The best military aircraft in the world. The best planes of the world and Russia The best planes of the world military of the 21st century

In the conditions of the modern civilized world, military conflicts are rare, but if they arise, then a huge advantage will be on the side of the country, which has more powerful air equipment. This is not at all strange, because combat flying machines are capable of inflicting irreparable damage to the enemy. It is for this reason that the military aviation of each country completes its arsenal with aircraft capable of destroying ground threats instantly.

Millions aircraft designers compete with each other who will create the best fighter in the world, paying great attention to even the smallest details. In order to understand which of the existing fighter aircraft today really deserves the title of the best, attention should be paid to the criteria, which are placed in front of an ideal combat aircraft.

Criteria for modern fighters

The decisive step in military operations, as the practice of wars in Korea, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq and other countries shows, is precisely aviation. In order to determine which particular fighter is capable of bringing victory to its country, it is required to consider in more detail performance characteristics and characteristics of each of the applicants.

It is possible to understand which fighter is better only by observing a real collision between them, but such a development of events is unlikely, since all problems and disagreements are resolved peacefully. There are, of course, a number of criteria that, according to experts, are the main ones. So, the important features of the aircraft are:

• fighter speed;
• his survival;
• a set of weapons;
• maneuverability in the air;
• detection protection;
• flight length and duration.

The criteria for an ideal military aircraft are constantly changing as each new model is modified and re-equipped. Unfortunately, in order to gain experience and understand what exactly is needed to create a powerful fighter, you have to pay - the size of human lives.

Features of the most famous cars of our time

As you know, each “air fighter” has several of its own characteristics, which we will now try to figure out, and at the end we will summarize and make assumptions about who can really enter the top 10 best fighters in the world. For comparison, we chose representatives of various manufacturing countries, but Russian and American developers are still in the lead in the top.

• F-22 raptor;
• Su-35S;
• F-35Lightnig;
• T-50;
• Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe";
• Mig 25;
• British Aerospace Sea Harrier;
• Mitsubishi A6M;
• F-16 Fighting Falcon;
• German Typhoon;
• gripen;
• Rafale;
• F-15 Eagle.

F-22 Raptor

Let's start with the development of a well-known company called Lockheed Martin - F-22 Raptor.

F-22 Raptor

This model is the most expensive fighter in the world. A total of 145 such combat vehicles were produced. This is the only multi-purpose aircraft of its kind that can reach speeds of more than Mach 1.5 without afterburner. Equipped with two engines, so it has a large. As the saying goes: "Whoever found the enemy faster, he won the fight." Thanks to the technology "Stealth", which is equipped with a fighter, it is less noticeable in the air.

Video about the aircraft "F-22 Raptor":

We have identified the Su-35S as the second contender for the title of the best

This is fighting machine, which is considered by most to be the most powerful development belonging to the 4++ class.

Su-35S

The only factor that separates the Su-35 from the fifth generation of aircraft is the lack of Stealth technology. But despite this, the fighter includes several types of weapons:

• air-to-ground guided missile bombardment;
• unguided missile;
• managed missile type"air-to-air";
• small arms and cannon bombardment;
• bomb.

In order for the fighter to operate autonomously and in situations in which there is no connection with satellite navigation systems, and the pilot can keep in touch with ground services, it is equipped with an inertial navigation electronic system BINS-SP2. A feature of this model, according to experts, is its maneuverability. He is able to make a turn in a horizontal plane without a significant decrease in flight speed. The maximum speed at high altitude is 2500 kilometers per hour. Flight range - 3600 kilometers.

Video about the Su-35S aircraft:

F-35 Lightning

This is a fifth generation air combat vehicle, which is equipped with one Pratt & Whitney engine.

F-35 Lightning

The power plant for this model was developed by Rolls-Royce employees. There are three types of modifications to the F-35 Lightning fighter:

• F-35A - standard development;
• F-35B - version of the fighter with a vertical landing and a significantly shortened takeoff;
• F-35C - version designed for carrier-based aviation, catapult-type takeoff, landing - arrester.

The F-35 Lightning features a unique pilot helmet. It is still under development, but its functionality is simply amazing. Thanks to modern innovative technologies, the pilot can see through the cockpit of a fighter even in the infrared range. The crew's visors are supplied with all the most necessary navigation information for combat. Able to reach speeds of 1900 km per hour.

Video about the aircraft "F-35 Lightning":

T-50

It can claim a place in the lineup of the best, while it is still in development, the start of its production is scheduled for 2015.

T-50

The main one should be a large radius of destruction. In the combat arsenal of a fighter will be precision weapons and radar with a lattice phased antenna. The takeoff weight of the fighter is 20 tons. It develops speed up to 2.5M. average speed- 2600 kilometers per hour.

Video about the T-50 aircraft:

Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe"

This is the world's first combat fighter, which was able to develop 900 km per hour.

Messerschmitt Me.262

Its airborne weapons include four 30-millimeter cannons with a hundred rounds, as well as 24 unguided rockets.

Video about the aircraft "Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe"":

Mig 25

The development of Soviet scientists, which has come a long way to perfection and now belongs to the fifth generation.

Mig 25

This supersonic interceptor at one time set 29 records. In the reconnaissance mode, the aircraft becomes much lighter and accelerates to 2.8 M. A feature of the fighter is its ability to capture more than 2 tons of bombs in flight.

Video about the aircraft "Mig 25":

British Aerospace Sea Harrier

Fighter vertical takeoff and the same landing.

This aircraft has been in service with the Marine Corps in the United States for a long time.

British Aerospace Sea Harrier in the sky

The secret in the development was the creation of lifting thrust, on which British aircraft designers worked for many years. The developers used a single power unit - Rolls-Royce Pegasus with a deflectable thrust vector.

Video about the aircraft "British Aerospace Sea Harrier":

Mitsubishi A6M

They call it a “mystery aircraft”, since the developers of Mitsubishi managed to combine the incompatible - maneuverability and a record flight range for a fighter, which is 2600 km with equipment of 2.5 tons.

Mitsubishi A6M

Mitsubishi A6M is the embodiment of the samurai spirit, which with its appearance despises everything that is connected with it. This can be understood by the fact that the Japanese-made fighter is completely devoid of armor.

Video about the aircraft "Mitsubishi A6M":

F-16 Fighting Falcon

It has a huge advantage in optical visibility, as it is equipped with a non-binding flashlight.

F-16 Fighting Falcon

The fighter's turning speed is 21.5 degrees per second. In a second, the fighter is gaining a height of 294 meters. This is a pretty good indicator. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is equipped with a huge set of weapons, it is capable of using unguided and guided missiles, as well as anti-radar missiles in combat.

Video about the aircraft "F-16 Fighting Falcon":

F-15 Eagle

According to the BBC, this is a real "killer", in its history of existence, it brought 104 victories without a single defeat.

F-15 Eagle

No one has been able to shoot down this air machine. Today, none of the existing fighters can boast of such an indicator as that of the F-15 Eagle. The fighter model is capable of active combat even in extreme conditions - in daytime or at night, in any unforeseen meteorological conditions, at low altitudes and high.

Video about the aircraft "F-15 Eagle":

J-10

Also, it should not be ignored, since the Chinese aircraft designers did their best.

J-10

This fighter is called "duck" because of its specific design. The horizontal rudder of the fighter is moved more forward and is located almost in front of the wing. When the pilot needs to point the plane up, instead of the usual lowering, the layout of the plane raises its nose and thereby increases its rate of climb. The tailless J-10 system, with all its features, is aerodynamically unstable, especially when it comes to supersonic speeds. The fighter crew may consist of one or two people. There is a function of refueling in flight mode.

Video about the aircraft "J-10":

German Typhoon

It is striking in the variety of materials from which it is made.

Typhoon

Carbon composite ribs, carbon composites, titanium, and even aluminum-lithium alloys took part in the manufacture. Stealth technology makes the aircraft visually invisible even at a small distance from the enemy. Armed with a Mauser VK27 cannon, as well as air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

Video about the aircraft "Typhoon":

Gripen - Swedish fighter of the fourth generation

Today it is one of the main air combat vehicles of the country.

Gripen

This fighter is able to flawlessly perform several combat missions simultaneously, namely, to be an attack aircraft and a reconnaissance aircraft. Equipped with a Volvo Aero RM12 turbofan, thanks to which it is able to develop a flight range of 2800 kilometers.

Video about the aircraft "Gripen":

Rafale

It is a French combat aircraft that can perform a wide range of tasks at short and long distances from the enemy, including flawlessly hitting its enemy both at sea and on land.

Rafale

The French government allocated 3 million euros for the development of this fighter. In March 2007, this fighter was adopted by NATO. It is equipped with a double-circuit turbojet engine. It develops a speed of 1900 kilometers per hour, the combat radius is 1800 kilometers.

Video about the aircraft "Rafale":

Each war and air combat conflict introduce their own rules and features of warfare, therefore, reading the characteristics of all of the above air fighters, it is quite difficult to determine from the first time who is the leader among them. So far, the F-22 raptor is giving the championship, but each of the fighters is constantly being modified and updated, so it changes very quickly. Today there are five generations of air machines, the sixth generation, which will have even greater innovations, is still under development and is completely classified. What will surprise the world with a sixth generation fighter, we can only guess.

More than a hundred years ago, humanity discovered the third dimension - the plane of the Wright brothers took off into the sky. Quite a bit of time passed, and the air ocean turned into another battlefield - combat aviation became significant factor, seriously affecting the outcome of ground operations.

For the first time combat aviation massively began to be used during the First World War. At first, military aircraft were unarmed, they were mainly used for aerial reconnaissance and bombing (if this term can be called the manual dropping of various explosive objects on the heads of the enemy). The very idea of ​​air combat seemed absurd and impossible to many. Soon, however, machine guns were mounted on airplanes, fighter planes appeared, and fierce battles unfolded in the skies.

Between the two world conflicts, military aviation developed rapidly - combat aircraft became faster, more powerful, more deadly.

9. "Ilya Muromets"

In ninth place in the top 10 is the legendary multi-engine aircraft, created in Russia on the eve of the First World War. After its launch, the Ilya Muromets became the world's first heavy bomber. This aircraft set several records for flight range and payload. "Ilya Muromets" became the first successful project of the genius from Kiev Igor Sikorsky.

A total of 76 units of this aircraft of various modifications were built. After the outbreak of World War I, a special squadron was created, consisting of Ilya Muromets heavy bombers. The latest modifications of this aircraft could take on board about 1500 kg of bombs - an unheard of power for that time. In addition to bombs, defensive weapons were also installed on the Ilya Muromets - from two to six machine guns.

The rest of the countries participating in the First World War quickly appreciated the successful experience of Russia - soon heavy multi-engine bombers appeared in service with France, Germany, and Great Britain.

Igor Sikorsky did not accept the revolution and emigrated from Russia to the United States.

8. Junkers Ju 87 "Thing".

In eighth place in the top 10 is a single-engine dive german bomber Yu-87 is one of the most famous combat aircraft of World War II. He became a symbol of the German blitzkrieg in Western Europe and on the Eastern Front.

This aircraft had non-retractable landing gear (Soviet soldiers called it “lappet”), which significantly worsened its aerodynamics and reduced speed, but the Ju 87 had no equal in bombing accuracy. Several innovative ideas (air brakes, siren) were used in the design of the Stuka, thanks to which the aircraft became so effective. However, after the loss of German air supremacy, the Yu-87 became an easy target for enemy fighters.

7. IL-2

In seventh place in the top 10 is another legendary combat vehicle of the Second World War period - the Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft. Luftwaffe fighter pilots called this attack aircraft "concrete aircraft", and the German infantry - "black death" or "plague".

Serial production of the Il-2 began on the eve of the Great Patriotic War, in early 1941. In total, Soviet industry produced more than 36 thousand units of this machine.

The IL-2 had several innovative solutions in its design, the main of which was the inclusion of armor directly into the power circuit of the aircraft. Prior to this, armor was also used to enhance the protection of aircraft, but it was simply hung on top of the hull, which significantly made the structure heavier.

Despite the high security of the aircraft, the losses of these aircraft in the first months of the war were very significant. There is information that the pilots were awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union for ten successful sorties on the Il-2 (according to another version, for thirty).

6 Hawker Siddeley Harrier

In sixth place in the top 10 is the British VTOL aircraft Hawker Siddeley Harrier. This machine first took to the skies in 1966 and gave rise to a whole family of combat vehicles that are still in service with the US Navy and several other countries of the world.

In the 60s, the idea of ​​​​creating an aircraft that could take off and land without a run (VTOL) was very popular. However, it was very difficult to develop and manufacture such a machine. The most successful were the British, their aircraft could not only do without a runway, but also effectively perform the functions of a combat aircraft. Hawker participated in the war for the Falklands and showed their best side. main reason The success of the British was the magnificent engine of Rolls-Royce.

VTOL aircraft were also built in the USSR, but the Soviet Yak-38 turned out to be an unsuccessful machine.

5. MiG-15

This fighter is one of the most famous Soviet aircraft in the West. It was created in the late 40s, had a large number of modifications, produced under the Soviet license in several countries of the world. The MiG-15 first appeared in the skies of Korea and made a splash in the West. Up to this point, Soviet technology was considered something backward and outdated, but this jet fighter became a cold shower for Western strategists.

The Americans were preparing an armada of strategic bombers for delivering nuclear strikes on the territory of the USSR, but familiarity with the MiG-15 made it clear that the chances of breaking through the barrier Soviet fighters minimal.

The main enemy of the MiG-15 in the Korean sky was the American F-86 Saber fighter, however, according to most experts, soviet car outnumbered her opponent.

4. B-17 "Flying Fortress"

In fourth place in the top 10 is another aircraft of the Second World War - the American strategic bomber B-17. It was developed in 1934 and almost immediately became a legend. It was the first American serial all-metal strategic bomber.

He bombed the cities of Germany, participated in the hostilities in the Pacific. Four engines provided the B-17 with a speed of over 500 km / h and a service ceiling of more than 10 km, and nine (later twelve) 12.7-mm machine guns made this bomber a very difficult opponent for any fighter.

In addition, the B-17 was fantastically reliable. Documented cases are known when the aircraft returned to base with one engine running, with huge holes in the fuselage or with virtually no tail.

3. Su-27

2. F-15 Eagle

In second place is the main potential adversary of the Su-27, the American F-15 Eagle air superiority aircraft. This machine also belongs to the fourth generation of fighters, but it took to the air about ten years earlier than the Su-27. This aircraft is still in service with the US Air Force, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Japan. He participated in several armed conflicts, on account of "Eagle" more than a hundred confirmed victories in air duels without a single loss - this is a real killer. F-15 Eagle fought in the skies of Yugoslavia, Syria and Iraq. According to the statements of the military of these countries, the Americans lost more than ten F-15 units. However, the problem is that no one has been able to provide the wreckage of the F-15 Eagle as evidence.

Based on this fighter, several modifications have been developed, the most advanced being the F-15E Stike Eagle.

1. F-22 Raptor

Heading our top 10 is the first (and so far the only) serial fifth-generation fighter - the American F-22 Raptor. This aircraft is capable of reaching supersonic speeds without turning on the afterburner, it is made using stealth technology, has very advanced on-board electronics and a phased array radar.

It should be noted that the F-22 Raptor, which is part of the US Air Force, is superior to other fighters not only in terms of its characteristics, but also in terms of price: the cost of one machine is more than 146 million dollars. Currently, only Americans can afford such spending. Fifth generation fighters are being developed both in China and in Russia. The projects are still at the testing stage.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

The most important evaluation criterion is combat experience. All the fighters represented, except for the 10th place (but there is a good reason for that), participated in the hostilities. Secondly, without exception, all machines have some kind of clear advantage, most have outstanding performance characteristics.

10th place - F-22 "Raptor"

The only 5th generation fighter in the world, built according to the concept of "first to see, first to fire, first to hit the target." Supersonic "stealth machine" equipped with last word technology, has become the object of heated debate about its price, capabilities and relevance. Literally from the words of an American broadcast: “Why spend 66 billion dollars on the F-22 program, if a deep modernization of the F-15 and F-16 can give a comparable effect? Because technology must evolve, progress cannot be stopped…”
Lack of real combat experience negatively affects the evaluation of "Raptor". The most modern fighter takes only 10th place.

9th place - Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe"

The world's first jet combat aircraft. 900 km/h It was a breakthrough. It was used as a fighter-interceptor, blitz bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.
The airborne complex included 4 30 mm cannons with 100 rounds per barrel and 24 unguided rockets, which made it possible to riddle a 4-engine bomber in one go.
Having received the captured "Swallows", the Allies were impressed by their technical excellence and manufacturability. What was the cost of crystal clear radio communication.
Until the end of the war, the Germans managed to release 1900 "Swallows", of which only three hundred were able to take to the skies.

8th place - MiG-25

Soviet supersonic high-altitude interceptor that set 29 world records. In this role, the MiG-25 had no competitors, but it combat capabilities remained unclaimed. The only victory was achieved on January 17, 1991, when an Iraqi MiG shot down a US Navy F/A-18C Hornet carrier-based fighter.
Much more productive was his service as a scout. During combat service in the zone of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the MiG-25R opened the entire system of fortifications of the Bar-Leva line. The flights took place at maximum speed and an altitude of 17-23 km, which was the only means of protecting an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft. In this mode, the engines gobbled up half a ton of fuel every minute, the aircraft became lighter and gradually accelerated to 2.8 M. The MiG skin heated up to 300 ° C., according to the pilots, even the cockpit lantern heated up so that it was impossible to touch it. Unlike the titanium SR-71 "Black Bird", the thermal barrier became a problem for the MiG-25. The allowed flight time at speeds over Mach 2.5 was limited to 8 minutes, which, however, was long enough to cross Israeli territory.
Another remarkable feature of the MiG-25R was its potential ability to "capture" 2 tons of bombs in flight. This especially tickled the nerves of the Israeli military: an indestructible scout is still tolerable, but an indestructible bomber is really scary.

7th - British Aerospace Sea Harrier

The first vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (the land version of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier appeared back in 1967). Having gone through a series of upgrades, it still remains in service with the US Marine Corps under the name McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier II. The clumsy-looking aircraft is very photogenic in flight - the sight of a combat vehicle hovering in one place will not leave anyone indifferent.
The main secret of the British designers was the way to create lifting thrust. Unlike their Soviet counterparts from the Yakovlev Design Bureau, who used a scheme with 3 independent jet engines, the Harrier uses a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus power unit with a deflectable thrust vector. This made it possible to increase the combat load of the aircraft to 5,000 pounds (about 2.3 tons).
During the Falklands War, the Harriers of the Royal Navy operated at a distance of 12,000 km from home and achieved excellent results: they shot down 23 Argentine aircraft, without a single loss in air battles. Pretty good for a subsonic aircraft. In total, 20 Harriers took part in the hostilities, of which 6 were shot down when attacking ground targets.
According to all experts, without the support of carrier-based aircraft, the Royal Navy could not have defended the Falklands.

6th place - Mitsubishi A6M

Legendary deck Zero-sen. An enigmatic plane from Mitsubishi engineers, which combines the incongruous. Excellent maneuverability, powerful armament and a record flight range - 2600 km (!) With an curb weight of 2.5 tons.
"Zero" was the embodiment of the samurai spirit, demonstrating contempt for death throughout its design. The Japanese fighter was completely devoid of armor and armored fuel tanks, the entire payload reserve was spent on fuel and ammunition.
For a whole year, aircraft of this type dominated the skies over the Pacific Ocean, ensuring the victorious offensive of the Imperial Navy. At the end of World War II, the Zero played a grim role, becoming one of the main assets of kamikaze pilots.

5th place - F-16 "Fighting Falcon"

The review of the F-16 is written in the form of a comparison with the MiG-29, I hope this will help answer many questions for readers.

The rule of fighter aviation says: whoever finds his enemy first has the advantage. Therefore, the optical view in air combat has great importance. Here "American" has the advantage. The frontal projection of the F-16 almost matches the MiG-21, about which American pilots said that at a distance of 3 kilometers it is almost impossible to visually notice. Visibility from the F-16's cockpit is also better, thanks to the canopy. For the MiG-29, the fact that the RD-33 engine creates a dense plume of smoke in some flight modes is disadvantageous.
In close maneuverable combat, thanks to the integral layout and the presence of 2 engines, the MiG has outstanding flight characteristics. F-16 is somewhat behind. The turning speed of the MiG-29 reaches, according to Russian data, 22.8 ° / s, while that of the F-16 - 21.5 ° / s. The MiG is gaining altitude at a speed of 334 m/s, the rate of climb of the F-16 is 294 m/s. The difference is not so great and good pilots can level it.

The armament of a front-line fighter should include both the category of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. The F-16 has at its disposal the largest set of weapons, is capable of using guided and unguided bombs and anti-radar missiles. Electronics placed in an additional container makes it possible to point the use of weapons. The MiG-29, on the contrary, is forced to limit itself to unguided bombs and NURSs. In terms of carrying capacity, a net loss: for the MiG-29 this figure is 2200 kg, for the F-16 - up to 7.5 tons.

Such a huge difference is explained simply: the payload reserve of the MiG-29 “ate” the second engine. According to many experts, the MiG has a largely erroneous layout, 2 engines for a front-line fighter is too much. The best thing to say about this General designer MiG Design Bureau Rostislav Belyakov at Farnborough-88: "If we had such a reliable and high-torque engine as Pratt & Whitney, we would have designed a single-engine aircraft without a doubt." The range also suffered from such vicissitudes: for the MiG-29 it does not exceed 2000 km with PTB, for the F-16 the flight range with PTB and 2 2000-pound bombs can reach 3000-3500 km.

Both fighters are equally armed with missiles medium range air-to-air class. For example, the Russian R-77 has impressive declared performance characteristics, while the American AIM-120 has repeatedly confirmed its rather modest performance in combat. net parity. But the MiG-29 has a long range of fire from an air gun and larger caliber. The six-barreled "Volcano" F-16, on the contrary, has a larger ammunition load (511 shells versus 150 for the MiG).

The most important element is avionics. Radars are difficult to evaluate, because manufacturers hide exact specifications. But according to some statements by pilots, it can be determined that the MiG-29 radar has the largest viewing angle - 140 degrees. The APG-66 radar for the F-16A and, accordingly, the APG-68 for the F-16C have viewing angles of no more than 120 degrees. A significant advantage of the MiG-29 aircraft is that the pilot has a helmet with a Slit-ZOOM sight, which gives decisive superiority in close air combat. But the F-16 again has its own important advantage - the flight control system (Fly-by-Wire) and the HOTAS engine control system (Hands on Throttle and Stick), which makes the aircraft exceptionally easy to fly. At the push of a single switch, the Falcon is ready for battle. In contrast, the MiG-29 is manually tuned, which takes much longer to get into combat.
Design Bureau MiG and General Dynamics demonstrated completely different approaches to solving the same problem. Interesting design solutions have been implemented in both aircraft, and in general the verdict is as follows: the F-16 is a multifunctional fighter, while the MiG is a pure air fighter, focused primarily on close maneuverable combat. Here he has no equal.

Why did the Falcon win, and the MiG-29 did not enter the Top 10 rating at all? And again, the results of the combat use of these machines will be the answer. F-16 fought in the skies of Palestine, passed the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. A separate page of Falcon "and was a raid on the Iraqi nuclear center" Ozirak "in 1981. Having covered 2800 km, the Israeli Air Force F-16s secretly penetrated Iraqi airspace, destroyed the reactor complex and returned without loss to the Etzion air base. The total number of air victories of the F-16 under the control of pilots from NATO countries, Israel, Pakistan and Venezuela is about 50 aircraft.There is no data on the defeat of the F-16 in air combat, although one aircraft of this type was shot down by air defense systems in Yugoslavia.

4th place - MiG-15

A single-seat jet fighter whose name has become a household name in the West for all Soviet fighters. Entered service with the Air Force of the Soviet Union in 1949. The plane that prevented the Third world war.
Literally from the words of the Military Channel: “Western society has an opinion that Soviet technology is something cumbersome, heavy and outdated. There was nothing like this in the MiG-15. A fast and agile fighter with clean lines and an elegant shape ... "His appearance in the skies of Korea caused a sensation in the Western press and headache for the US Air Force Command. All plans for drawing collapsed nuclear strike across the territory of the USSR, from now on, B-29 strategic bombers did not have any single chance break through the barrier of jet MiGs.
And one more important point, - The MiG-15 became the most massive jet aircraft in history. It was in service with the Air Force of 40 countries of the world.

3rd place - Messerschmitt Bf.109

Favorite fighter aces of the Luftwaffe. Four famous modifications: E ("Emil") - the hero of the battle for England, F ("Friedrich") - it was these fighters that "broke the silence at dawn" on June 22, 1941, G ("Gustav") - the hero of the Eastern Front, the most successful modification, K ("Elector") - overpowered fighter, an attempt to squeeze out all the remaining reserves from the car.
104 German pilots who fought on the Messerschmitt were able to bring their score to 100 or more downed vehicles.
An ominous, fast and powerful aircraft. The real Fighter.

2nd place - MiG-21 vs F-4 "Phantom II"

Two different views on the appearance of the 2nd generation jet fighter. An 8-ton light front-line fighter and a 20-ton universal fighter-bomber, which became the basis of the fighter fleet of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
Two irreconcilable adversaries. Hot battles in the skies of Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, India and Pakistan. Hundreds of downed cars on both sides. Brilliant combat story. Until now, they are in service with the air forces of many countries.

Soviet designers have relied on maneuverability. Americans - on missiles and electronic equipment. Both views turned out to be wrong: after the first air battles, it became clear that the Phantom had abandoned the guns in vain. And the creators of the MiG realized that 2 air-to-air missiles are unacceptably small.

1st place - F-15 "Eagle"

Murderer. 104 confirmed air victories without a single loss. None of the modern aircraft can boast of such an indicator. The F-15 was created specifically as an air superiority aircraft and for 10 years, before the advent of the Su-27, it was generally out of competition.
The first time the F-15 went into battle on June 27, 1979, when the Israeli "Needles" shot 5 Syrian MiG-21s in close maneuvering combat. For more than 30 years of combat service, the MiG-21, MiG-23, Mirage F1, Su-22 and MiG-29 (4 in Yugoslavia, 5 in Iraq) have become F-15 trophies. No less impressive were the achievements of the "Needles" in Asia, for example, during the "Team Spirit-82" exercises, 24 F-15 fighters based on Okinawa made 418 "combat" sorties in 9 days, of which 233 - within three days, while the degree of combat readiness of all aircraft was almost continuously 100%.
The high flight characteristics of the F-15, its ability to operate autonomously in the conditions of the use of electronic warfare by the enemy, day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions, at high and low altitudes, made it possible to create the F-15E "Stike Eagle" strike aircraft based on its design ( 340 cars were produced). By 2015, the troops will receive a "stealth" version of the fighter-bomber based on the F-15 - the F-15SE "Silent Eagle".
The combat use of the F-15 is the cause of much controversy. Especially questioned is the fact that not a single Eagle was lost in combat. According to statements by Syrian and Yugoslav pilots, at least ten F-15s were shot down over Lebanon, Serbia and Syria. But it is not possible to confirm their words, because. neither side was able to demonstrate the wreckage. One thing is certain, the participation of the F-15 in hostilities largely determined the course of many military operations (for example, the 1982 Lebanon War).
F-15 "Eagle" is the most formidable and effective combat vehicle, so it deservedly takes 1st place.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, many of the outstanding designs were left out of the "Top 10" rankings. The hero of all air shows, the Su-27 is the best aircraft in peacetime, the flight qualities of which allow you to perform the most complex aerobatic maneuvers, it did not make it into the rating. The Supermarine Spitfire did not make it into the rating either - just a good aircraft in all respects. Too many have been created successful designs and it was very difficult to choose the best of them.

Most modern fighters peace

10. J-10 (China)

The J-10 uses a "tailless delta canard" aerodynamic layout that was originally developed for the J-9 fighter.
The horizontal rudder has been moved forward and is located in front of the wing. When the aircraft needs to be steered up, instead of forcing the tail down, this arrangement raises the nose, increasing the overall rate of response and lift.
In this arrangement, the aircraft more effectively controls vertical control with a smaller elevator surface, resulting in less air resistance and lighter weight.
The aircraft uses adjustable intakes of air flow, which supplies air to one AL-31FN turbofan jet engine.
The air intake ramp is at an acute angle to deflect the air flow in the longitudinal direction. This design creates a gap between the air intake and the forward fuselage, which improves performance at high speeds.
This air intake design was reportedly used on the latest J-10B.
The tailless delta canard design is inherently aerodynamically unstable, especially at supersonic speeds.
To ensure sustainability, there is a sophisticated computerized control system (FBW). The J-10 uses a digital quadruplex system (four channels FBW) developed by the 611 Institute. Software for the FBW system was also developed by the 611-Institute for the use of the ADA language. The pilot is located in the cockpit, which is located above the air intake and in front of the front stabilizers.
Pilot's on-board digital flight control computer provides automatic flight stability coordination. Thus, it allows the pilot to concentrate on performing combat missions.
The double J-10S can be used for pilot training or as a standard fighter.

Specifications

Crew:

J-10 - one pilot,
J-10S - two pilots
Engine: 1XAL-31FN turbofan Maximum thrust: 7770 kg,
Afterburner thrust: 12.500 kg,
In-flight refueling: Yes
Armament: one 23 mm gun
On external suspension: 11 hardpoints (five under the fuselage, six under the wings)

Missile armament:

Air-to-air: PL-8, PL-9, PL-11, PL-12, P-27 and P-73
- air-to-ground: PJ-9, anti-ship missiles YJ-8K, YJ-9K, 90 mm NAR
- guided (LT-2, LS-6), as well as non-guided bombs


9 - MiG-35 (Russia)

The fighter was created on the basis of the MiG-29M, the MiG-35 (NATO classification Fulcrum F) is equipped with advanced avionics, the cockpit glass is equipped with three 6x8 inch flat LCD monitors that allow for a circular view, digital terrain maps, the sight is integrated into the pilot's helmet. The plane has a modern scan-radar.
This radar has a phased array antenna.
MiG-35 can refuel in the air.
The MiG-35 is equipped according to Western Mil-1553 standards. Reliability and ease of maintenance have been improved, operating costs have been reduced and the service life has been increased by 2.5 times (compared to the old MiG-29s).
As a sight, an optical-electronic target tracker is used, identical to that used on the Su-30MKI.
For air-to-ground engagement, the aircraft can be equipped with an optoelectronic orientation module installed under the right air intake.
The aircraft is equipped with radar, optoelectronic missile attack warning, laser warning sensors, and an active protection system as part of an integrated self-defense system.
The MiG-35 has four additional hardpoints and can carry a payload of more than six tons on external hangers.
The aircraft is equipped with two digitally controlled RD-33MK engines providing thrust of 9,000 kg each. This type is an improved version of the RD-33 standard.

Main technical characteristics:

Takeoff weight 22,700 kg
Maximum flight range 3,000 km
Maximum horizontal flight speed 2400 km/h
Weight 11,000 kg

8. Typhoon (Germany)




The cabin of the Typhoon aircraft can be in one- or two-seat version.
In the manufacture of used carbon composite ribs for suspension units.
Up to 70% of the materials are carbon composites, as well as titanium and aluminum-lithium alloy.Stabilizers are installed on the leading and trailing edges of the wing.
The design of the delta wing allows you to bring the number of external suspension units to 13.
The aircraft is invisible to radar due to the use of stealth technology.
Part of the aircraft body is covered with special materials that do not reflect electromagnetic waves.
The radar system propagates its signals in a special way.
The air intakes of the engines are rectangular and slightly angled down to the axial part of the fuselage.
Exhaust gases from engines exit through conventional annular nozzles, it is planned to replace them with vector-controlled nozzles in the future.
The side landing gear retracts inward to the central part of the fuselage, the nose landing gear retracts back.
The chassis are equipped with cooling brakes based on carbon materials, they are cooled and controlled by a computer.
The landing gear as a whole is designed to act as an air brake during landing. Thanks to this, the landing run is about 700 meters.

Technical characteristics of the Typhoon fighter:

Flight characteristics

Max Speed:

on high: Mach 2.0 (2450 km/h)
near the ground: Mach 1.2 (1400 km/h)
Combat range
in fighter mode: 1390 km
in strike aircraft mode: 600 km
ferry range: 3790 km
Practical ceiling: 19 812 m

Armament

Cannon armament: 1 × 27 mm gun Mauser BK-27 (English)
suspension points: 13

6,500 kg of various weapons:

- Air-to-air missiles
- Air-to-ground missiles
-bombs


7. Gripen NG (Sweden)




JAS 39 Gripen is a fighter fourth generation manufactured by the Swedish company Saab.
The Gripen entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1995, replacing the Saab Drakens and Viggens. This aircraft is capable of performing several types of combat missions, namely, to be used as a fighter, as an attack aircraft and as a reconnaissance aircraft.
The power plant consists of a single Volvo Aero RM12 turbofan engine, based on General Electric F404. The Gripen is capable of speeds up to M2 and has maximum range at 2800 km.
To date, 270 Gripens aircraft have been produced (According to http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_JAS_39_Gripen - 264) Of these, for Swedish air force - 204.
Aircraft were exported to following countries: Czech Republic (14), Hungary (14), South Africa(26), Thailand (12).

Specifications

Empty weight: 6800 (7100) kg
Normal takeoff weight: 8500 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 14,000 kg
Engine: Volvo Aero RM12
maximum thrust: 1×5100 kgf
afterburner traction: 1×8160 kgf

Flight characteristics

: ~ 2200 km/h (Mach 2.0)
Combat radius: 800 km
practical ceiling: 15 240 m

Armament

Cannon: 1 x 27mm Mauser BK27 (ammo - 120 rounds)
Missiles:
"air-to-air"
"air-to-surface"
bombs


6. Rafale (France)

Rafale is a combat aircraft capable of performing a wide range of combat missions at short and long distances, including engagement of the enemy on land at sea, air defense missions, air superiority, reconnaissance missions, and precision strike.
The aircraft was designed for the French Air Force and Navy.
61 aircraft were built (36 for the Air Force and 25 for the Navy). Rafale M entered service in 2001, ten aircraft are operational at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Rafale B and C entered service with the French Air Force in June 2006, at the same time the first squadron was created. The second squadron of the Air Force was created in 2008. For the Navy, a modification of the Rafale F1 was created.
Deliveries to the fleet of F2 modifications began in May 2006. F1 modifications will be upgraded.
The French government has allocated € 3.1 billion for the development of a completely modified F3. An order for 59 F3s was placed in December 2004 for 47 units for the air force (11 two-seat and 36 single-seat) and 12 (single-seat) for the navy.
The Rafale F3 was certified in July 2008 and has been in service since 2009. In March 2007, three French Air Force fighters and three Navy fighters were stationed in Tajikistan as part of a NATO program.

Specifications

Empty weight: 10,000 kg
Normal takeoff weight: 14 710 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 24 500 kg
Payload weight: 9500 kg

Engine: 2 × bypass turbojet with afterburner SNECMA M88-2-E4

maximum thrust: 2×5100 kgf
afterburner traction: 2×7500 kgf

Flight characteristics

Maximum speed at high altitude: ~ 1900 km/h (Mach 1.8)
Combat radius: 1800 km
Combat radius: 1093 km in the version of the fighter-interceptor
practical ceiling: 15 240 m

Armament

Cannon: 1 × 30 mm Nexter DEFA 791B (rate of fire 2500 rds / min),
ammunition - 125 cartridges of the OPIT type (armor-piercing incendiary tracer) with a bottom fuse.
Missiles:
"air-to-air"
"air-to-surface"

From the first steps of mankind in the conquest of the sky, the world has constantly observed evolution military aviation. Fighters have always come to the rescue in military and local conflicts, performing the most complex operations. To date, this type of aircraft has reached inexpressibly in its development high point progress. In our time, no one can be surprised by the ability of a person to stay in the air element, but the high technology, colossal combat equipment of combat fighters and the mass of opportunities that open up before them really amaze the mind and excite the imagination. The wealth of power and variety of these war machines encourages the creation rating of the best fighters in the world.

10. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Unlocks the top 10 best Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. It is in service with the US Army and is a carrier-based fighter-bomber and attack aircraft. Combat vehicles of this type are very popular for deployment on aircraft carriers. This fighter is equipped with a 6-barreled cannon capable of firing at a rate of 6,000 rounds per minute. Nine external mounts allow you to equip the aircraft with a wide range of different weapons, including: missiles - simple and laser-guided, many types of bombs, as well as weapons that allow you to fly effective fight against enemy ships, and a system that prevents aircraft from being tracked on radar.

9 Saab JAS 39 Gripen

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen combat fighter, which ranks 9th in our rating, has been in service with the Swedish army for thirty years now. His first demonstration flight took place in the 88th year of the last century. To date, this combat vehicle is equipped with some of the best technology in the world. The fourth generation fighter was created specifically for the effective conduct of hostilities in the conditions of the Scandinavian terrain - the limited plains and the severity of the weather. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is armed with a 30mm cannon, Various types bombs (depending on the need), several types of missiles (guided and unguided).

8. MIG-35

The genius of the Russian military air weapons- MIG-35 fighter. This aircraft is planned to be put into service only this (2018) year, but it has already established itself as one of the best fighters, although it has not yet shown itself in the combat field. The MIG-35 has surpassed its predecessor in many ways. For example, this fighter consumes less fuel, the oxygen station produces more oxygen, and the duration of the autopilot during aiming has been extended so that the pilot has more opportunity to accurately fire at the enemy. Among other things, Russian engineers managed to reduce the cost of producing a fighter, for comparison, the French side spends 2-3 times more on the creation of aircraft of this type.

7F-16 Fighting Falcon

The seventh line in the ranking of fighters is the American F-16 Fighting Falcon. At one time, this combat vehicle was the leader among the most popular in the world - the low cost of its production and high quality characteristics allowed US military factories to produce these vehicles in large quantities for export to other countries. There are currently over 4,700 F-16 Fighting Falcons worldwide. These combat vehicles managed to prove themselves in more than a hundred combat operations around the world.

6 Eurofighter Typhoon

The Eurofighter Typhoon combat fighter is the brainchild of four EU countries at once, which has proven its effectiveness in real armed conflicts. One of the main advantages of this aircraft is the ability to interfere with enemy radars, which allows you to adjust the flight of guided missiles. This, first of all, influenced the fact that the Eurofighter Typhoon became very "survivable" - getting into a fighter with such a system is quite difficult. Typhoon also surpasses its counterparts in firing range (as much as 100 km). Today, there are about five hundred such fighters in the world, and each combat vehicle is made using a unique technology.

5. Dassault Rafale

The pride of the French armed forces, the Dassault Rafale, was also on the list of the most powerful fighters. The creators claim that the only factor that prevents the incredible rise of this combat vehicle is its high cost. Dassault Rafale has been in service with the French army for 50 years, it has shown itself well in armed conflicts several times. However, today this fighter is used only for training and demonstration flights. Also, its name often appeared in air crashes, but the French side each time claimed that the reason for this was human factor.

4Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Another development of the US Air Force was the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, designed to replace obsolete aircraft of this generation. The fighter entered service with both the US Navy and the US Army - it is actively used on fleet aircraft carriers due to the short takeoff run distance and braking landing. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is also capable of vertical takeoff. After the development and release of the fighter into mass production, it was exported to other countries of the world, the first of which was Great Britain. The aircraft is equipped with advanced electronics and powerful weapons.

3. Su-35S

On the third line of the rating is one of the best Russian fighters. The Su-35S made its first sortie in 2008. According to its quality characteristics, the fighter can be attributed to the 5th generation. US analysts dubbed the Su-35S the most dangerous and deadly model ever created in the USSR and Russia. To date, part of the characteristics and combat capabilities of the fighter is kept by the armed forces in the strictest confidence, therefore it is not yet possible to fully assess its combat potential.

2. Su-57

A completely new achievement of the domestic military industry - the Su-57. The fifth generation fighter is recognized by domestic designers as the best fighter Russian aviation. Today, this combat vehicle is on the same level as the American Raptor. The main feature of the Su-57 is the ability to fight with several opponents at once, which can be both in the air and on the ground. Currently, the designers are working on an improved camouflage fighter. The aircraft is equipped with the world's most advanced electronics and incredibly deadly weapons.

1 Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

On the first line of the rating "the best fighters in the world" is the American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. In fact, he shares the palm with the Russian Su-57. The Raptor is a 5th generation fighter, presented to the public in the second half of the 90th year. It is capable of performing many purposes and combat missions. On the this moment The Raptor is recognized as an advanced development of American designers in this area. Among the advantages of a combat vehicle is complete invisibility to enemy radars. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is described as a fighter with high maneuverability, low fuel consumption and relatively low weight. Only two cases of the loss of these fighters in combat operations have been registered.