The most powerful fighter in the world. The best military aircraft in the world Modern fighters of the world

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 prince's hangar. 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 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 creating the B-2 Spirit was 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. Max Speed achieved by this drone is 11,200 km/h, which is this moment is the official record. It was possible to achieve such indicators only from the third time. During the attempts, 2 aircraft sank in the Pacific Ocean to avoid collision with land.

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.

The real threat to other aircraft is 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 rating. the best planes. 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.

In modern military conflicts, very often the decisive word is for those who have air supremacy. A powerful attack aircraft or bomber is capable of inflicting irreparable damage to ground or surface targets. Therefore, it is not surprising that the military aviation industry around the world pays great attention to aircraft capable of destroying the air threat, namely, fighters.

Aircraft designers in many countries have long been competing in the creation of the most powerful, fast, maneuverable and armed fighters. Which of the masterpieces of aircraft construction today holds the title of the best fighter?

Criteria

It is rather difficult to say directly that some aircraft is the best. It depends on what meaning is attached to the term best fighter. Of course, ideal option comparison of air combat vehicles existing today, there could be a real battle between them. But this is unlikely, since the best fighters are in service with developed countries, a direct military conflict between which in conditions modern globalization unlikely.

• maximum speed;
• maneuverability;
• armament;
• survival;
• detection protection;
• flight duration etc. .

This is the most expensive fighter in the world, it was developed by Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics. This is the world's only fifth-generation multirole fighter in service. This twin-engine flight machine is capable of holding speeds in excess of Mach 1.5 without afterburner. A total of 145 machines were manufactured, the cost of each of which is more than $400 million (including investments in its development).

Composite materials from carbon fiber were widely used in production. Its increased survivability is based on the principle that the first to discover, the first to strike. The fighter is equipped with Stealth technology, and its standard weapons are placed in special internal compartments. This significantly reduces the visibility of the combat vehicle.

It is believed that this is the most powerful fighter. This combat aircraft is a major upgrade of the famous Su-27 and belongs to the 4++ generation. The only thing that prevented this super-maneuverable fighter from reaching the fifth generation was the lack of "Stealth" technology.

The armament of the aircraft includes:

• unguided missile;
• guided missile "air-to-surface";
• guided missile "air-to-air";
• bombing;
• gunnery.

Among the electronic systems, it is worth noting the inertial navigation BINS-SP2, with the help of which, autonomously, without the use of satellite navigation systems and in the absence of communication with ground services, the location of the aircraft is determined. A special highlight and indicator of the maneuverability of a combat vehicle is the ability to make a U-turn in a horizontal plane without reducing speed ("pancake").

When creating this aircraft, many technological developments from the F-22 were used. A cool new fighter jet has been chosen as a replacement for the expensive F-22, which was discontinued in 2009. Armed with universal fighting machine Generation 5 will arrive in 2020. The aircraft has only one engine, Pratt & Whitney F135 (for F-35A and F-35C modifications). For the modification of the F-35B, the power plant was designed with the participation of Rolls-Royce Defense.

There are three modifications:

• F-35A - standard version;
• F-35B - vertical landing short takeoff version;
• F-35C - version for carrier-based aviation (catapult takeoff, landing - arrester).

Particularly noteworthy is the pilot's helmet, which currently exists only in the form prototype. Its functionality allows the pilot to see "through the cockpit", including even at night, in infrared range. In addition, the pilot's visors will be supplied with information necessary for navigation, flight and combat.

T-50

At present, only prototypes of the fighter developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau have been released. The start of serial production is planned for 2015. This is a generation 5 fighter, which has a traditional wing shape with two power plants. In his arsenal precision weapons and radar with an active phased array antenna. The takeoff weight of the T-50 is 20t. It's pretty fast fighter, his top speed reaches 2.5 M. The T-50 should replace the SU-27.

In addition to fighters from American and Russian aircraft designers, the best combat aircraft include models developed by the French, Swedes, Germans and Chinese. They also deserve attention.

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 military and local conflicts, performing the most complex operations. To date, this type of aircraft has reached inexpressibly in its development high point progress. 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 radars.

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 combat vehicle is equipped with one of the 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 weapons- 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 conduct accurate 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

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 ground forces- it is actively used on fleet aircraft carriers due to the short takeoff run distance and braking distance - 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 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 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.

Starting 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 great importance aircraft in combat. Without the ability to effectively resist the actions of the assault and bomber aviation the enemy has no chance of winning. And for this you need funds. air defense, and aircraft of a special type, with 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 characteristics, it is very difficult to find an all-encompassing 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 these can be initial developments 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.

The swift, compact and highly maneuverable MiG-15 crushed the seemingly unshakable power strategic aviation USA. 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. The degree of visibility of an aircraft for enemy radars has become extremely important. 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 a successful experience combat use"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: by the time of development, the shape and type of the wing, information richness 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, to 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 turn of 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 prevented economic nature. AT 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, electronic equipment- 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 for a long time did not bother with the task of developing their own aircraft. 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 (delta-shaped "duck" without the classic tail) eloquently says that this time the Chinese aircraft builders did without external borrowings, 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 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 strong and weak sides these very different planes.
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 it is superior, but combat experience it is not enough for him to absolutely win the competition for the title of "the best fighter in the world." 2014 was marked by the adoption of a dozen Su-35S aircraft, which are a deeply modernized version of the Su-27, into the combat units of the Russian Air Force.
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 ...

In the conditions of the modern civilized world, military conflicts are rare, but if they arise, then a huge advantage will be on the side of the country, which has more powerful air equipment. This is not at all strange, because combat flying machines are capable of inflicting irreparable damage to the enemy. Exactly because of this reason military aviation each country completes its arsenal with aircraft capable of destroying ground threats instantly.

Millions aircraft designers compete with each other who will create the best fighter in the world, paying great attention to even the smallest details. In order to understand which of the existing fighter aircraft today really deserves the title of the best, attention should be paid to the criteria, which are placed in front of an ideal combat aircraft.

Criteria for modern fighters

The decisive step in military operations, as the practice of wars in Korea, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq and other countries shows, is precisely aviation. In order to determine which fighter is capable of bringing victory to its country, it is required to consider in more detail the operational characteristics and features of each of the applicants.

It is possible to understand which fighter is better only by observing a real collision between them, but such a development of events is unlikely, since all problems and disagreements are resolved peacefully. There are, of course, a number of criteria that, according to experts, are the main ones. So, the important features of the aircraft are:

• fighter speed;
• his survival;
• a set of weapons;
• maneuverability in the air;
• detection protection;
• flight length and duration.

The criteria for an ideal military aircraft are constantly changing, as each new model is modified and re-equipped. Unfortunately, in order to gain experience and understand what exactly is needed to create a powerful fighter, you have to pay - the size of human lives.

Features of the most famous cars of our time

As you know, each “air fighter” has several of its own characteristics, which we will now try to figure out, and at the end we will summarize and make assumptions about who can really enter the top 10 best fighters in the world. For comparison, we chose representatives of various manufacturing countries, but Russian and American developers are still in the lead in the top.

• F-22 raptor;
• Su-35S;
• F-35Lightnig;
• T-50;
• Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe";
• Mig 25;
• British Aerospace Sea Harrier;
• Mitsubishi A6M;
• F-16 Fighting Falcon;
• German Typhoon;
• gripen;
• Rafale;
• F-15 Eagle.

F-22 Raptor

Let's start with the development of a well-known company called Lockheed Martin - F-22 Raptor.

F-22 Raptor

This model is the most expensive fighter in the world. A total of 145 such combat vehicles were produced. This is the only multi-purpose aircraft of its kind that can reach speeds of more than Mach 1.5 without afterburner. Equipped with two engines, so it has a large. As the saying goes: "Whoever found the enemy faster, he won the fight." Thanks to the technology "Stealth", which is equipped with a fighter, it is less noticeable in the air.

Video about the aircraft "F-22 Raptor":

We have identified the Su-35S as the second contender for the title of the best

This is a combat vehicle, which most consider the most powerful development belonging to the 4 ++ class.

Su-35S

The only factor that separates the Su-35 from the fifth generation of aircraft is the lack of Stealth technology. But despite this, the fighter includes several types of weapons:

• air-to-ground guided missile bombardment;
• unguided missile;
• air-to-air guided missile;
• small arms and cannon bombardment;
• bomb.

In order for the fighter to operate autonomously and in situations in which there is no connection with satellite navigation systems, and the pilot can keep in touch with ground services, it is equipped with an inertial navigation electronic system BINS-SP2. A feature of this model, according to experts, is its maneuverability. He is able to make a turn in a horizontal plane without a significant decrease in flight speed. The maximum speed at high altitude is 2500 kilometers per hour. Flight range - 3600 kilometers.

Video about the Su-35S aircraft:

F-35 Lightning

This is a fifth generation air combat vehicle, which is equipped with one Pratt & Whitney engine.

F-35 Lightning

The power plant for this model was developed by Rolls-Royce employees. There are three types of modifications to the F-35 Lightning fighter:

• F-35A - standard development;
• F-35B - version of the fighter with a vertical landing and a significantly shortened takeoff;
• F-35C - version designed for carrier-based aviation, catapult-type takeoff, landing - arrester.

The F-35 Lightning features a unique pilot helmet. It is still under development, but its functionality is simply amazing. Thanks to modern innovative technologies, the pilot can see through the cockpit of a fighter even in the infrared range. The crew's visors are supplied with all the most necessary navigation information for combat. Able to reach speeds of 1900 km per hour.

Video about the aircraft "F-35 Lightning":

T-50

It can claim a place in the lineup of the best, while it is still in development, the start of its production is scheduled for 2015.

T-50

The main one should be a large radius of destruction. The combat arsenal of the fighter will include high-precision weapons and a radar with a phased array antenna. The takeoff weight of the fighter is 20 tons. It develops speed up to 2.5M. average speed- 2600 kilometers per hour.

Video about the T-50 aircraft:

Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe"

This is the world's first combat fighter, which was able to develop 900 km per hour.

Messerschmitt Me.262

Its airborne weapons include four 30-millimeter cannons with a hundred rounds, as well as 24 unguided rockets.

Video about the aircraft "Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe"":

Mig 25

The development of Soviet scientists, which has come a long way to perfection and now belongs to the fifth generation.

Mig 25

This supersonic interceptor at one time set 29 records. In the reconnaissance mode, the aircraft becomes much lighter and accelerates to 2.8 M. A feature of the fighter is its ability to capture more than 2 tons of bombs in flight.

Video about the aircraft "Mig 25":

British Aerospace Sea Harrier

Fighter vertical type takeoff and the same landing.

This aircraft has been in service for a long time. Marine Corps in the USA.

British Aerospace Sea Harrier in the sky

The secret in the development was the creation of lifting thrust, on which British aircraft designers worked for many years. The developers used a single power unit - Rolls-Royce Pegasus with a deflectable thrust vector.

Video about the aircraft "British Aerospace Sea Harrier":

Mitsubishi A6M

They call it a “mystery aircraft”, since the developers of Mitsubishi managed to combine the incompatible - maneuverability and a record flight range for a fighter, which is 2600 km with equipment of 2.5 tons.

Mitsubishi A6M

Mitsubishi A6M is the embodiment of the samurai spirit, which with its appearance despises everything that is connected with it. This can be understood by the fact that the Japanese-made fighter is completely devoid of armor.

Video about the aircraft "Mitsubishi A6M":

F-16 Fighting Falcon

It has a huge advantage in optical visibility, as it is equipped with a non-binding flashlight.

F-16 Fighting Falcon

The fighter's turning speed is 21.5 degrees per second. In a second, the fighter is gaining a height of 294 meters. This is a pretty good indicator. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is equipped with a huge set of weapons, it is capable of using unguided and guided missiles, as well as anti-radar missiles in combat.

Video about the aircraft "F-16 Fighting Falcon":

F-15 Eagle

According to the BBC, this is a real "killer", in its history of existence, it brought 104 victories without a single defeat.

F-15 Eagle

No one has been able to shoot down this air machine. Today, none of the existing fighters can boast of such an indicator as that of the F-15 Eagle. The fighter model is capable of active combat even in extreme conditions - day or night, in any unforeseen meteorological conditions, at low and high altitudes.

Video about the aircraft "F-15 Eagle":

J-10

Also, it should not be ignored, since the Chinese aircraft designers did their best.

J-10

This fighter is called "duck" because of its specific design. The horizontal rudder of the fighter is moved more forward and is located almost in front of the wing. When the pilot needs to point the plane up, instead of the usual lowering, the layout of the plane raises its nose and thereby increases its rate of climb. The tailless J-10 system, with all its features, is aerodynamically unstable, especially when it comes to supersonic speeds. The fighter crew may consist of one or two people. There is a function of refueling in flight mode.

Video about the aircraft "J-10":

German Typhoon

It is striking in the variety of materials from which it is made.

Typhoon

Carbon composite ribs, carbon composites, titanium, and even aluminum-lithium alloys took part in the manufacture. Stealth technology makes the aircraft visually invisible even at a small distance from the enemy. Armed with a Mauser VK27 cannon, as well as air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

Video about the aircraft "Typhoon":

Gripen - Swedish fighter of the fourth generation

Today it is one of the main air combat vehicles of the country.

Gripen

This fighter is able to flawlessly perform several combat missions simultaneously, namely, to be an attack aircraft and a reconnaissance aircraft. Equipped with a Volvo Aero RM12 turbofan, thanks to which it is able to develop a flight range of 2800 kilometers.

Video about the aircraft "Gripen":

Rafale

It is a French combat aircraft that can perform a wide range of tasks at short and long distances from the enemy, including flawlessly hitting its enemy both at sea and on land.

Rafale

The French government allocated 3 million euros for the development of this fighter. In March 2007, this fighter was adopted by NATO. It is equipped with a double-circuit turbojet engine. It develops a speed of 1900 kilometers per hour, the combat radius is 1800 kilometers.

Video about the aircraft "Rafale":

Each war and air combat conflict introduce their own rules and characteristics of warfare, therefore, reading the characteristics of all of the above air fighters, it is quite difficult to determine from the first time who is the leader among them. So far, the F-22 raptor is giving the championship, but each of the fighters is constantly being modified and updated, so it changes very quickly. Today there are five generations of air machines, the sixth generation, which will have even more innovations, is still under development and is completely classified. What will surprise the world with a sixth generation fighter, we can only guess.