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 American aircraft F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor, Russian MiG-35, Su-30MK, 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 (“Attacking Falcon”)- American multifunctional light fighter of the fourth generation. Developed in 1974 by General Dynamics. Transferred to service in 1979. The F-16, due to its versatility and relatively low cost, is the most massive fourth-generation fighter (over 4,540 aircraft built as of June 2014).

9 Saab JAS 39 Gripen- Swedish multirole fighter of the fourth generation, 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 made according to the aerodynamic scheme "Duck" with a medium delta wing. The airframe of the aircraft was created taking into account the reduction of radar visibility: 30% of the body is made of composites, 2 S-shaped air intakes.

8. MiG-35- Russian multifunctional fighter of the 4 ++ generation, developed by RAC "MiG". The MiG-35 was 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 enemy electronic countermeasures.

7. F-35 Lightning II ("Lightning")- American stealth fifth-generation fighter-bomber, developed by the American company Lockheed Martin in three versions: a ground fighter, a fighter with a short takeoff 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 Force: 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-30MK- Russian multi-purpose fighter of the 4+ generation, developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The fighter is designed to gain air supremacy, destroy air targets day and night, in simple and difficult meteorological conditions, as well as when using active and passive interference and airspace control.

3. Su-35- Russian multi-purpose 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 with the exception of the F-22 stealth fighter. The danger of the Su-35 is associated with the ability to carry a large stock of long-range air-to-air missiles, the ability to launch missiles at supersonic speeds, super maneuverability and powerful means electronic warfare.

2. F-22 Raptor ("Predator")- American fifth-generation multi-role fighter developed by Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics. The F-22 is the first fifth-generation fighter in service. Designed to gain air superiority. In the fighter laid latest developments in the field of avionics, electronics and stealth.

1. Su PAK-FA T-50- Russian multi-role fighter of the fifth generation, developed by a division of the United Aircraft Corporation - Sukhoi Design Bureau. In the fighter laid 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 speeds up to 1500 kilometers per hour. At the same time, speed is a decisive factor in the military industry. For this reason, we will consider the fastest fighters in the world. We are talking about unique developments, characterized by instant response and amazing maneuvering. For the latest fighters, the milestone of 2000 kilometers per hour is far from the limit. At the same time, many countries allocate huge amounts of money for armaments, which affects the appearance of unique analogues mentioned below.

The rating of the fastest fighters opens Dassault Rafale. This aircraft performs a huge range of tasks. The mission of the aircraft includes overcoming not only close, but also long distances. Rafael 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 1900 kilometers per hour. The fighter was developed by the French Navy back in 2004. But to this day, fighters, 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 put into operation in 1997. The Swedish Air Force has repeatedly modified the model. Currently, the maximum weapon opening speed is 2200 km/h or Mach 2.0. During the production period, 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 all over the world. Speed ​​2.3 Mach. This tool can land even on unprepared airfields and ships. Differs in good maneuverability. In total, close to 1500 such aircraft were produced, which is due to their endurance and wear resistance. A fighter can fight a long, active battle without losing speed and sharpness. It is worth noting that Indian manufacturers have achieved high achievements in the invention of 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 mentioned, 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 of the fastest fighters on the planet - the MiG-23. 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. Currently, the aircraft is in service with Syria, Libya and even India.

The representative of the German armed forces Typhoon was put into production in 2003. Max 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 land transport is made of a special coating that blocks electromagnetic waves. In this case, the combat radius of the fighter is 1390 km. Amazing results. The multipurpose aircraft is also used in the UK and Italy. In total, there are about five hundred such fighters in the world.

The fifth line goes to the Soviet military vessel Su-27. The fourth-generation Soviet multipurpose 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. Now it is in operation in the Russian Air Force, being the main fighter. Modifications of the Su-27 are in service with China, Ukraine, India and other states. The maximum speed that the aircraft is capable of is 2876.4 km / h (Mach 2.35). In total, about 809 such air units were produced.

The fastest fighter on the planet is the Grumman F-14, whose speed reaches 2485 kilometers per hour. The unique aircraft was developed by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. The first analogue appeared in 2006. On the this moment aircraft are being actively delivered to Iran, where the fighter is in service. We are talking about a reliable interceptor that can accompany 4 targets at once. At the same time, it can simultaneously capture up to 6 targets. It is known about the existence of 712 fighters.

The speed of this aircraft is 2,650 km/h. The development was presented by specialists from the USA. In its class, the aircraft is an irreproachable leader, as it is distinguished by excellent maneuverability. The tactical fighter appeared in 1976. At the same time, its production is scheduled until 2025 for the armament of America. Every year, employees of leading companies add innovations to improve the response and maneuvers of the aircraft. In total, 1500 such products are known to exist. All are in the USA.

The fastest fighter in the world considered MiG-31 with a speed of 3000 kilometers per hour. By the name, you have already guessed that it belongs to the heritage of Russia. Attracts with ample opportunities. The fighter is capable of intercepting targets and destroying enemy objects at high, low and medium altitudes. Also detects false heat targets. First appeared in 1981. Needless to say, it has gone through a lot of upgrades since then. It develops maximum speed at an altitude of 25 kilometers.

From the first steps of mankind in conquering the sky, the world has constantly observed the evolution of 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: missiles - simple and laser-guided, many types of bombs, as well as weapons that allow you to fly effective fight against enemy ships, and a system that prevents aircraft from being tracked 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 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 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

In the list of the most powerful fighters turned out to be the pride of the French armed forces - Dassault Rafale. 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 as navy The United States and the ground forces - it is actively used on the aircraft carriers of the fleet due to the short takeoff run distance and braking during 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 of Russian aviation. Today, this combat vehicle is on the same level as the American Raptor. Main Feature 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 "the best fighters in the 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 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." The supersonic "stealth machine", equipped with the latest 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…”
Lack of real combat experience negatively affects the evaluation of "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 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.
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 Corps Marine Corps United States 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 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 weapons and record range flight - 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 skies over the 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, the optical view in air combat has 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 vicissitudes: 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 longer airgun range and a 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. Separate page Falcon "and became 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 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 combat it became clear that the "Phantom" in vain abandoned the guns. 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. 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 aircraft in peacetime, the flight qualities of which make it possible to perform the most complex figures. aerobatics not included in 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.

Since the purpose of using aviation is not the same, it would not be correct to name only one. The concept of “best” can be divided into several categories: safe, expensive, fast and efficient.

The best passenger aircraft

Boeing 747 can safely be called the best passenger aircraft in history. This is not the safest, however, one of the most used and popular aircraft, which still overcomes the air spaces. The main features of the aircraft:

• He appeared back in 1969 and became the first who went on a flight to long-distance highways.
• More than 1.5 thousand copies have already been released.
• The cost is 260 million dollars.
• A distinctive feature is the "hump" of the upper deck.

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

• The longest flight in the air - 21,601 km of distance covered.
• Equipped with the most powerful General Electric GE90 jet engines in the world.
• It costs about 300 million dollars.
• Accommodates up to 550 passengers.
• year, 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 the Prince of Saudi Arabia, Al-Waleed bin Talalu. It's 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.

The main characteristics of the most expensive aircraft in the world:

• its value is over half a million dollars;
• only 15-20 people fit on board;
• this is a real house on wings: there are bedrooms, a bathhouse, gyms, banquet rooms and more;
• 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 the samples of this 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 produced 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! Each aircraft 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, serial samples will not soon reach record speeds, but individual experimental cases prove that humanity can do anything. So, 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 it was enough to reach an altitude of more than 107 km. The main task of this ultra-high-speed similarity of a rocket is to study the capabilities of winged vehicles on the verge 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 the official record. It was possible to achieve such indicators only from the third time. During the attempts, 2 aircraft sank in pacific ocean to avoid hitting the ground.

The best military aircraft

The legend of the USSR, still in service in Russia, Kazakhstan and China - the MiG-31. It is not always recorded in the ratings of the best fighters, however, this is one of those examples that has shown itself in practice, and not in theory. The main features of the 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 high range;
• equally effective in all weather conditions and time of day.

Interestingly, 4 of these interceptors are enough to control the air for 900 km. This device was used at first 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 matters of attacking terrestrial targets, however, as far as air protection is concerned, this is by far the best apparatus for achieving such strategic tasks. The cost of the liquidator of air threats is 120 million dollars and at the moment he is arming 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 radar-absorbing materials in the design.

Military experts are constantly arguing about 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 defend both the air and the ground. In addition, its turbojet engine allows it to achieve supersonic speeds without the use of afterburner, which theoretically allows writing this device into 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 - the 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 that is in service (US Air Force).
• This is the most expensive military aircraft - almost more than 146 million dollars.
• Flying at supersonic speeds.
• Covered with radio-absorbing materials.
• Universal.

In battle, the leader of our rating was used only once, in Syria. Around the only representative of the fifth generation there are many rumors about its high cost, low adaptability to bad weather conditions but there is no actual evidence for this.