For fighter aircraft, speed isn’t merely a source of pride—it can literally be the difference between life and death in the air. It’s a tactical advantage, an engineering marvel, and something to be proud of for the pilots who operate them. Stealth, sensors, and long-range missiles dominate our world today, but which of the following still reigns supreme when it comes to sheer speed? Let’s examine the ten fastest fighter aircraft in service today, beginning with number ten.
10. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
The Cold War icon remains in service in Turkey, Greece, and Iran. Driven by twin General Electric J79 engines, it was capable of reaching 40,000 feet at Mach 2.23. Its box-like shape gave it the nickname, “A brick can fly if you put a big enough engine on it.” Initially, it didn’t even come equipped with an in-house gun—designers predicted that missiles would render dogfighting irrelevant. Combat situations swiftly debunked that notion, and gun pods were later added.
9. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is the sole stealth in this group and the genuine article fifth-generation fighter. It has a top speed of Mach 2.25 at 40,000 feet and can supercruise—hold speeds greater than Mach 1.8 without afterburners. That translates into longer range, reduced fuel consumption, and no drag from externals. With fewer than 200 produced, the F-22 is still a precious gem in the U.S. Air Force inventory.
8. IAI Kfir
Israel’s IAI Kfir is basically a turbocharged Mirage 5, with a General Electric J79-J1E engine. It is capable of about Mach 2.3 at 36,000 feet. Older airframes will not have reached that top speed today, but its combination of velocity and agility has made it remain in the skies in Colombia and with private contractors, where it is frequently employed for training or as aggressor aircraft.
7. Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum
The MiG-29 was conceived as the smaller, more agile alternative to the Su-27, which was designed to compete with the F-16. It has a top speed of Mach 2.3 and is renowned for its agility, due to its twin engines and diminutive size. Its major flaw? Short range, and it can’t stay supersonic when fitted with external fuel tanks. Seasoned pilots commonly remark that dogfighting is as much about the pilot as the aircraft itself.
6. Grumman F-14 Tomcat
The F-14 Tomcat, with its distinctive swing wings, could fly to Mach 2.3 at 40,000 feet. With the potent AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, it could strike targets 90 miles distant. A clean, lightly loaded Tomcat would occasionally be able to top its official maximum speed, although its time of supremacy on carrier decks is in the past.
5. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger
MiG-23’s swing-wing technology enabled it to function as a high-speed interceptor. It was capable of Mach 2.35 speed and had radar and targeting electronics that were state-of-the-art at the time. Although less agile than newer jets, its ability to take off from short runways provided it with Cold War-era tactical flexibility.
4. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker
The Su-27 is one of the best fighter designs of the Soviet Union, with a Mach 2.35 speed. Designed for payload, power, and speed, it gave rise to a whole family of variants such as the Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35. More than 1,200 Flankers are still active across the globe, making it one of the most employed high-performance fighters operational today.
3. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
The F-15 was created to counter the MiG-25 and is now the fastest mass-produced fighter of its generation at Mach 2.5. It has a strong combat record with over 100 kills and no air-to-air losses. The new F-15EX can theoretically hit Mach 2.9, although that speed hasn’t been tested publicly yet.
2. Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound
A MiG-25 replacement, the MiG-31 flies at Mach 2.83 at high altitude, though operating restrictions generally limit it to Mach 1.5 in order not to stress the airframe. It’s not all about speed—the superior radar, extended-range missiles, and ability to carry hypersonic payloads make it an exceptional interceptor.
1. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat
The MiG-25 retains the speed record for any fighter ever constructed, capable of achieving Mach 2.83 and higher in fleeting bursts above 70,000 feet. Constructed in the late 1960s to be an interceptor for fast bombers and spy planes, it stimulated the development of the F-15 in America. With speed as its sole virtue, pure speed was paid for in a loss of maneuverability, and nothing has really touched its speed.
Why Modern Fighters Aren’t Chasing Speed
Most of the world’s fastest jets were Cold War designs. Fighter jets today barely break Mach 1.2 in combat since contemporary air warfare emphasizes stealth, sensors, and long-range missiles over sheer speed. Interceptors continue to appreciate high speed, but going over some speeds merely consumes fuel and wears out the airframe. Even the latest sixth-generation ideas are likely to peak at between Mach 2.2 and Mach 2.5. In short, speed is no longer the end game—it’s just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.