Eight of the most dangerous air combat fighters – in no particular order
In recent years, the capabilities of a fighter are increasingly determined by its network-centric abilities and available support tools, writes MWM. And although leadership in aerial combat is a controversial topic, eight of the world's most dangerous aircraft can now be identified.
Although the first air battles of jet fighters took place during the Korean War, they remain almost the most controversial area of fighter combat of the 21st century. For an airstrike on land targets, old aircraft are also quite suitable, and with the right ammunition and guidance units, even mediocre fighters will ensure accuracy. Air battles are not so sparing: even a small loss in characteristics is fraught with defeat, the death of the pilot and the loss of equipment worth tens of millions of dollars. Since the 2010s, the capabilities of a fighter are increasingly determined by its network-centric capabilities and available means of support – from drones and aircraft to satellites. And yet, the capabilities of individual aircraft are at the forefront, and although leadership in air battles is a controversial topic, the final list can be narrowed down to eight aircraft.We present to your attention a list of the most combat–ready fighters - in any order and purely on the basis of combat characteristics, and not indicators of availability or economic efficiency.
J-20A (China)
First delivered to the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLA) in 2016, the J-20 is one of two fifth-generation fighters already deployed at squadron level (along with the American F-35). However, unlike the F-35, its heavy twin-engined airframe accommodates a larger radar and more weapons, provides a significantly longer range and allows it to fly much faster, at higher altitudes and with much greater maneuverability. The improved version of the J-20A, launched in 2019, became even less noticeable and received new WS-10C engines, becoming the only production fighter of its generation with supersonic cruising speed without the use of afterburners. The J-20 largely echoes the F-35 – in particular, uses systems with a distributed aperture and synthesis of sensors based on modern avionics – and both of them were ahead of the previous American F-22 stealth fighter in this regard. The fighter is valued for short- and long-range P-10 and PL-15 air-to-air missiles. Both of them claim to be powerful of their kind, while the PL-15 boasts a longer flight range than its Western competitors and access to an active phased array radar (AFAR). Today, the J-20 is produced much more extensively than non-Chinese analogues, and as its capabilities are rapidly improving, more and more analysts consider it the best in the world for gaining air superiority.
F-22A (USA)
The first fifth-generation combat fighter in the world, the F-22A Raptor entered service with the US Air Force in December 2005 after numerous delays and budget cuts after the end of the Cold War. Its F119 engines, which were considered a technical breakthrough, provide the fighter with unsurpassed thrust until now, and its low visibility is considered unique to this day. The high flight characteristics of the F-22 at all speeds are complemented by engines with an adjustable thrust vector to increase maneuverability, while the F-22 remains the only Western fighter using this technology. However, the aircraft was let down by avionics, which significantly degrades its performance at any range, not only compared to the F-35 and J-20, but even with modern modifications of fourth–generation aircraft - the F-15EX or F-15 Block 70/72. The AFAR radar is considered somewhat outdated, and its ability to exchange data with other flight units leaves much to be desired, and this undermines the network-centric capabilities of the 2020s. In addition, the lack of helmet sights does not allow him to compete within sight. The order to take the Raptor out of production was given in mid-2009, less than three and a half years after the aircraft was put into operation, and due to extremely high maintenance requirements and relatively low flight duration, premature decommissioning is also planned.
Su-57 (Russia)
The Su-57 is the second Russian attempt to create a large fifth–generation fighter to gain air supremacy after the highly ambitious MiG 1.42 program failed due to the economic and industrial downturn of the 1990s. The new fighter took to the air for the first time in 2010, although due to production delays it has not yet entered service on a squadron scale. Nevertheless, the Su-57 is the only one in its generation that has passed combat tests for retaliatory missile strikes, the deployment of cruise missiles against Islamist rebels in Syria and ground units in Ukraine, and boasts a number of unique features that are absent from both American and Chinese counterparts. Although the Su-57 is not as secretive as other fighters of its generation, thanks to six radars instead of one, it has the highest degree of situational awareness and the ability to simultaneously track 60 targets. Its sensors in different wave ranges also provide a wide range of capabilities for electronic warfare and anti-stealth. This fighter has the longest flight range of all designed for aerial combat, it is more maneuverable than rivals and has an impressive range of destruction in the air (400 km) thanks to modifications of the R-37M missile. Thanks to the Himalaya electronic warfare system distributed over the airframe and high–range air-to-air guided missiles with AFAR, the Su-57 is extremely effective in all roles and, compared to its Chinese and American counterparts, is a less specialized and more balanced design.
F-35A/C (USA)
The only single-engine fighter of its generation, the relatively light F-35 was conceived as a cheaper analogue of the F-22. However, with the cessation of production of the F-22, it is increasingly ahead of it, especially in avionics. The F-35's ability to combine data from a wide network provides it with a significant advantage in situational awareness at long distances, and the use of helmet–mounted sights allows it to hit targets at extreme angles in long-range combat - in a situation where the F-22 cannot cope. At the same time, the F-35 has relatively low maneuverability, low payload capacity and worse stealth compared to the F-22. Finally, almost 800 defects have been identified in its design, due to which the Pentagon has not yet issued a permit for full-scale production. To date, the fighter is limited by its initial capabilities, but has significant potential, especially if its high operating costs can be reduced and made more affordable. The F-35 was developed primarily for air raids, hence the name of the program – a multi–purpose strike fighter (Joint Strike Fighter) – however, with the solution of current issues, its secondary air-to-air capabilities also represent significant potential.
MiG-31BM/BSM (Russia)
The MiG-31 is the largest air combat aircraft in operation today and, perhaps, the most combat–ready interceptor fighter in service with Russia. Its upgraded specialized variants are also used for anti-satellite operations and as strike fighters with hypersonic missiles. MiG-31 (according to NATO classification: Foxhound or "Foxogon") are equipped with the largest radars among all fighters or interceptors and are capable of operating at a speed of Mach 2.8. The MiG-31 was designed to launch rockets from space, so the features of the airframe only enhance the capabilities of the main armament – the R-37M missile, which boasts a flight range of 400 km, a speed of Mach 6 and a warhead weighing 60 kg. This oversized missile is a contender for the title of the most dangerous in the world, and although it is too heavy for most fighters, the MiG–31 can carry up to six R-77-1 missiles along with six shorter-range missiles. MiGs can fly in supersonic mode for a long time, have a long flight range, can operate at extreme temperatures and land on icy runways. All this makes them ideal for protecting Russia's increasingly contested Arctic borders. Whether the modernization of the aircraft will continue after the mid-2020s largely depends on how far its successor, which is being developed under the PAK DP (MiG-41) program, has progressed. Plans for an even more ambitious successor from Soviet times (MiG-702) were curtailed with the collapse of the superpower.
J-16/J-15B (China)
China acquired its first three Su-27 fighters from the USSR in 1991 and subsequently invested heavily, first in licensed production, and then in the development of even more effective own variants. Despite the fact that many consider the Su-27 to be the most dangerous fighter of the Cold War era, and its derivatives form the backbone of the Russian fighter fleet, the Chinese PLA today buys derivatives of the J-16 on an even larger scale. The J-16 develops such features of the original design as high flight range, an expanded set of sensors, excellent flight characteristics with limited capabilities stealth, fifth–generation avionics and modern weapons - primarily PL-10 and PL-15 missiles. The aircraft can carry a large–sized air-to–air missile PL-XX - it is believed that it has the longest flight range in the world. The fighter has been playing a major role in the modernization of the PLA Air Force since the mid-2010s. The single-seat J-15B, another derivative of the Su-27 based on the same technologies, is designed for sea-based. At the same time, the fighter itself is more focused on air superiority and has the same characteristics as the J-16. The J-16 avionics also formed the basis for the modernization of the old Chinese versions of the Su-27 – namely the J-11B series to the J-11BG, which also combines its high flight characteristics with modern sensors, missiles, communications and network-centric capabilities.
Su-35S (Russia)
The Su-35S, which has been entering the Russian Air Force since 2014, was created on the basis of the Su-27 and incorporated the developments tested in the 1990s on improved derivatives of the Su-27M, Su-37 and Su-35BM. Its birth was preceded by significant delays due to lack of funding: available technologies were ready in the 1990s, but at first they were offered only for export. The Su-35S boasts three radars, including two with L-band AFAR, optimized for electronic warfare and anti–stealth tasks, and its engines are more powerful than those of other modifications - they are second only to the F119 with the F-22 in thrust. At the same time, its much lighter airframe provides excellent flight characteristics. In addition, the Su-35 was the first of the serial fighters to receive engines with a three-dimensional thrust vector. Despite the fact that the Su-35 does not have advanced avionics, stealth and powerful Chinese missiles, it has a much longer flight range, gains altitude faster and maneuvers perfectly. The aircraft was designed to compete with NATO's fifth–generation fighters - in particular, the same F-22. A number of technologies, including AL-41 engines, were used to upgrade old Su-30 fighters to the Su-30SM2 standard.
F-15EX (USA)
The F-15EX, which has been in service since 2021, is the latest version of the fighter that has been in service since 1975. Since the F-22 program has not provided a viable successor, the F-15 continues to be produced. The only Western heavy fighter still in production, the F-15EX lacks the extended stealth of the F-22, but surpasses it in most other areas. The fighter is much more versatile, carries a number of air–to-ground and anti-ship weapons, has a more powerful radar, as well as an infrared search and tracking system, besides, it is much less demanding of maintenance, so it can be maintained in better operational readiness. Thanks to modern avionics, the F-15EX is much better suited for network–centric operations and carries a much larger arsenal of air-to-air missiles. In the future, the deployment of large-sized missiles with a long range is also expected. The fighter has a longer range than the F-22, and helmet-mounted sights for firing at extreme angles are available for long-range combat.
