The best military fighter in the world. The best planes of the world and Russia. Fine civil aviation aircraft

Beginning with the Second World War, and possibly during the armed conflicts that preceded it, such as the wars in Spain and Abyssinia, the decisive role in the outcome of hostilities of aviation became obvious. Air supremacy determines success. Then there were Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, the Middle East, Iraq again and many other local clashes that confirmed the great importance of aircraft in combat. Without the ability to effectively resist the actions of enemy attack and bomber aircraft, there is no chance of victory. And this requires both air defense systems and aircraft of a special type, which have a number of special qualities, such as speed, maneuverability and low vulnerability.

Ideas about what the best fighter should be have changed over the years. The metamorphosis of this type of military equipment was influenced by both developing technologies and experience gained at the cost of great sacrifices.

Thirties-forties, the era of propeller fighters

In the sky of Spain, the I-16 performed well. As of 1936, it was perhaps the best fighter in the world. In its design, the engineers of the Polikarpov bureau used the latest technical solutions revolutionary for the time. It was the first production model with retractable landing gear, a powerful engine and weapons (including the possibility of installing unguided rockets). But the reign of "Chatos" ("Snub-nosed" - as the Republicans called him for the wide profile of the hood) did not last long. The German Messerschmitt-109 appeared in the sky, which underwent several modifications throughout the Second World War. Only some planes close in class and engine power could compete with him, including the English Spitfire and the American Mustang developed somewhat later.

However, with all the outstanding technical specifications, it is very difficult to find a comprehensive criterion in order to determine the best aircraft. A fighter, it turns out, can also be different, and you need to evaluate it in many ways.

Fifties, Korea

In the post-war period, with the appearance, the countdown of generations of fighters began. The first of them can be attributed to the initial developments of engineers around the world, created back in the mid-forties. For us it was the MiG-9, which, in terms of its parameters, was not far from the Messerschmitt-262. Already at the time, the Americans were shocked by an unpleasant surprise for them.

Swift, compact and highly maneuverable, the MiG-15 crushed the seemingly unshakable power of US strategic aviation. From this MiG originates the second generation. Then it was the best fighter in the world, and it took time to create a worthy rival for him, which became the Saber.

Sixties, Vietnam and the Middle East

Then there was In the sky, two lifelong rivals, the Phantom and the MiG-21, spun in "dog fights". These aircraft were very different, both in size, and in weight, and in the degree of armament. The American F-4 weighed twice as much as the Soviet interceptor, was less maneuverable, but had a number of advantages in long-range combat.

It is difficult to determine which was the best fighter in the Vietnamese skies, but the overall score was in favor of the MiG. It should also be taken into account that, in comparable prices, a Soviet aircraft cost much (many times) cheaper, moreover, in the event of an unfavorable outcome of the battle, the Americans lost two pilots, and not one. Both of these aircraft belonged to the third generation of aviation technology. Meanwhile, progress continued, more and more stringent requirements were imposed on the interceptors.

Fourth generation since the seventies

Since 1970, the development of the fighter aircraft industry has gone along new main lines. Avionics has become not just a tool to help the pilot in detecting enemies and solving navigation problems, it has taken on a number of control functions. Became extremely important degree of visibility aircraft for enemy radars. The parameters of the engines have changed, and the thrust vector has become variable, which forced us to radically reconsider the concept of maneuverability. Determining which is the best fighter belongs to the fourth generation is not so easy, opinions are divided on this matter. The American F-15 has its supporters, especially in the West, and they have their own arguments, the main of which remains the successful experience of the combat use of the Eagle. Others believe that in the fourth generation the best fighter in the world is the Russian-made Su-27.

Generation after generation

Generations of jet interceptors are separated from each other according to several criteria: development time, wing shape and type, information saturation and some other criteria, but it is not always easy to draw a clear line between them, it remains conditional. For example, a deep modification of the MiG-21 has improved its performance so much that it can be roughly considered a fourth-generation aircraft in almost all indicators of combat effectiveness.

Direction of design thought

Fifth generation interceptors today form the basis of Russia and other technologically advanced countries. They are able to perform various combat missions, protect the airspace of their states, they are sold within the framework of military-technical cooperation to strategic partners. But work on new projects is ongoing. Promising samples of the latest aviation technology have some features that distinguish them from previous models, which gives reason to believe that the fifth generation has come. Its features include low radar visibility, expressed in the desire to remove all types of weapons previously placed on external suspensions and the technology of radar absorbing surfaces, which received the name "Stealth" with the light hand of the Americans. In addition, all the latest achievements in the field of aircraft engine building, rudders and control systems also indicate that the aircraft belongs to the latest generation. It is also important to use composite materials in the design, which reduces weight, and again, increases stealth. This is exactly what the best fighter in the world should be today. A photo of such an aircraft is recognizable, the outlines of the fuselage and planes are somewhat angular, the engines leave an inconspicuous contrail, and the nozzles have a rather high angle of possible rotation.

"Raptor"

In some ways, they are subtly similar, although the general layout schemes and technical parameters differ significantly. These include, first of all, the Raptor F-22. Specialists, mainly American, believe that this is the best fighter in the world. The main argument in favor of this opinion is the fact that the Raptor is the only mass-produced and adopted machine in the world that meets the requirements for a fifth-generation interceptor. All other similar models, including Russian ones, are under development and refinement. There is also an important factor that allows one to doubt the correctness of such an opinion. The fact is that the F-22 has never participated in hostilities, and how it will behave in a real battle is unknown. At one time, the American military-industrial complex widely advertised the Bi-2 stealth bomber, and then it turned out that even outdated Soviet radars, which were in service with the Yugoslav army, could well detect it.

How about us?

Russia, of course, does not disregard the US attempts to achieve military hegemony. We are planning to create an aircraft capable of fighting the most advanced interceptor of a potential enemy. It was planned to "put it on the wing" back in 2005, but difficulties, mainly of an economic nature, prevented it. IN developed countries it usually takes a decade and a half to create a similar model and put it into service, and the Sukhoi Design Bureau received the terms of reference in 1999. simple calculations suggest that the date when the Russian Air Force will receive the best fighter in the world is 2014 or 2015.

Little is known about him. They called the project not just an aircraft or an interceptor, but a Frontal Aviation Complex. (PAKFA - "P" stands for promising, "A" - aviation, some tautology is excusable for aircraft designers.) Take-off weight is about 20 tons, like the American F-22 and the F-35, which has not yet been put into service. Tactical characteristics make it possible to use the machine from small VPD, the technology of low radio visibility is applied. Naturally, the electronic equipment is the most modern. It is likely that this will be the best fighter in the world. T-50 is another name for the PAKFA platform, it is possible that these working codes will give way to the classic designation "Su" with some number.

China

Our Chinese friends did not bother with the task of developing their own aircraft for a long time. Usually in the PRC, they chose a good Soviet model that received a good reputation, purchased technical documentation and produced it under their own index, consisting of the letter Y (for civilians) or J (for military) and a number. However, the economic boom of recent decades, which has turned China into a global workshop, has pushed the people's aircraft industry to start working on their own projects. Perhaps the J-10 is not the best fighter in the world, but all the known technical specifications of this aircraft indicate that it is a machine on the verge of IV and V generations with the possibility of further modification. The original solution of the general layout scheme (deltoid "duck" without the classic tail) eloquently says that this time the Chinese aircraft manufacturers did without external borrowing, showing their own approach.

Top hit parade

The history of world aviation is rich outstanding achievements. The mere enumeration of interceptor aircraft, which have become masterpieces of engineering art, will take up too much space. How to choose the best fighter among them? Among the successful models, one cannot help but recall the La-5 and La-7, the Aerocobra, on which I.N. Kozhedub and A.I. Pokryshkin fought, the French Mirage, the Swedish Saabs, the English Lightning and many other powerful and beautiful machines. The task is complicated by the fact that no matter how perfect he was, he almost always found a worthy opponent. Therefore, it makes sense to present the conditional rating of the most outstanding interceptors in pairs:

1. Messerschmitt-109 and Spitfire. During the Second World War, Soviet aircraft were good, but they lacked powerful engines, so they were not on the top list.
2. MiG-15 and Saber F-86. They had plenty of war with each other in Korea.
3. "Phantom" F-4 and MiG-21. Vietnam, the Middle East and other military conflicts have pointed to the strengths and weaknesses of these very different aircraft.
4. "Eagle" F-15 against the Su-27. "Eagle" has a very good reputation due to its successful use in modern theaters of war. "Dry" is not inferior to him in most technical and tactical indicators, and in some he is superior, but his combat experience is not enough for him to absolute victory in the competition for the title of "the best fighter in the world." 2014 was marked by the adoption of the combat units Russian Air Force dozens of Su-35S aircraft, which are a deeply modernized version of the Su-27.
5. T-50 and Raptor. Opponents, apparently, are quite worthy. It would be better for them not to meet in air fights, but if this does happen in the future, there is a high probability that our car will not let you down.

What will be the best fighter in the world of the 21st century? One can only guess what new concepts the aircraft engineers of the future will come up with. The century has just begun, and by all indications, it will be turbulent ...

Military aviation has always attracted a lot of public attention. And, if at the time of its inception it delighted with its efficiency, today it surprises with the possibilities and the presence of a mass of high-tech solutions. We live in a very unstable world, in which local conflicts occur every now and then, but perhaps the only advantage of this is the ability to observe the best works engineering in action. We have ranked them the best military fighters in the world, which can not only surprise you with the technical progress of the defense industry, but also make you proud own country, because most of the leading positions belong to Russian aircraft. As the saying goes, “Airplanes first…”

10. Dassault "Mirage" 2000 (France)

French aviation has noticeably improved since the Second World War, when it was completely destroyed by the German army. Attempts to conduct an independent foreign policy required strong army, therefore, 30 years ago, the Mirage military aircraft appeared, which immediately became the main fighter of the French Air Force and did not give up this position for two decades, because it proved to be excellent in peacekeeping operations in North Africa, as a result of which it began to be massively purchased by India. It was in this region that he found himself: the successful destruction of enemy aircraft and headquarters, as well as guided missile attacks, broke the resistance of the rebels in a couple of days. According to some reports, despite being discontinued in 2006, Dassault 2000 participated in the Libyan war, where it caused stunning damage to the military equipment of Gaddafi's army.

9.

A couple of years ago, Falcon, located on the ninth line in the ranking of the best fighters in the world, was the most common combat aircraft in the world. The low cost and quality indicators made it the main export product of the US Air Force. As of today, there are 4,750 F-16 fighters worldwide. The upgraded version will be produced at least until the end of 2017. Pictures of this aircraft repeatedly fell into the lenses of cameras of military reporters, he managed to take part in 100 conflicts, the most famous of which are the NATO Operation against Yugoslav troops and the Iraqi war. In the Israeli army F-16 Fighting Falcon are the most effective combat fighters. According to official data, they have forty air victories.

8.

Although prototypes have not yet taken part in hostilities, and its commissioning is planned for 2018, it has already incorporated the leading developments of domestic engineers. Compared to its predecessor, it will become more economical in terms of fuel consumption, but at the same time, it will create more conditions for pilot comfort: from automated flight control during aiming to an increased volume of air created by an autonomous oxygen station. The only fly in the ointment, in our opinion, is the too early attempts of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to attract him to participate in international tenders, because the radar and some equipment are still not brought to an ideal state. A positive feature of this model is the cost of production, for example, the French manufacture aircraft with similar characteristics two or three times more expensive.

7.

The most successful American project of the last forty years is ranked seventh in the top ten best combat fighters in the world. The F-15 Eagle is guaranteed to remain in service until 2025, which means it will have time to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. It's amazing, but "Eagle" for such a long period was defeated in dogfight only once, while destroying about a hundred enemy aircraft. This fighter is associated with the story of an Israeli Air Force pilot named Peled, who during the military conflict in Syria was able to destroy six enemy aircraft and cause significant damage to four more. Now there are six hundred F-15s in service with various countries, and they are not going to be written off, because on average problems occur only once in 50 thousand flight hours.

6.

The crown of thought of French aircraft designers in the context of fourth-generation fighters. The only drawback is the high cost of production, which requires the involvement of a mass of precision engineering objects. Having started its journey with the war in Afghanistan 15 years ago, the Rafal proved its effectiveness in the fight against the Libyan army. It is worth noting that the “victims” of the Rafal were most often domestic fighters and helicopters that were in service with the Libyan Air Force. Speaking of modernity, Dassault most often participates in the exercises and only a few times struck at the forces Islamic State in Iraq. It is also associated with a lot of incidents when the plane crashed or exploded in the air, but the manufacturer proved that the cause of such situations is most often the human factor.

5.

The most reliable domestic aircraft is located at the equator of the ranking of the best military fighters in the world. He repeatedly proved his superiority during the exercises. Making up the backbone of the Indian Air Force Su-30, in training battles he defeated American and British competitors, and in most cases in a dry one. Also, it was Sukhoi that ensured the success of the operation of the Russian military space forces in Syria, and played a decisive role in the liberation of Palmyra. For a quarter of a century, only 9 incidents have been recorded, most of which were caused by engine fire or insufficient fuel, fortunately, there were no casualties among the military, with the exception of the fall of the Vietnamese Air Force aircraft into the sea.

4.

The only fighter created by the combined efforts of countries European Union and proved its effectiveness during real hostilities (coalition operation in Syria and Iraq). Its undoubted advantage is the ability to interfere with enemy radars and, thereby, correct the direction of the flight of guided missiles, so the absence of losses should not be a surprise. Another plus is the maximum firing range, according to this indicator, the Typhoon outperforms its closest competitors by as much as one hundred kilometers. Today, the countries of Europe and the Middle East are armed with about half a thousand fighters, each of which has a unique modification and production technology.

3.

The aircraft that opens the top three among the best military fighters in the world requires special attention, because it will be the backbone of the aviation wing of the permanent military base of our country in Syria. The secrecy of production for a long time made potential buyers avoid investing in a risky project, but participation in hostilities, where the Su-35 covered the main attacking forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces, attracted a lot of attention to it. Given that the aircraft is an extremely thorough modernization of the Su-27 (an identical airframe speaks of this), the fighter serves as proof of the durability of domestic military equipment, and also speaks of following traditions in aviation. Unfortunately, data on participation in exercises or skirmishes with the enemy were not made available to the public.

2.

Multifunctional, economical, efficient - in general, before you is the best fighter aircraft made in the United States. From 2014 to the present, he has been the backbone of the Air Force in Syria, where, having begun the fight against radical Islamists, he continues to create significant problems for the ISIS troops. Notable is the case when the pilot, in one sortie, not only performed combat mission, but also remained in a certain area for another six hours, while he was not noticed by enemy forces and transmitted the coordinates of the positions of the enemy, who was trying to evacuate the base. Over the past two years, the F-22 has successfully completed about 210 combat missions. The entire period of operation includes only two cases of loss during the conflict, which indicates the high quality and reliability of the Raptor.

1. Dry T-50 (Russia)

Palm in the ranking and title the best military fighter in the world receives the Sukhoi T-50, the first domestic aircraft of the fifth generation, capable of simultaneously combating several opponents located both in the sky and on the ground. This was made possible thanks to increased maneuverability and advanced technology. Even Western experts highly appreciated the first steps of Russian engineers in creating fighters with visibility reduction technology, but it is not necessary to draw any solid conclusions in practice: all tests are carried out behind closed doors, and the last configuration of the prototype will be presented only in a year and a half.

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We could not ignore the best Soviet fighter, which is still in service both in the post-Soviet countries and among the allies in the communist camp, because. he is in the top ten. It is noteworthy that the Su 27 becomes a member of any computer flight simulator. Also, this aircraft is the only domestically produced fighter that participated in hostilities in the territory Central Africa, where he neutralized 3 enemy aircraft without loss, and the only identified disadvantage is the rather high fuel consumption during afterburner.

The most important evaluation criterion is combat experience. All the fighters represented, except for the 10th place (but there is a good reason for that), participated in the hostilities. Secondly, without exception, all machines 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 fire, first to hit the target." Supersonic "stealth machine" equipped with last word technology, has become the object of heated debate about its price, capabilities and relevance. Literally from the words of an American broadcast: “Why spend 66 billion dollars on the F-22 program, if a deep modernization of the F-15 and F-16 can give a comparable effect? Because technology must evolve, progress cannot be stopped…”
The lack of real combat experience negatively affects the assessment of the Raptor. 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 guns with 100 rounds per barrel and 24 rockets, which made it possible to riddle a 4-engine bomber in one go.
Having received the captured "Swallows", the Allies were impressed by their technical excellence and manufacturability. What was the cost of crystal clear radio communication.
Until the end of the war, the Germans managed to release 1900 "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.
Much more productive was his service as a scout. During combat service in the zone of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the MiG-25R opened the entire system of fortifications of the Bar-Leva line. The flights took place at maximum speed and an altitude of 17-23 km, which was the only means of protecting an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft. In this mode, the engines gobbled up half a ton of fuel every minute, the aircraft became lighter and gradually accelerated to 2.8 M. The MiG skin heated up to 300 ° C., according to the pilots, even the cockpit lantern heated up so 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 allowed flight time at speeds over Mach 2.5 was limited to 8 minutes, which, however, was long enough to cross Israeli territory.
Another remarkable feature of the MiG-25R was its potential ability to "capture" 2 tons of bombs in flight. This especially tickled the nerves of the Israeli military: an indestructible scout is still tolerable, but an indestructible bomber is really scary.

7th - British Aerospace Sea Harrier

The first vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (the land version of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier appeared back in 1967). Having gone through a series of upgrades, 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 the British designers was the way to create lifting thrust. Unlike their Soviet counterparts from the Yakovlev Design Bureau, who used a scheme with 3 independent jet engines, the Harrier uses a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus power unit with a deflectable thrust vector. This made it possible to increase the combat load of the aircraft to 5,000 pounds (about 2.3 tons).
During the Falklands War, the Harriers of the Royal Navy 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 battles. Pretty good for a subsonic aircraft. In total, 20 Harriers took part in the hostilities, of which 6 were shot down when attacking ground targets.
According to all experts, without the support of carrier-based aircraft, the Royal Navy could not have defended the Falklands.

6th place - Mitsubishi A6M

Legendary deck Zero-sen. An enigmatic plane from Mitsubishi engineers, which combines the incongruous. Excellent maneuverability, powerful armament and a record flight range - 2600 km (!) With a curb weight of 2.5 tons.
"Zero" was the embodiment of the samurai spirit, demonstrating contempt for death throughout its design. Japanese fighter was completely devoid 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 sky over Pacific Ocean, ensuring the victorious offensive of the Imperial Navy. At the end of World War II, the Zero played a grim role, becoming one of the main assets of kamikaze pilots.

5th place - F-16 "Fighting Falcon"

The review of the F-16 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 says: whoever finds his enemy first has the advantage. Therefore, optical visibility in air combat is of great importance. Here "American" has the advantage. The frontal projection of the F-16 almost matches the MiG-21, about which American pilots said that at a distance of 3 kilometers it is almost impossible to visually notice. Visibility from the F-16's cockpit is also better, thanks to the canopy. For the MiG-29, the fact that the RD-33 engine creates a dense plume of smoke in some flight modes is disadvantageous.
In close maneuverable combat, thanks to the integral layout and the presence of 2 engines, the MiG has outstanding flight characteristics. F-16 is somewhat behind. The turning speed of the MiG-29 reaches, according to Russian data, 22.8 ° / s, while that of the F-16 - 21.5 ° / s. The MiG is gaining altitude at a speed of 334 m/s, the rate of climb of the F-16 is 294 m/s. The difference is not so great and good pilots can level it.

Front-line fighter armament should include both the air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon categories. The F-16 has at its disposal the largest set of weapons, is capable of using guided and unguided bombs and anti-radar missiles. Electronics placed in an additional container makes it possible to point the use of weapons. The MiG-29, on the contrary, is forced to limit itself to unguided bombs and NURSs. In terms of carrying capacity, 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 is explained simply: the payload reserve of the MiG-29 “ate” the second engine. According to many experts, the MiG has a largely erroneous layout, 2 engines for a front-line fighter is too much. Rostislav Belyakov, General Designer of the MiG Design Bureau, said it best on Farnborough-88: "If we had such a reliable and high-torque engine as Pratt & Whitney, we would have designed a single-engine aircraft without a doubt." The range also suffered from such twists and turns: for the MiG-29 it does not exceed 2000 km with PTB, for the F-16 the flight range with PTB and 2 2000-pound bombs can reach 3000-3500 km.

Both fighters are equally armed with missiles medium range air-to-air class. For example, the Russian R-77 has impressive declared performance characteristics, while the American AIM-120 has repeatedly confirmed its rather modest performance in combat. net parity. But the MiG-29 has a long range of fire from an air gun and larger caliber. The six-barreled "Volcano" F-16, on the contrary, has a larger ammunition load (511 shells 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 Slit-ZOOM 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 engine control system (Hands on Throttle and Stick), which makes the aircraft exceptionally easy to fly. At the push 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.
Design Bureau MiG and General Dynamics demonstrated completely different approaches to solving the same problem. Interesting design solutions have been implemented in both aircraft, and in general the verdict is as follows: the F-16 is a multifunctional fighter, while the MiG is a pure air fighter, focused primarily on close maneuverable combat. Here he has no equal.

Why did the Falcon win, and the MiG-29 did not enter the Top 10 rating at all? And again, the results of the combat use of these machines will be the answer. F-16 fought in the skies of Palestine, passed the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. A separate page of Falcon "and was a raid on the Iraqi nuclear center" Ozirak "in 1981. Having covered 2800 km, the Israeli Air Force F-16s secretly penetrated Iraqi airspace, destroyed the reactor complex and returned without loss to the Etzion airbase. Total number F-16 air victories under the control of pilots from NATO countries, Israel, Pakistan and Venezuela is about 50 aircraft. There is no data on the defeat of the F-16 in air combat, although one aircraft of this type was shot down by air defense systems in Yugoslavia.

4th place - MiG-15

A single-seat jet fighter whose name has become a household name in the West for everyone Soviet fighters. Entered service with the Air Force Soviet Union in 1949. The plane that prevented the Third world war.
Literally, from the words of the Military Channel: “In Western society, there is an opinion that Soviet technology is something cumbersome, heavy and outdated. There was nothing like this in the MiG-15. A fast and agile fighter with clean lines and an elegant shape ... ” His appearance in the skies of Korea caused a sensation in the Western press and a headache for the US Air Force command. All plans for drawing collapsed nuclear strike across the territory of the USSR, from now on the B-29 strategic bombers did not have a single chance to break through the barrier of jet MiGs.
And one more important point - the MiG-15 became the most massive jet aircraft in history. It was in service with the Air Force of 40 countries of the world.

3rd place - Messerschmitt Bf.109

Favorite fighter aces of the Luftwaffe. Four famous modifications: E ("Emil") - the hero of the battle for 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") - overpowered fighter, an attempt to squeeze out all the remaining reserves from the car.
104 German pilots who fought on the Messerschmitt were able to bring their score to 100 or more downed vehicles.
An ominous, fast and powerful aircraft. The real Fighter.

2nd place - MiG-21 vs F-4 "Phantom II"

Two different views on the appearance of the 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 adversaries. Hot battles in the skies of Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, India and Pakistan. Hundreds of downed cars on both sides. Bright combat history. Until now, they are in service with the air forces of many countries.

Soviet designers have relied on maneuverability. Americans - on missiles and electronic equipment. Both views turned out to be wrong: after the first air battles, it became clear that the Phantom had abandoned the guns in vain. And the creators of the MiG realized that 2 air-to-air missiles are unacceptably small.

1st place - F-15 "Eagle"

Killer. 104 confirmed air victories without a single loss. None of the modern aircraft can boast of such an 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 generally out of competition.
The first time the F-15 went into battle on June 27, 1979, when the Israeli "Needles" shot 5 Syrian MiG-21s in close maneuvering combat. For more than 30 years of combat service, the MiG-21, MiG-23, Mirage F1, Su-22 and MiG-29 (4 in Yugoslavia, 5 in Iraq) have become F-15 trophies. No less impressive were the achievements of the "Needles" in Asia, for example, during the "Team Spirit-82" exercises, 24 F-15 fighters based on Okinawa made 418 "combat" sorties in 9 days, of which 233 - within three days, while the degree of combat readiness of all aircraft was almost continuously 100%.
The high flight characteristics of the F-15, its ability to operate autonomously in the conditions of the use of electronic warfare by the enemy, day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions, at high and low altitudes, made it possible to create the F-15E "Stike Eagle" strike 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. Especially questioned is the fact that not a single Eagle was lost in combat. 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. neither side was able to demonstrate the wreckage. One thing is certain, the participation of the F-15 in hostilities largely determined the course of many military operations (for example, the 1982 Lebanon War).
F-15 "Eagle" is the most formidable and effective combat vehicle, so it deservedly takes 1st place.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, many of the outstanding designs were left out of the "Top 10" rankings. The hero of all air shows, the Su-27 is the best peacetime aircraft, the flight qualities of which allow you to perform the most complex aerobatics, and did not make it into the rating. The Supermarine Spitfire did not make it into the rating either - just a good aircraft in all respects. Too many successful designs were created and it was very difficult to choose the best from them.

From the first steps of mankind in the conquest of the sky, the world has constantly observed evolution military aviation. Fighters have always come to the rescue in the military and local conflicts performing complex operations. To date, this type of aircraft has reached an unspeakably high point of progress in its development. In our time, no one can be surprised by the ability of a person to stay in the air element, but the high technology, colossal combat equipment of combat fighters and the mass of opportunities that open up before them really amaze the mind and excite the imagination. The wealth of power and variety of these war machines encourages the creation rating of the best fighters in the world.

10. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Unlocks the top 10 best Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. It is in service with the US Army and is a carrier-based fighter-bomber and attack aircraft. Combat vehicles of this type are very popular for deployment on aircraft carriers. This fighter is equipped with a 6-barreled cannon capable of firing at a rate of 6,000 rounds per minute. Nine external mounts allow you to equip the aircraft with a wide range of different weapons, including: simple and laser-guided missiles, many types of bombs, as well as weapons that allow you to effectively fight against enemy ships, and a system that prevents aircraft from tracking on radar.

9 Saab JAS 39 Gripen

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen combat fighter, which ranks 9th in our rating, has been in service with the Swedish army for thirty years now. His first demonstration flight took place in the 88th year of the last century. To date, this fighting machine equipped with one of the best technologies peace. The fourth generation fighter was created specifically for the effective conduct of hostilities in the conditions of the Scandinavian terrain - the limited plains and the severity of the weather. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is armed with a 30 mm cannon, various types of bombs (depending on the need), several types of missiles (guided and unguided).

8. MIG-35

The genius of the Russian military air armament is the MIG-35 fighter. This aircraft is planned to be put into service only this (2018) year, but it has already established itself as one of the best fighters, although it has not yet shown itself in the combat field. The MIG-35 has surpassed its predecessor in many ways. For example, this fighter consumes less fuel, the oxygen station produces more oxygen, and the duration of the autopilot during aiming has been extended so that the pilot has more opportunity to accurately fire at the enemy. Among other things, Russian engineers managed to reduce the cost of producing a fighter, for comparison, the French side spends 2-3 times more on the creation of aircraft of this type.

7F-16 Fighting Falcon

The seventh line in the ranking of fighters is the American F-16 Fighting Falcon. At one time, this combat vehicle was the leader among the most popular in the world - the low cost of its production and high performance quality characteristics allowed US military factories to produce these machines in large quantities for export to other countries. There are currently over 4,700 F-16 Fighting Falcons worldwide. These combat vehicles managed to prove themselves in more than a hundred combat operations around the world.

6 Eurofighter Typhoon

The Eurofighter Typhoon combat fighter is the brainchild of four EU countries at once, which has proven its effectiveness in real armed conflicts. One of the main advantages of this aircraft is the ability to interfere with enemy radars, which allows you to adjust the flight of guided missiles. This, first of all, influenced the fact that the Eurofighter Typhoon became very "survivable" - getting into a fighter with such a system is quite difficult. Typhoon also surpasses its counterparts in firing range (as much as 100 km). Today, there are about five hundred such fighters in the world, and each combat vehicle is made using a unique technology.

5. Dassault Rafale

The pride of the French armed forces, the Dassault Rafale, was also on the list of the most powerful fighters. The creators claim that the only factor that prevents the incredible rise of this combat vehicle is its high cost. Dassault Rafale has been in service with the French army for 50 years, it has shown itself well in armed conflicts several times. However, today this fighter is used only for training and demonstration flights. Also, its name often appeared in air crashes, but the French side each time claimed that the human factor was the reason for this.

4Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Another development of the US Air Force was the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, designed to replace obsolete aircraft of this generation. The fighter entered service with both the US Navy and the US Army - it is actively used on fleet aircraft carriers due to the short takeoff run distance and braking landing. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is also capable of vertical takeoff. After the development and release of the fighter in mass production it was exported to other countries of the world, the first of which was Great Britain. The aircraft is equipped with advanced electronics and powerful weapons.

3. Su-35S

On the third line of the rating is one of the best Russian fighters. The Su-35S made its first sortie in 2008. According to its quality characteristics, the fighter can be attributed to the 5th generation. US analysts dubbed the Su-35S the most dangerous and deadly model ever created in the USSR and Russia. To date, part of the characteristics and combat capabilities of the fighter is kept by the armed forces in the strictest confidence, therefore it is not yet possible to fully assess its combat potential.

2. Su-57

A completely new achievement of the domestic military industry - the Su-57. The fifth generation fighter is recognized by domestic designers as the best fighter Russian aviation. Today, this combat vehicle is on the same level as the American Raptor. The main feature of the Su-57 is the ability to fight with several opponents at once, which can be both in the air and on the ground. Currently, the designers are working on an improved camouflage fighter. The aircraft is equipped with the world's most advanced electronics and is incredibly deadly weapons.

1 Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

On the first line of the rating best fighters world "is the American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. In fact, he shares the palm with the Russian Su-57. The Raptor is a 5th generation fighter, presented to the public in the second half of the 90th year. It is capable of performing many purposes and combat missions. At the moment, the Raptor is recognized as an advanced development of American designers in this area. Among the advantages of a combat vehicle is complete invisibility to enemy radars. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is described as a fighter with high maneuverability, low fuel consumption and relatively low weight. Only two cases of the loss of these fighters in combat operations have been registered.

The most modern fighters in the world

10. J-10 (China)

The J-10 uses a "tailless delta canard" aerodynamic layout that was originally developed for the J-9 fighter.
The horizontal rudder has been moved forward and is located in front of the wing. When the aircraft needs to be steered up, instead of forcing the tail down, this arrangement raises the nose, increasing the overall rate of response and lift.
In this arrangement, the aircraft more effectively controls vertical control with a smaller elevator surface, resulting in less air resistance and lighter weight.
The aircraft uses adjustable intakes of air flow, which supplies air to one AL-31FN turbofan jet engine.
The air intake ramp is at an acute angle to deflect the air flow in the longitudinal direction. This design creates a gap between the air intake and the forward fuselage, which improves performance at high speeds.
This air intake design was reportedly used on the latest J-10B.
The tailless delta canard design is inherently aerodynamically unstable, especially at supersonic speeds.
To ensure sustainability, there is a sophisticated computerized control system (FBW). The J-10 uses a digital quadruplex system (four channels FBW) developed by the 611 Institute. Software for the FBW system was also developed by the 611-Institute for the use of the ADA language. The pilot is located in the cockpit, which is located above the air intake and in front of the front stabilizers.
airborne digital computer pilot flight control, provides automatic flight stability coordination. Thus, it allows the pilot to concentrate on performing combat missions.
The double J-10S can be used for pilot training or as a standard fighter.

Specifications

Crew:

J-10 - one pilot,
J-10S - two pilots
Engine: 1XAL-31FN turbofan Maximum thrust: 7770 kg,
Afterburner thrust: 12.500 kg,
In-flight refueling: Yes
Armament: one 23 mm gun
On external suspension: 11 hardpoints (five under the fuselage, six under the wings)

Missile armament:

Air-to-air: PL-8, PL-9, PL-11, PL-12, P-27 and P-73
- air-to-ground: PJ-9, anti-ship missiles YJ-8K, YJ-9K, 90 mm NAR
- guided (LT-2, LS-6), as well as non-guided bombs


9 - MiG-35 (Russia)

The fighter was created on the basis of the MiG-29M, the MiG-35 (NATO classification Fulcrum F) is equipped with advanced avionics, the cockpit glass is equipped with three 6x8 inch flat LCD monitors that allow for a circular view, digital terrain maps, the sight is integrated into the pilot's helmet. The plane has a modern scan-radar.
This radar has a phased array antenna.
MiG-35 can refuel in the air.
The MiG-35 is equipped according to Western Mil-1553 standards. Reliability and ease of maintenance have been improved, operating costs have been reduced and the service life has been increased by 2.5 times (compared to the old MiG-29s).
As a sight, an optical-electronic target tracker is used, identical to that used on the Su-30MKI.
For air-to-ground engagement, the aircraft can be equipped with an optoelectronic orientation module installed under the right air intake.
The aircraft is equipped with radar, optoelectronic missile attack warning, laser warning sensors, and an active protection system as part of an integrated self-defense system.
The MiG-35 has four additional hardpoints and can carry a payload of more than six tons on external hangers.
The aircraft is equipped with two digitally controlled RD-33MK engines providing thrust of 9,000 kg each. This type is an improved version of the RD-33 standard.

Main technical characteristics:

Takeoff weight 22,700 kg
Maximum flight range 3,000 km
Maximum horizontal flight speed 2400 km/h
Weight 11,000 kg

8. Typhoon (Germany)




The cabin of the Typhoon aircraft can be in one- or two-seat version.
In the manufacture of used carbon composite ribs for suspension units.
Up to 70% of the materials are carbon composites, as well as titanium and aluminum-lithium alloy.Stabilizers are installed on the leading and trailing edges of the wing.
The design of the delta wing allows you to bring the number of external suspension units to 13.
The aircraft is invisible to radar due to the use of stealth technology.
Part of the aircraft body is covered with special materials that do not reflect electromagnetic waves.
The radar system propagates its signals in a special way.
The air intakes of the engines are rectangular and slightly angled down to the axial part of the fuselage.
Exhaust gases from engines exit through conventional annular nozzles, it is planned to replace them with vector-controlled nozzles in the future.
The side landing gear retracts inward to the central part of the fuselage, the nose landing gear retracts back.
The chassis are equipped with cooling brakes based on carbon materials, they are cooled and controlled by a computer.
The landing gear as a whole is designed to act as an air brake during landing. Thanks to this, the landing run is about 700 meters.

Technical characteristics of the Typhoon fighter:

Flight characteristics

Max speed:

on high: Mach 2.0 (2450 km/h)
near the ground: Mach 1.2 (1400 km/h)
Combat range
in fighter mode: 1390 km
in strike aircraft mode: 600 km
ferry range: 3790 km
Practical ceiling: 19 812 m

Armament

Cannon armament: 1 × 27 mm gun Mauser BK-27 (English)
suspension points: 13

6,500 kg of various weapons:

- Air-to-air missiles
- Air-to-ground missiles
-bombs


7. Gripen NG (Sweden)




The JAS 39 Gripen is the fourth generation fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish company Saab.
The Gripen entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1995, replacing the Saab Drakens and Viggens. This aircraft is capable of performing several types of combat missions, namely, to be used as a fighter, as an attack aircraft and as a reconnaissance aircraft.
The power plant consists of a single Volvo Aero RM12 turbofan engine, based on the General Electric F404. The Gripen is capable of speeds up to M2 and has maximum range at 2800 km.
To date, 270 Gripens aircraft have been produced (According to http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_JAS_39_Gripen - 264) Of these, 204 are for the Swedish Air Force.
Aircraft were exported to the following countries: Czech Republic (14), Hungary (14), South Africa(26), Thailand (12).

Specifications

Empty weight: 6800 (7100) kg
Normal takeoff weight: 8500 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 14,000 kg
Engine: Volvo Aero RM12
maximum thrust: 1×5100 kgf
afterburner traction: 1×8160 kgf

Flight characteristics

: ~ 2200 km/h (Mach 2.0)
Combat radius: 800 km
practical ceiling: 15 240 m

Armament

Cannon: 1 x 27mm Mauser BK27 (ammo - 120 rounds)
Missiles:
"air-to-air"
"air-to-surface"
bombs


6. Rafale (France)

Rafale is a combat aircraft capable of performing a wide range of combat missions at short and long distances, including engagement of the enemy on land at sea, air defense missions, air superiority, reconnaissance missions, and precision strike.
The aircraft was designed for the French Air Force and Navy.
61 aircraft were built (36 for the Air Force and 25 for the Navy). Rafale M entered service in 2001, ten aircraft are operational at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Rafale B and C entered service with the French Air Force in June 2006, at the same time the first squadron was created. The second squadron of the Air Force was created in 2008. For the Navy, a modification of the Rafale F1 was created.
Deliveries to the fleet of F2 modifications began in May 2006. F1 modifications will be upgraded.
The French government has allocated € 3.1 billion for the development of a completely modified F3. An order for 59 F3s was placed in December 2004 for 47 units for the air force (11 two-seat and 36 single-seat) and 12 (single-seat) for the navy.
The Rafale F3 was certified in July 2008 and has been in service since 2009. In March 2007, three French Air Force fighters and three Navy fighters were stationed in Tajikistan as part of a NATO program.

Specifications

Empty weight: 10,000 kg
Normal takeoff weight: 14 710 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 24 500 kg
Payload mass: 9500 kg

Engine: 2 × bypass turbojet with afterburner SNECMA M88-2-E4

maximum thrust: 2×5100 kgf
afterburner traction: 2×7500 kgf

Flight characteristics

Maximum speed at high altitude: ~ 1900 km/h (Mach 1.8)
Combat radius: 1800 km
Combat radius: 1093 km in the version of the fighter-interceptor
practical ceiling: 15 240 m

Armament

Cannon: 1 × 30 mm Nexter DEFA 791B (rate of fire 2500 rds / min),
ammunition - 125 cartridges of the OPIT type (armor-piercing incendiary tracer) with a bottom fuse.
Missiles:
"air-to-air"
"air-to-surface"