This aircraft is still in service with the US Air Force, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Japan. Having participated in several armed conflicts, the Eagle has more than a hundred confirmed victories in aerial combat without a single loss - this is a real killer. The F-15 Eagle fought in the skies of Yugoslavia, Syria and Iraq. According to statements by the military of these countries, the Americans lost more than ten F-15 units. However, the problem is that no one has ever been able to provide the F-15 Eagle wreckage as evidence.
Several modifications have been developed on the basis of this fighter; the F-15E Stike Eagle is considered the most advanced.
It should be noted that the F-22 Raptor, part of the US Air Force, is superior to other fighters not only in its performance, but also in price: the cost of one vehicle is more than $146 million. Currently, only Americans can afford such expenses. Fifth generation fighters are being developed in both China and Russia. The projects are still at the testing stage.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
The most important evaluation criterion is combat experience. All fighters presented, except for the 10th place (but for a good reason), participated in combat operations. Secondly, all cars, without exception, have some kind of clear advantage; most have outstanding performance characteristics.
10th place – F-22 “Raptor”
The only 5th generation fighter in the world, built according to the concept of “first to see, first to shoot, first to hit the target.” The supersonic stealth vehicle, equipped with the latest technology, has become the subject of heated debate about its price, capabilities and relevance. Literally from the words of the American program: “Why spend 66 billion dollars on the F-22 program if deep modernization of the F-15 and F-16 can give a comparable effect? Because technology must develop, progress cannot be stopped..."
The lack of real combat experience negatively affects the Raptor's assessment. The most modern fighter takes only 10th place.
9th place - Messerschmitt Me.262 “Schwalbe”
The world's first jet combat aircraft. 900 km/h. It was a breakthrough. It was used as a fighter-interceptor, blitz-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.
The airborne complex included 4 30 mm cannons with 100 shells per barrel and 24 unguided missiles, which made it possible to riddled a 4-engine bomber in one go.
Having received the captured Swallows, the Allies were impressed by their technical excellence and manufacturability. What did crystal clear radio communication cost?
Before the end of the war, the Germans managed to release 1,900 Swallows, of which only three hundred were able to take to the skies.
8th place – MiG-25
Soviet supersonic high-altitude interceptor that set 29 world records. In this role, the MiG-25 had no competitors, but its combat capabilities remained unclaimed. The only victory was achieved on January 17, 1991, when an Iraqi MiG shot down a US Navy F/A-18C Hornet carrier-based fighter.
His service as a scout turned out to be much more productive. During combat service in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone, MiG-25Rs opened the entire fortification system of the Bar-Lev line. The flights took place at maximum speed and altitude of 17-23 km, which was the only means of protecting an unarmed reconnaissance officer. In this mode, the engines burned half a ton of fuel every minute, the plane became lighter and gradually accelerated to 2.8 M. The MiG's skin heated up to 300 °C; according to the pilots, even the cockpit canopy became so hot that it was impossible to touch it. Unlike the titanium SR-71 "Black Bird", the thermal barrier became a problem for the MiG-25. The permitted flight time at a speed of more than 2.5 Mach was limited to 8 minutes, which, however, was enough to cross Israeli territory.
Another remarkable feature of the MiG-25R was its potential ability to “catch” 2 tons of bombs in flight. This especially tickled the nerves of the Israeli military: an indestructible reconnaissance aircraft was still tolerable, but an indestructible bomber was really scary.
7th place - British Aerospace Sea Harrier
The first vertical take-off and landing aircraft (the land version of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier appeared back in 1967). Having gone through a series of modernizations, it still remains in service with the US Marine Corps under the name McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier II. The clumsy-looking aircraft is very photogenic in flight - the sight of a combat vehicle hovering in one place will not leave anyone indifferent.
The main secret of British designers was the method of creating lifting traction. Unlike their Soviet counterparts from the Yakovlev Design Bureau, which used a design with 3 independent jet engines, the Harrier uses a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus power unit with deflectable thrust vectoring. This made it possible to increase the aircraft's combat load to 5,000 pounds (about 2.3 tons).
During the Falklands War, the Royal Navy's Harriers operated at a distance of 12,000 km from home and achieved excellent results: they shot down 23 Argentine aircraft, without a single loss in air combat. Quite good for a subsonic aircraft. In total, 20 Harriers took part in the hostilities, of which 6 were shot down while attacking ground targets.
According to all experts, without the support of carrier-based aircraft, the Royal Navy would not have been able to defend the Falklands.
6th place – Mitsubishi A6M
The legendary deck Zero-sen. A mystery plane from Mitsubishi engineers, which combined the incongruous. Excellent maneuverability, powerful weapons and a record flight range - 2600 km (!) with a curb weight of 2.5 tons.
“Zero” was the embodiment of the samurai spirit, with its entire design demonstrating contempt for death. The Japanese fighter was completely stripped of armor and protected fuel tanks; the entire payload reserve was spent on fuel and ammunition.
For a whole year, aircraft of this type dominated the skies over the Pacific Ocean, ensuring the victorious offensive of the Imperial Navy. Towards the end of World War II, the Zero played a grim role, becoming one of the main weapons of kamikaze pilots.
5th place – F-16 “Fighting Falcon”
The F-16 review is written in the form of a comparison with the MiG-29, I hope this will help answer many questions for readers.
The rule of fighter aviation is that whoever spots his enemy first has the advantage. Therefore, optical visibility in air combat is of great importance. Here the “American” has an advantage. The frontal projection of the F-16 almost matches the MiG-21, which American pilots said was almost impossible to visually notice at a distance of 3 kilometers. Visibility from the F-16's cockpit is also better, thanks to the canopy. For the MiG-29, the disadvantage is that the RD-33 engine creates a dense plume of smoke in some flight modes.
In close maneuver combat, thanks to the integral layout and the presence of 2 engines, the MiG has outstanding flight characteristics. The F-16 lags somewhat behind. The MiG-29's turn speed reaches, according to Russian data, 22.8 °/s, while the F-16's turns at 21.5 °/s. The MiG climbs at a speed of 334 m/s, the rate of climb of the F-16 is 294 m/s. The difference is not that big and good pilots can level it out.
The front-line fighter's armament must include both air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon categories. The F-16 has the largest range of weapons at its disposal and is capable of using guided and unguided bombs and anti-radar missiles. Electronics housed in an additional container make targeted use of weapons possible. The MiG-29, on the contrary, is forced to limit itself to unguided bombs and NURS. In terms of carrying capacity, there is a net loss: for the MiG-29 this figure is 2200 kg, for the F-16 - up to 7.5 tons.
Such a huge difference can be explained simply: the MiG-29’s payload reserve “ate” the second engine. According to many experts, the MiG has a largely flawed layout; 2 engines for a front-line fighter is too much. General Designer of the MiG Design Bureau Rostislav Belyakov said it best on this occasion at Farnborough-88: “If we had such a reliable and high-torque engine as Pratt & Whitney, we would without a doubt design a single-engine aircraft.” The range of the MiG-29 also suffered from such ups and downs: the MiG-29’s range does not exceed 2000 km with a PTB. The F-16’s flight range with a PTB and 2 2,000-pound bombs can reach 3,000-3,500 km.
Both fighters are equally armed with medium-range air-to-air missiles. For example, the Russian R-77 has impressive declared performance characteristics, while the American AIM-120 has repeatedly confirmed its rather modest characteristics in combat. Pure parity. But the MiG-29 has a longer firing range from an air cannon and a larger caliber. The six-barreled Vulcan F-16, on the contrary, has more ammunition (511 rounds versus 150 for the MiG).
The most important element is avionics. Radars are difficult to evaluate because manufacturers hide the exact characteristics. But according to some statements by pilots, it can be determined that the MiG-29 radar has the largest viewing angle - 140 degrees. The APG-66 radar for the F-16A and, accordingly, the APG-68 for the F-16C have viewing angles of no more than 120 degrees. A significant advantage of the MiG-29 aircraft is that the pilot has a helmet with a “Schel-ZUM” sight, which gives decisive superiority in close air combat. But the F-16 again has its own important advantage - the flight control system (Fly-by-Wire) and the HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) engine control system, which makes the aircraft extremely easy to fly. With just the press of a single switch, the Falcon is ready for battle. In contrast, the MiG-29 is manually tuned, which takes much longer to get into combat.
MiG Design Bureau and General Dynamics demonstrated completely different approaches to solving the same problem. Both aircraft implement interesting design solutions and, in general, the verdict is this: the F-16 is a multirole fighter, while the MiG is a pure air fighter, focused primarily on close maneuver combat. Here he has no equal.
Why did the Falcon win, and the MiG-29 not even enter the “Top 10” rating? And again, the answer will be the results of the combat use of these machines. The F-16 fought in the skies of Palestine and went through the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. A separate page of Falcon was the raid on the Iraqi nuclear center "Ozirak" in 1981. Having covered 2800 km, the F-16s of the Israeli Air Force secretly penetrated into Iraqi airspace, destroyed the reactor complex and returned to the Etzion airbase without losses. Total number of aircraft F-16 victories under the control of pilots from NATO countries, Israel, Pakistan and Venezuela amount to about 50 aircraft. There is no data on the defeat of F-16s in air combat, although one aircraft of this type was shot down by air defense missiles in Yugoslavia.
4th place – MiG-15
A single-seat jet fighter, the name of which became a household name in the West for all Soviet fighters. Entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1949. The plane that prevented World War III.
Literally from the words of the Military Channel: “In Western society, there is an opinion that Soviet technology is something bulky, heavy and outdated. There was nothing like this in the MiG-15. A fast and maneuverable fighter with clean lines and an elegant shape...” Its appearance in the skies of Korea caused a furor in the Western press and a headache for the US Air Force command. All plans to launch a nuclear strike on the territory of the USSR collapsed; from now on, the B-29 strategic bombers did not have a single chance to break through the screen of MiG jets.
And one more important point - the MiG-15 became the most popular jet aircraft in history. It was in service with the air forces of 40 countries.
3rd place - Messerschmitt Bf.109
Favorite fighter of the Luftwaffe aces. Four famous modifications: E (“Emil”) – the hero of the Battle of England, F (“Friedrich”) – it was these fighters that “broke the silence at dawn” on June 22, 1941, G (“Gustav”) – the hero of the Eastern Front, the most successful modification, K ("Elector") - an overpowered fighter, an attempt to squeeze out all the remaining reserves from the vehicle.
104 German pilots who fought on Messerschmitt were able to bring their tally to 100 or more downed vehicles.
A sinister, fast and powerful aircraft. A real fighter.
2nd place - MiG-21 vs F-4 “Phantom II”
Two different views on the appearance of a 2nd generation jet fighter. An 8-ton light front-line fighter and a 20-ton universal fighter-bomber, which became the basis of the fighter fleet of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
Two irreconcilable opponents. Hot battles in the skies of Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, India and Pakistan. Hundreds of downed cars on both sides. A vivid battle story. They are still in service with the air forces of many countries.
Soviet designers relied on maneuverability. The Americans are looking for missiles and radio-electronic equipment. Both views turned out to be wrong: after the first air battles, it became clear that the Phantom had given up its guns in vain. And the creators of the MiG realized that 2 air-to-air missiles were unacceptably few.
1st place – F-15 “Eagle”
Murderer. 104 confirmed aerial victories without a single loss. None of the modern aircraft can boast of this indicator. The F-15 was created specifically as an air superiority aircraft and for 10 years, before the advent of the Su-27, it was completely out of competition.
The first time the F-15 went into battle was on June 27, 1979, when Israeli “Needles” shot down 5 Syrian MiG-21s in close maneuver combat. Over more than 30 years of combat service, F-15 trophies included MiG-21, MiG-23, Mirage F1, Su-22 and MiG-29 (4 in Yugoslavia, 5 in Iraq). No less impressive were the achievements of the Eagles in Asia, for example, during the “Team Spirit-82” exercise, 24 F-15 fighters based on the island of Okinawa carried out 418 “combat” sorties in 9 days, of which 233 were for three days. At the same time, the level of combat readiness of all aircraft was almost continuously 100%.
The high flight characteristics of the F-15, its ability to operate autonomously in conditions of the enemy’s use of electronic warfare, day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions, at high and low altitudes, made it possible to create the F-15E “Stike Eagle” attack aircraft based on its design. 340 cars were produced). By 2015, the troops will receive a “stealth” version of the fighter-bomber based on the F-15 - the F-15SE “Silent Eagle”.
The combat use of the F-15 is the cause of much controversy. Particularly questionable is the fact that not a single Eagle was lost in battle. According to statements by Syrian and Yugoslav pilots, at least ten F-15s were shot down over Lebanon, Serbia and Syria. But it is not possible to confirm their words, because... No one on either side was able to demonstrate the wreckage. One thing is certain: the participation of F-15s in hostilities largely determined the course of many military operations (for example, the Lebanon War of 1982).
The F-15 Eagle is the most formidable and effective combat vehicle, and therefore deservedly takes 1st place.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, many of the outstanding designs remained outside the “Top 10” ranking. The hero of all air shows, the Su-27 is the best peacetime aircraft, the flight qualities of which allow it to perform the most complex aerobatics, but was not included in the rating. The Supermarine Spitfire, which is simply a good aircraft in all respects, was also not included in the rating. Too many successful designs have been created and it was very difficult to choose the best ones.
People have long conquered the air. Now the military strength of states is measured not only by weapons, but also by the supply of fighters. Fast civil aviation aircraft can take you to the other side of the Earth in a matter of hours. Some can even afford to buy such a vehicle and surf the skies. Aviation has always attracted a wide variety of people. Some people love to fly, while others love to create ever more advanced machines for this.
It is not surprising that there are all kinds of ratings. After all, various transport ships differ from each other, some even in such a developed age evoke admiration and respect. The best aircraft in the world can be classified according to different parameters. But the common denominator still exists here, that is, they are unique in their industry.
For an airplane, the cabin is not as important as its speed. After all, you can make any sofas and windows inside; the question of how to lift it all into the air is much more serious. The larger the plane, the more powerful it should be, and therefore the slower it should move. But not always. You can give the following ranking of the fastest aircraft:
- X-43A. Perhaps this is the best aircraft in the world, if the main characteristic is speed. The only downside is that the model is still experimental, although it is supersonic. This unit reaches 11 thousand km per hour.
- X-15. And this is already the best military aircraft in the world, on which rocket engines were first installed. No comments needed – 7 thousand kilometers per hour.
- Black Bird. American military plane. Reaches 3500 km/h, can dodge missiles, and is considered very maneuverable.
- XB-70. In the USA it is also called Valkyrie. This is the real pride of the country, its symbol. Despite the fact that the speed here is lower than that of previous models (3100 km/h), this bomber is maneuverable, comfortable and looks simply gorgeous.
- MIG-25. Soviet planes are not inferior to Western ones, and in speed too. This unit is rightfully considered a masterpiece of engineering. Classification: fighter-interceptor. It reaches a speed of about 3000 km/h.
- The MIG-31 has a slightly slower speed, but has an amazing range. He is also not afraid of difficult weather conditions.
- TU-144. Civil aviation cannot be ignored either. After all, this plane is supersonic, but at the same time it is distinguished by comfort and a large number of seats. Speed – up to 2500 km/h.
- Concodor. A civil aviation aircraft, which, due to its design (resembles an elongated arrow), develops supersonic speed. Over the entire period, only 6 copies were produced.
Of course, there are still many fast aircraft in civil aviation, but few of them reach supersonic speed.
Beautiful civil aviation aircraft
Among the planes that people fly every day, there are also celebrities. Some of them differ in size, others in characteristics, and others in convenience. The following list can be given:
- "Ruslan". This heavy and spacious aircraft is designed for long-distance flights;
- AN-22 is the world's largest turbine-propeller aircraft;
- The Airbus A340 is the world's longest four-engine aircraft;
- The An-225 is the largest unit in the world; it lifts a mass of 640 tons into the air.
About the last point we can also say that it is inactive, has 4 motors and the largest wingspan in the world.
The coolest planes in the world
The title of cool units is taken by the most expensive, luxurious and comfortable models. At all times, they are used by presidents, stars, and politicians. Such vehicles are prohibitively expensive, sometimes costing millions of dollars. The following list can be given:
- Falcon 900 Ex. This model costs about 35 million, and the President of Ghana flies on it. The advantage of the vehicle is that it is equipped with hidden fuel tanks and can fly over distances of about 8,000 kilometers. Powerful engines, advanced electronics, speed of about 1000 km/h;
- IL-96-300 - aircraft of the President of the Russian Federation. It has four turbo engines, security systems, various radars and electronics. The engineers tried to install all the most modern equipment on board. The special model exists in 1 copy. Although there may be more than 250 people on board, usually only the head of state flies there;
- The Airbus A319 belongs to the President of Brazil. On board is a real mini-palace with luxurious seating and entertainment. At the same time, the vehicle consumes fuel very economically and emits a minimum of waste into the air;
- Doomsday plane. This is what they call a special unit (there are 4 of them in the world) for the US President. This is, perhaps, also the most mysterious aircraft in the world, because nothing is known about its characteristics and interior decoration. Now all that is clear is that it can remain intact during a terrorist attack, nuclear explosion or collision with an asteroid.
Doomsday plane
There are enough people in the world to make ratings of the very best. Usually this is TOP 5 or TOP 10. Military equipment is also popular in these ratings. Of course, it is difficult to talk about their objectivity. After all, all these tanks, planes and ships have most often never been seen in combat conditions, and therefore they are compared based on performance characteristics taken from open sources. In addition, patriotic feelings are superimposed, due to which the compilers of ratings give preference to native cars. Nevertheless, it can be interesting to look at these TOPs.
Today we have the British version of the top five fighters in the world. The comparison was carried out according to the following parameters: speed and maneuverability, level of stealth, weapons system installed on board, cost of production and maintenance. Let's fly!
5. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet - American carrier-based fighter-bomber and attack aircraft
The author of the rating claims that this American fighter is ignored by many analysts, but in vain. "Super Hornets" serve in the navies of the United States and Australia. The USA has about five hundred of them, and Australia has 24 pieces. The Super Hornet has excellent cruising speed and thrust vectoring, but it is not as maneuverable as the Su-35 and F-22. After the planned upgrades, we can expect this aircraft to remain in service until the 2040s or even the 2050s. The US Navy is very fond of this aircraft and is constantly modernizing it, not wanting to exchange it for something else.
- Maximum speed - 1900 km/h at an altitude of 12190 meters;
- Flight range - 2346 km;
- Combat radius - 722 km;
- The practical ceiling is 15 km.
4. Lockheed The Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American fifth-generation stealth fighter-bomber.
wikipedia
In fourth place is again a product of the American aviation industry. The fifth-generation fighter with stealth technology got off to a very bad start. News constantly appeared about technical problems, due to which it was necessary to cancel its deliveries and postpone the start of mass production. The cost of the project has long exceeded the planned value. However, the F-35 is struggling, but making its way.
The F-35 is available in three variants: a land-based fighter for the US Air Force, a short take-off and vertical landing fighter for the US Marine Corps and Royal Navy, and a carrier-based fighter for the US Navy.
- Maximum speed - 1950 km/h;
- Combat radius - 1150 km;
- Maximum flight range without.
3. Su-35 - Russian multi-role super-maneuverable fighter with thrust vector control engines
wikipedia
Even the British ranked our Su-35 aircraft higher than the vaunted F-35. The Su-35 is the result of the deepest modernization of the Su-27. This aircraft can carry a record eight tons of payload in the form of weapons and ammunition. In terms of maneuverability, the Su-35 is not inferior to the F-22, but is capable of performing unique aerobatics that no other aircraft can perform. About 60 of these aircraft are already in service. It is planned to release 70 more pieces.
- Maximum speed - 2390 km/h;
- Combat radius - 3600 km;
- The practical ceiling is 18 km.
2. Eurofighter Typhoon - fourth generation European multi-role fighter
wikipedia
Well, here we see an example of subjectivity. Since Great Britain took part in the development of the European fighter, the author of the rating placed the Eurofighter above the Su-35. Although the Eurofighter looks quite ordinary in appearance, inside it is stuffed with the most sensitive sensors and innovative technologies. Initially, this aircraft was conceived as a pure fighter, but modernizations have significantly expanded its capabilities. The latest modification, called Tranche, has significantly expanded the capabilities of hitting ground targets, i.e. the aircraft is capable of performing the functions of an attack aircraft.
- Maximum speed - 2495 km/h;
- Combat radius - 1390 km;
1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor - American fifth-generation multi-role fighter
wikipedia
In first place, the British put, oddly enough, the American Raptor, which had so many problems that it was discontinued. In addition, this is the most expensive fighter: in 2006 it cost the same as gold of equal weight. Due to the presence of the latest developments on board, the US Congress banned the export of the F-22. A special feature of this aircraft is its sensitive long-range radars, which allows the Raptor to hit targets without coming into direct contact with the enemy.
In principle, this aircraft can be not only a fighter, but also an attack aircraft, but then it loses the advantage of “invisibility”. In fact, it does not need this feature, which only increases the cost of production. The Raptor has excellent maneuverability, but this is of little use, since pilots are expressly prohibited from performing certain maneuvers in order to avoid loss of consciousness. Therefore, only the most experienced pilots are allowed to fly the F-22. A total of 187 of these vehicles are in service with the US Air Force.
- Maximum speed - 2410 km/h;
- Combat radius - 759 km;
- Service ceiling - 19.8 km.
Let's remember that all these ratings are quite subjective. How can, for example, put in first place a discontinued aircraft that has not proven itself in any way? Or why is a European aircraft, which was already outdated by the time of its introduction, ranked higher than the Su-35? The questions, as they say, are rhetorical. We will be glad that our designers are able to create a car that is not only not inferior to foreigners, but also surpasses them in many respects.