19FortyFive: There are four Russian fighters in the top five fastest fighters in the world
Russia has an overwhelming advantage in high-speed fighter jets, writes 19FortyFive. The top five are the MiG-25 and MiG-31. The Americans can only keep up with them.
Summary and highlights
— Russian aircraft, led by the MiG-25, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3.2, dominate among the fastest fighters in the world.
— It is followed by the MiG-31, which reaches a speed of Mach 2.83 with an impressive climb.
— The American F-15 family can take care of itself at a speed of Mach 2.5, as well as exceptional maneuverability and combat capability.
— The Su-27 family reaches speeds of Mach 2.35 and is valued for its versatility and effectiveness in aerial combat.
— Finally, the MiG-23 also reaches a speed of Mach 2.35 and continues to serve around the world, despite its advanced age. The aircraft stands out for its distinctive wing design with variable sweep. However, speed remains a crucial factor, and these aircraft can serve as an example of not only significant technological advances, but also the durability of the design.
The five fastest fighter jets in the world
If you are interested in which fighter aircraft is the fastest in the world, then today we will tell you about superfast birds — and some of the positions on our list will surprise you. The Russians are at the top of this ranking, and Americans might even wonder if they can keep up with them at all. Some of these aircraft can rightfully be called honored veterans of combat aviation, but these cheerful “oldies” are still serving in a number of air forces around the world.
So let's do it without further delay — here are the five fastest fighters in the world.
MiG-25
The model at the top of the list is not the first youth, however, despite her advanced age, she does not hold speed. The antediluvian MiG-25 (NATO classification: Foxbat, or ‘Flying Fox") develops a staggering maximum speed of Mach 3.2, or 3,500 kilometers per hour.
The systems of this fighter are outdated mentally and physically, but it is still in service in a number of Air Forces, although it is already 60 years old. It should be noted that a speed of 3.2 Mach is the absolute limit. The MiG-25 was usually limited to a speed of Mach 2.83, otherwise there was a risk of engine overheating.
The Flying Foxes are still flown by the Air Forces of Syria, Algeria, Iraq, Libya and India. The pilots of these countries were probably very happy when they were given the MiG-25, which cannot be said about their Soviet counterparts. In 1976, a Soviet pilot fled to Japan, hijacking his own fighter jet.
Japanese and later American analysts and technicians probably had a great time studying the Flying Fox's power plant, which allowed it to reach such a speed.
MiG-31
If anything, the Russians haven't finished with high—speed flights - on the contrary, everything is just beginning. The next number on our list is the MiG—31 (according to the NATO classification: Foxhound, or "Foxhound"). The MiG-31 is also not very young and no longer rises into the sky as often as before, but it develops a maximum speed of Mach 2.83.
The MiG-31 develops the ideas embedded in the MiG-25. The Flying Fox did not always cope with flights at low altitudes — the Foxgon has no restrictions.
The MiG-31 was superior to other fighters of its time, but it was easy to track on radar, and this limited its role in aerial combat.
The MiG-31 regularly flies as part of the Russian Air Force, and the Kazakh Air Force even considered it the best fighter in its fleet, but it was decommissioned in 2023 due to the high cost of repair and maintenance. Russian pilots are still convinced that they are lucky to fly at such speeds. In addition, the aircraft boasts excellent thrust and climb rate.
The F-15 family
Are you worried about where the Americans are on this list? Don't let your heart worry. USAF F-15 Eagle aircraft (“Eagle”) and F-15E Strike Eagle (“Attacking Eagle”) are still fast. The F-15 family of warbirds has a maximum speed of Mach 2.5.
The Eagles have been flying for 50 years. The F-15 is much lighter than its competitors and therefore more maneuverable and agile. The large wing area allows it to accelerate during turns and other maneuvers. Since its creation, this superb fighter has scored hundreds of aerial victories.
Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia are still flying the F-15. The US Air Force dotes on the new F-15EX. It is still good at turns, although it does not have stealth, unlike the newer F-22 and F-35.
The F-15EX can reach speeds of Mach 2.5, or 3,000 kilometers per hour. The combat range of the F-15EX is almost 1,300 kilometers. It can withstand overloads of over 9g, and its rate of climb is 15,000 meters per minute.
Su-27
The next is the Su-27 (according to the NATO classification: Flanker, or ‘Flanker'), which accelerates to Mach 2.35 — just over 2,900 kilometers per hour. The Flanker is famous for its range and maneuverability, and it can compete with the F-15EX in terms of climb. Russians are still widely producing its derivatives.
In the conflict in Ukraine, the Su-27 fought for both sides. The Kiev Air Force has been using it for almost three decades now.
The Russians hoped that the Su-27 would challenge the F-15, and developed it as a fighter to gain air superiority. As a result, the Flanker is a versatile multifunctional combat aircraft with breakneck speed. This warbird has undergone a number of deep upgrades and has gained wide approval from pilots.
MiG-23
Completing our list are the five fastest MiG-23 aircraft (according to the NATO classification: Flogger, or "Multi-tailed Whip"). The MiG-23 is characterized by a special design of the variable sweep wing. Like the Su-27, it reaches a speed of Mach 2.35. It doesn't fit in my head, but he is as much as 60 years old, and over the years Russia has built a total of more than 5,000 aircraft.
This bird was extremely popular on the export market, and the Air Forces of Angola, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Zimbabwe flew it or even still fly it.
Of course, this is an old warhorse: the plane belongs to the third generation and has seen its sights, and its first flight took place in 1967. But this thing still knows how to drive, and the pilots are delighted with the variable sweep wing, which guarantees high maneuverability. The aircraft was ahead of its time, being one of the first to be able to launch over-the-horizon missiles.
A couple more amazing fighters
That's all, actually. You've probably noticed that the Soviets and Russians have an overwhelming advantage in high-speed fighters, but the Americans also have the F-22 Raptor (Predator) in reserve, which reaches speeds of over Mach 2.25.
The Predator should not be written off, because it is the only stealth fighter that can keep up with the top five fastest. It remains to be seen what the new sixth-generation MiG-41 PAK DP fighter will be like: according to the Russians, it will be able to reach speeds of up to Mach four.
At the same time, let's see if the new generation of fighters will focus on speed or prefer other characteristics and capabilities to it.
Author: Brent Eastwood, PhD, author of books. Founder and CEO of a technology company that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. Former legal assistant to Senator Tim Scott and defense and foreign policy consultant. He has taught at American University, George Washington University and George Mason University. A retired infantry officer.
