The Soviet Su-27 fighter jet, or the American F-35 II Lightning, are two of the fastest military aircraft models in the world.
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| F-35 Lightning II (F-35 Lightning II) The F-35 Lightning II is the US military's fifth-generation fighter. It is promoted as a single-seat, single-engine, state-of-the-art fighter with outstanding features such as stealth capabilities combined with advanced sensors and electronic systems. The F-35 has a maximum speed of 1.6 times the speed of sound (Mach 1.6), about 1,930 km/h. Although the F-35 program has encountered constant problems due to delays and cost overruns, the fighter is still expected to replace older fighters in the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, according to Live Science. Photo: Joely Santiago, US Air Force. |
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| Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker is a twin-engine fighter aircraft developed by the former Soviet Union with the goal of surpassing advanced American aircraft. The Su-27 first flew in May 1977 and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1985. The Su-27 can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.35, about 2,500 km/h. The Su-27 was the best fighter aircraft of its time and is still in use in the Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian militaries today. Photo: Thomas J. Doscher, US Air Force. |
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| F-111 (F-111 Aardvark) The F-111 is a tactical attack aircraft developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, USA. The US Air Force first used this two-man aircraft in 1967 for bombing, reconnaissance and electronic warfare operations. The F-111 is capable of flying at Mach 2.5, about 2,655 km/h. This aircraft type has been retired since 1998. Photo: Kevin J. Gruenwald, US Air Force. |
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| F-15 Eagle Designed by McDonnell Douglas in 1967 to gain and maintain dominance in the skies during air battles, the F-15 is a twin-engine tactical fighter that operates well in all weather conditions. The "Eagle" first took off in July 1972 and officially served the US Air Force in 1976. The F-15 is capable of flying at speeds greater than Mach 2.5, about 2,655 km/h and is considered one of the most successful aircraft ever built. It will serve the US Air Force until 2025 and is exported to many other countries such as Japan, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Photo: Christopher Hubenthal, US Air Force. |
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| MiG-31 (MiG-31 Foxhound) The MiG-31 is a large, twin-engine, two-man supersonic aircraft designed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau to intercept foreign aircraft at high speeds. The MiG-31 first flew in September 1975 and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1982. The MiG-31 has a speed of Mach 2.83, about 3,000 km/h, and is capable of supersonic speeds even at low altitudes. The MiG-31 is still in service with the Russian Air Force and the Air Force of Kazakhstan. Photo: Sputnik. |
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| XB-70 Valkyrie The giant six-engine XB-70 Valkyrie was designed by North American Aviation in the late 1950s as a strategic bomber equipped with nuclear weapons. The XB-70 Valkyrie reached a speed of Mach 3.02, about 2,000 mph, at an altitude of 70,000 feet over Edwards Air Force Base, California. From 1964 to 1969, two XB-70s were built and used in test flights. One crashed in a mid-air collision in 1966, while the other is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio. Photo: US Air Force. |
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| Bell X-2 "Starbuster" The Bell Aircraft Corporation developed the rocket-powered Bell X-2 research aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (the predecessor of NASA) in 1945. The Bell X-2 helped study the aerodynamic problems of supersonic aircraft at speeds between Mach 2 and Mach 3. The X-2, nicknamed the "Starbuster," completed its first flight in October 1955. A year later, in September 1956, Captain Milburn Apt flew the X-2 to Mach 3.2 (3,370 km/h), at an altitude of 65,000 feet. When it reached speeds greater than Mach 3, Captain Apt attempted to turn the aircraft. This caused the aircraft to spiral out of control and Apt's attempts to regain control of the aircraft were unsuccessful. This unfortunate accident put an end to the X-2 program, after a total of 20 test flights. Photo: NASA |
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| MiG-25 Foxbat The MiG-25 is one of the fastest military aircraft in service, designed to intercept enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds and collect reconnaissance data. The MiG-25 made its first flight in 1964, and has been in service with the Soviet Air Force since 1970. With an incredible top speed of Mach 3.2, about 3,524 km/h, the fighter is still in service with the air forces of several countries today. Photo: Wikipedia |
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| Lockheed YF-12 Lockheed Corporation developed the Lockheed YF-12 prototype in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was a two-man, Mach 3 interceptor. Tests of the YF-12 were conducted in Area 51, the top-secret US Air Force test and training area. The YF-12 first flew in 1963 and reportedly reached a top speed of Mach 3.2, about 2,000 mph, at an altitude of 80,000 feet. The US Air Force later canceled the program, but research flights continued until 1978. Photo: US Air Force. |
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| SR-71 Blackbird (SR-71 Blackbird) The SR-71 Blackbird is an advanced Cold War era reconnaissance aircraft, with two seats, two engines, designed by Lockheed in the 1960s. During a reconnaissance mission, if potential threats such as surface-to-air missiles are detected, the SR-71 will accelerate and quickly escape danger. It can reach a speed of Mach 3.3, about 3,540 km/h, at an altitude of 24,400 m. The SR-71 made its first flight in December 1964 and served the US Air Force from 1964 to 1998. The SR-71 is one of the greatest achievements of aviation technology during the Cold War. Photo: US Air Force. |
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| X-15 The X-15 was part of the X-plane experimental fleet operated by NASA and the US Air Force. During the early 1960s, the X-15 set several speed and altitude records, reaching 100 km (62 mi) twice in 1963. The X-15 still holds the world record for the fastest manned aircraft, reaching Mach 6.72, or about 7,274 km/h (4,500 mph). During the X-15 program, 13 flights by 8 different pilots exceeded 80 km (50 mi), the US Air Force's standard altitude for spaceflight. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon, was also an X-15 pilot. Photo: US Air Force. |
According to VNE
