Aircraft database
Fighter Jet Comparisons
Twenty-four aircraft compared on speed, ceiling, generation, cost and role — plus head-to-head breakdowns of the matchups people actually argue about.
Updated September 2026 · 24 aircraft · 17 comparisons · Free to cite with attribution
How do fighter jets compare?
No single aircraft leads on every measure. The F-22 Raptor is the most capable air superiority fighter; the F-35 Lightning II has the best sensors and the widest role. The MiG-25 Foxbat is among the fastest aircraft still flying, and the F-15 Eagle holds the best combat record of any fighter in history. Comparison depends entirely on which of those you weight most heavily.
Among the fastest still flying
MiG-25 Foxbat
Mach 2.83
Best combat record
F-15 Eagle
100 wins, 0 losses
Most advanced
F-22 Raptor
Fifth generation
Best sensors
F-35 Lightning II
Sensor fusion
Most produced
F-16 Fighting Falcon
4,600+ built
Every aircraft compared
Ranked by generation, then top speed. Sortable on the live site.
Aircraft
Gen.
Top speed
Role
F-22 Raptor
Gen.
5th
Top speed
Mach 2 class
Role
Air superiority
F-35 Lightning II
Gen.
5th
Top speed
Mach 1.6
Role
Stealth multirole
J-20 Mighty Dragon
Gen.
5th
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Role
Air superiority
Su-57 Felon
Gen.
5th
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Role
Stealth multirole
J-35 / FC-31
Gen.
5th
Top speed
Mach 1.8
Role
Carrier stealth
KAI KF-21 Boramae
Gen.
4.5
Top speed
Mach 1.8
Role
Multirole
Su-35 Flanker-E
Gen.
4.5
Top speed
Mach 2.25
Role
Multirole
Eurofighter Typhoon
Gen.
4.5
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Role
Multirole
Dassault Rafale
Gen.
4.5
Top speed
Mach 1.8
Role
Multirole
Saab Gripen E
Gen.
4.5
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Role
Multirole
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Gen.
4.5
Top speed
Mach 1.8
Role
Carrier multirole
Chengdu J-10C
Gen.
4.5
Top speed
Mach 2.2
Role
Multirole
MiG-31 Foxhound
Gen.
4th
Top speed
Mach 2.83
Role
Interceptor
F-15 Eagle
Gen.
4th
Top speed
Mach 2.5
Role
Air superiority
Su-27 Flanker
Gen.
4th
Top speed
Mach 2.35
Role
Air superiority
MiG-29 Fulcrum
Gen.
4th
Top speed
Mach 2.3
Role
Multirole
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Gen.
4th
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Role
Multirole
Dassault Mirage 2000
Gen.
4th
Top speed
Mach 2.2
Role
Multirole
F-14 Tomcat
Gen.
4th
Top speed
Mach 2.34
Role
Carrier interceptor
MiG-25 Foxbat
Gen.
3rd
Top speed
Mach 2.83
Role
Interceptor
F-4 Phantom II
Gen.
3rd
Top speed
Mach 2.23
Role
Multirole
SR-71 Blackbird
Gen.
—
Top speed
Mach 3+
Role
Reconnaissance
A-10 Thunderbolt II
Gen.
—
Top speed
706 km/h
Role
Close air support
L-39 Albatros
Gen.
—
Top speed
750 km/h
Role
Jet trainer
Cost per unit at time of production. Ceilings are published service ceilings, not record altitudes.
Fifth-generation matchups
European and export matchups
Aircraft you can actually fly
Comparison questions
What is the best fighter jet in the world?
There is no single best fighter jet in the world. The F-22 Raptor leads on air superiority, the F-35 Lightning II on sensors and versatility, the MiG-25 Foxbat on speed, and the F-15 Eagle on combat record.
Which fighter jet is the fastest?
The fastest fighter jet still flying is the MiG-25 Foxbat, listed at Mach 2.83 by the National Museum of the US Air Force. The fastest ever built is the SR-71 Blackbird at Mach 3+, or the X-15 at Mach 6.72 counting experimental aircraft.
What makes a fighter jet fifth generation?
A fifth-generation fighter jet combines stealth shaping, sensor fusion, internal weapons carriage and networked situational awareness. Supercruise is often included, though the F-35 lacks it.
Which fighter jet has won the most dogfights?
The F-15 Eagle has won the most dogfights, with more than 100 air-to-air victories and no losses across fifty years of service with several air forces.
Can a civilian fly any of the fighter jets compared here?
No. Civilians cannot fly any of the frontline fighter jets compared here. One aircraft on this page, the L-39 Albatros, is bookable, and the MiG-15 Fagot and Hawker Hunter in the wider database can be booked too.
