The best plane. The best modern fighters in the world The best modern fighters in the world

The “hot ten” of the best fighters in the world, which included the American F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor, Russian MiG-35, Su-30 MK, Su-35, PAK-FA, European Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS 39 Gripen and Dassault Rafale were determined by the following parameters: speed and maneuverability, level of stealth, weapons system installed on board, cost of production and maintenance.

10. F-16 Fighting Falcon (“Attack Falcon”)- American multirole light fighter of the fourth generation. Developed in 1974 by General Dynamics. Put into operation in 1979. The F-16, due to its versatility and relatively low cost, is the most popular fourth-generation fighter (over 4,540 aircraft were built as of June 2014).

9. Saab JAS 39 Gripen- Swedish fourth-generation multi-role fighter aircraft developed by Saab Avionics. Since 1997 it has been in service with the Swedish Air Force. Operated by the Air Forces of Hungary, the Czech Republic, South Africa and Thailand. The aircraft is designed according to the “Duck” aerodynamic configuration with a mid-mounted delta wing. The airframe of the aircraft was created taking into account the reduction of radar signature: 30% of the body is made of composites, 2 S-shaped air intakes.

8. MiG-35- Russian multirole fighter of the 4++ generation, developed by RSK MiG. The MiG-35 is designed to destroy ground, air and surface targets at night and during the day in difficult as well as simple weather conditions with passive and active electronic countermeasures from the enemy.

7. F-35 Lightning II (“Lightning”)- an American stealth fighter-bomber of the fifth generation, developed by the American company Lockheed Martin in three versions: a ground-based fighter, a fighter with a short take-off and vertical landing, and a carrier-based fighter.

6. Eurofighter Typhoon (“Typhoon”)- European multi-role fighter of the fourth generation, developed by Eurofighter GmbH. The aircraft was put into service with the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Austria and Saudi Arabia.

5. Dassault Rafale (“Squall”)- French multi-role fighter of the fourth generation, developed by the French company Dassault Aviation. It is in service with the French Navy and Air Force.

4. Su-30 MK- Russian multi-role fighter of the 4+ generation, developed at the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The fighter is designed to gain air superiority, destroy air targets day and night, in simple and difficult meteorological conditions, as well as when using active and passive jamming and airspace control.

3. Su-35- Russian multi-role super-maneuverable fighter of the 4++ generation with thrust vector control engines, developed at the Sukhoi Design Bureau. Experts consider the Su-35 “very dangerous” for any NATO aircraft except the F-22 stealth fighter. The danger of the Su-35 is associated with the ability to carry a large ammunition load of long-range air-to-air missiles, the ability to launch missiles at supersonic speed, super maneuverability and powerful means electronic warfare.

2. F-22 Raptor (“Predator”) is an American fifth-generation multirole fighter developed by Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics. The F-22 is the first fifth-generation fighter to enter service. Designed to gain air superiority. The fighter contains latest developments in the field of avionics, electronics and stealth.

1. Su PAK-FA T-50 is a fifth-generation Russian multi-role fighter developed by a division of the United Aircraft Corporation - Sukhoi Design Bureau. The fighter contains highest performance: high speed, powerful engine, super maneuverability, stealth and very dangerous weapons.

It's no secret that airplanes are the fastest mode of transport. Some of them are capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,500 kilometers per hour. At the same time, speed is a decisive factor in the military industry. For this reason, we will look at the fastest fighter jets in the world. We are talking about unique developments, characterized by instant response and amazing maneuverability. For the latest fighters, the mark of 2000 kilometers per hour is far from the limit. At the same time, many countries allocate huge amounts of money for weapons, which affects the emergence of unique analogues listed below.

The ranking of the fastest fighters opens with Dassault Rafale. This flying machine performs a huge range of tasks. The mission of the aircraft includes overcoming not only close but also long distances. Raphael is equipped with a variety of powerful weapons designed to deliver precision strikes against ground targets. At high altitude its speed is Mach 1.8 or 1,900 kilometers per hour. The fighter was developed by the French Navy back in 2004. But to this day, fighter jets, of which there are only 145 units in the world, are considered one of the fastest.

The full name of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter. The unique aircraft was developed by a Swedish company called SAAB. The fighter was first introduced into service in 1997. The Swedish Air Force modified the model several times. Currently, the maximum weapon opening speed is 2200 km/h or Mach 2.0. During production, about 270 aircraft were created. At the same time, 204 units are still functioning to ensure the security of Sweden.

The military aircraft is one of the fastest in India and the world. Speed ​​2.3 Mach. This vehicle can land even on unprepared airfields and sea vessels. It has good maneuverability. In total, approximately 1,500 of these aircraft were produced, due to their endurance and wear resistance. The fighter can conduct a long, active battle without losing speed and sharpness. It is worth noting that Indian manufacturers have achieved great achievements in inventing air vehicles. Every year they produce a huge number of aircraft, many of which are used in the military industry around the world.

As already stated, India is one of the leading countries in the field of invention military equipment. Probably, attempts to modify the MiG-29 led to the creation of another one of the fastest fighters on the planet - the MiG-23. The vehicle speed at high altitude is 2,445 km/h. We are talking about a multi-role fighter, which in the 80s took part in all known armed confrontations. The aircraft is currently in service with Syria, Libya and even India.

A representative of the German armed forces, the Typhoon entered production in 2003. Maximum speed fighter reaches Mach 2.0 or 2450 km/h. It is worth noting that this is an invisible aircraft, that is, Stealth. Most of The body of this ground transport is made of a special coating that blocks electromagnetic waves. At the same time, the combat radius of the fighter is 1390 km. Amazing results. The multi-role aircraft is also used in the UK and Italy. There are approximately five hundred such fighters in the world.

Fifth place goes to the Soviet military vessel Su-27. The fourth generation Soviet multi-role all-weather fighter, designed to gain air superiority, was designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in 1977. In 1985, the aircraft entered service with the USSR Air Force. It is now in service with the Russian Air Force as the main fighter aircraft. Modifications of the Su-27 are in service with China, Ukraine, India and other countries. The maximum speed the aircraft is capable of is 2876.4 km/h (Mach 2.35). In total, about 809 of these air units were produced.

The fastest fighters on the planet include the Grumman F-14, whose speed reaches 2,485 kilometers per hour. The unique aircraft was developed by specialists from Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. The first analogue appeared in 2006. On this moment Active deliveries of aircraft are underway to Iran, where the fighter is in service. We are talking about a reliable interceptor that can accompany 4 targets at once. Moreover, it can simultaneously capture up to 6 targets. The existence of 712 fighters is known.

The speed of this aircraft is 2,650 km/h. The development was presented by specialists from the USA. The aircraft is an impeccable leader in its class, as it has excellent maneuverability. The tactical fighter appeared in 1976. Moreover, its production is planned until 2025 for American weapons. Every year, employees of leading companies add innovations that improve the reaction and maneuvers of the aircraft. In total, 1,500 such products are known to exist. All are in the USA.

The fastest fighter in the world The MiG-31 is considered to have a speed of 3000 kilometers per hour. By the name, you already guessed that it belongs to the property of Russia. Attracts with its extensive possibilities. The fighter is capable of intercepting targets and destroying enemy objects at high, low and medium altitudes. Also detects false thermal targets. First appeared in 1981. Needless to say, it has undergone a lot of modernization since then. It reaches maximum speed at an altitude of 25 kilometers.

From the first steps of mankind in conquering the skies, the world has constantly observed the evolution of military aviation. Fighters have always come to the rescue of the military and local conflicts performing complex operations. Today, this type of aircraft has reached an incredibly high point of progress in its development. Nowadays, no one can be surprised by the ability of a person to be in the air, 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 combat vehicles encourages the creation rating of the best fighters in the world.

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

Opens 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 placement on aircraft carriers. This fighter is equipped with a 6-barreled cannon that is capable of firing at a rate of 6,000 rounds per minute. Nine external mounts allow the aircraft to be equipped with a wide range of different weapons, including: missiles - simple and laser-guided, many types of bombs, as well as weapons that allow effective fight against enemy ships, and a system that prevents the aircraft from being tracked on radar.

9. Saab JAS 39 Gripen

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

8. MIG-35

The genius of Russian military air weapons is the MIG-35 fighter. This aircraft is planned to be put into service only this year (2018), but it has already established itself as one of the best fighters, although it has not yet shown itself in combat. The MIG-35 surpassed its predecessor in many respects. Thus, this fighter consumes less fuel, the oxygen station produces more oxygen, and the duration of the autopilot during aiming is extended so that the pilot has more ability 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 money on creating aircraft of this type.

7. F-16 Fighting Falcon

The seventh place in the fighter rating is occupied by the American F-16 Fighting Falcon. At one time, this combat vehicle was a leader among the most popular in the world - the low cost of its production and high quality characteristics allowed US military factories to produce these vehicles in large quantities for export to other countries. There are currently over 4,700 F-16 Fighting Falcons worldwide. These combat vehicles have proven 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, 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 makes it possible 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. The Typhoon also surpasses its counterparts in firing range (by as much as 100 km). Today there are about five hundred such fighters in the world, and each combat vehicle is manufactured using unique technology.

5. Dassault Rafale

On the list of the most powerful fighters It also turned out to be the pride of the French armed forces - the Dassault Rafale. The creators claim that the only factor that hinders the incredible rise of this combat vehicle is its high cost. The Dassault Rafale has been in service with the French army for 50 years; it has shown itself excellently in armed conflicts several times. However, today this fighter is used only for training and demonstration flights. Also, its name often appeared in plane crashes, but the French side argued each time that the reason for this was the human factor.

4. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Another development of the US Air Force was the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, designed to replace outdated aircraft of this generation. The fighter entered service as navy The United States and the ground forces - it is actively used on fleet aircraft carriers due to the short takeoff run distance during takeoff and braking during landing. Also, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is capable of vertical takeoff. After the development and release of the fighter into mass production it was exported to other countries around 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 combat flight in 2008. Based on its qualitative characteristics, the fighter can be classified as the 5th generation. US analysts have dubbed the Su-35S the most dangerous and deadly model ever created in the USSR and Russia. Today, some of the characteristics and combat capabilities of the fighter are kept in the strictest secrecy by the armed forces, so it is not yet possible to fully assess its combat potential.

2. Su-57

A completely new achievement of the domestic military industry is the Su-57. The fifth generation fighter is recognized by domestic designers as the best fighter of Russian aviation. Today, this combat vehicle is on the same level as the American Raptor. Main feature The Su-57 is capable of fighting several opponents at once, who can be both in the air and on the ground. Currently, designers are working on improved camouflage for the fighter. The aircraft is equipped with world-leading electronics and incredibly lethal weapons.

1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

The American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor ranks first in the “best fighters in the world” rating. In fact, it shares the palm with the Russian Su-57. Raptor is a 5th generation fighter, presented to the public in the second half of 1990. It is capable of performing many purposes and combat missions. At the moment, the Raptor is recognized as an advanced development by American designers in this area. Among the advantages of the combat vehicle is complete invisibility to enemy radars. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is characterized as a fighter with high maneuverability, low fuel consumption and a relatively low weight. Only two cases of loss of these fighters in combat operations have been recorded.

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..."
Lack of real combat experience negatively affects Raptor's valuation. 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 rockets, 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 it 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 Corps. Marine Corps USA 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 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 battles. 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 record range flight - 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. 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 has 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 frontline 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 vicissitudes: the MiG-29 does not exceed 2000 km with a PTB, while the F-16 has a flight range with a PTB and 2 2000-pound bombs that 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 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. Separate page Falcon" began a raid on the Iraqi nuclear center "Ozirak" in 1981. Having covered 2800 km, F-16s of the Israeli Air Force secretly penetrated Iraqi airspace, destroyed the reactor complex and returned to Etzion airbase without losses. Total number F-16 air 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 the F-16 in air combat, although one aircraft of this type was shot down by air defense missiles in Yugoslavia.

4th place – MiG-15

Single-seat jet fighter, the name of which has become a household name for everyone in the West 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 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 sensation in Western press and a headache for the US Air Force command. All plans for applying 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 screen of MiG jets.
And one more important point, - The MiG-15 became the most produced 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. Bright combat history. 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. 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, while 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 maneuvers. aerobatics 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.

Since the purpose of using aviation is not uniform, it would not be correct to name only one. We divide the concept of “best” into several categories: safe, expensive, fast and effective.

The best passenger aircraft

The Boeing 747 can easily be called the best passenger aircraft in history. This is not the safest, however, it is one of the most used and popular aircraft that still covers the airspace. Main features of the aircraft:

• It appeared back in 1969 and became the first to take flights to long-distance routes.
• More than 1.5 thousand copies have already been released.
• Cost - 260 million dollars.
• A distinctive feature is the “hump” of the upper deck.

But the Boeing 777, or as it is also called “Three Sevens,” as if, in accordance with its lucky name, is recognized as the safest aircraft in the world. Unfortunately, such a plane did crash in Ukraine in 2014, however, the fault was not in its design. This is a wide-body aircraft, the main features of which are:

• The longest flight in the air is 21,601 km of distance covered.
• Equipped with the world's most powerful General Electric GE90 jet engines.
• Costs about $300 million.
• Accommodates up to 550 passengers.
• Not a single passenger of the 3 Sevens died on board.

The most expensive planes in the world

Officially, the most expensive private jet is the Airbus A380, which rests in the hangar of Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. This is a few controversial issue, since there are rumors about the cost of the Boeing 767 bought and converted by Abramovich, but let’s trust the facts.

Main characteristics of the most expensive aircraft in the world:

• its cost is over half a million dollars;
• only 15-20 people can fit on board;
• this is a real house on wings: there are bedrooms, a bathhouse, gyms, banquet rooms, etc.;
• the maximum distance covered is 15.4 thousand km.
• From these facts it is difficult to guess that this is also the most economical aircraft of similar size. Moreover, it is one of the most major representatives passenger carriers.

The most expensive military aircraft in the world

But the most expensive aircraft in the world is not a passenger aircraft - it is a bomber manufactured using stealth technologies. There are 20 of these in the world and all of them are in service with the United States. The main reason for the creation of the B-2 Spirit was the Cold War, and if it had not ended, such deadly carriers of nuclear and simple weapons, as you can see in the photo above, there would be more than a hundred. The unit cost is 2.1 billion dollars! Each plane is named after some geographical feature, and the first is called the Spirit of America.

The fastest plane in the world

The best planes can't help but fly fast. Of course, production samples will not soon reach record speeds, but individual experimental cases prove that humanity can do anything. Thus, developed in the USA, the X-15 rocket plane was able to reach a speed of 7272 km/h, piloted by Joe Walker. The active flight that day in 1963 was only 85.8 seconds, but this was enough to reach an altitude of more than 107 km. The main task of this super-high-speed rocket is to study the capabilities of winged vehicles on the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere and space.

Also owned by American developers is the X-43A, developed by NASA specialists. The maximum speed achieved by this drone is 11,200 km/h, which is currently an official record. It was possible to achieve such indicators only the third time. During the attempts, 2 planes sank in Pacific Ocean to avoid collision with land.

The best military aircraft

The legend of the USSR, still in service in Russia, Kazakhstan and China, is the MiG-31. It is not always included in ratings of the best fighters, however, it is one of those models that has proven itself in practice, and not in theory. Main features of a supersonic interceptor:

• flight range - from 2.2 to 2.48 km;
• capable of intercepting missiles;
• the only fighter that independently uses missiles that have a long range;
• equally effective in any weather conditions and time of day.

Interestingly, 4 such interceptors are enough to control the air over a distance of 900 km. This device was used initially for testing, later for combat duty near Sakhalin Island and for combat purposes during Chechen war. More than 500 units have been produced so far.

A real threat to others aircraft creates the European fighter Eurofighter Typhoon, or Typhoon. Its main disadvantage is its helplessness in attacking terrestrial targets, however, as regards air defense, it is by far the best device for achieving such strategic objectives. The cost of eliminating air threats is $120 million and is currently equipping the air forces of England, Germany, Spain and Italy, Austria, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The high cost, in comparison with other fourth-class fighters, is associated with the use of radio-absorbing materials in the design.

Military experts are constantly debating which aircraft is better: the Typhoon or the Russian Su-35? In order not to offend either of these two masterpieces of aircraft construction, the Russian super-maneuverable crew is also included in the ranking of the best aircraft. Its advantage over the European fighter is its universal application: the Su-35 is ready to protect both the air and the ground. In addition, its turbojet engine allows it to reach supersonic speeds without using afterburner, which theoretically allows this device to enter the fifth generation. A total of 34 such fighters were produced. A very strong advantage of the presented lethal work of art is its maneuverability - vector engines literally allow the Su-35 to dance in the air, gliding and rotating in one place.

• This is the only fifth-generation fighter in service (US Air Force).
• This is the most expensive military aircraft - almost more than 146 million dollars.
• Flies at supersonic speeds.
• Covered with radio-absorbing materials.
• Universal.

The leader of our rating was used in battle only once, in Syria. There are many rumors around the only representative of the fifth generation about his high cost, low adaptability to bad weather conditions, but there is no factual evidence of this.