Today there is no military in the world that does not have fighter jets in their forces. Jets are acquired to be used in a defensive role. It provides air support to land-based military camps and also deters or prevents the threat of enemy air strike.
Fighter jets ensure the dominance of the air space above the battlefield and hence act as an advantage.
Fighter jets were first manufactured by Germany and used for combat during the World War II. The introduction of jets completely changed the dynamics of warfare.
In this article, we have listed the top five fastest fighter jets in the world.
Boeing X-37
The Boeing X-37, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, is a reusable robotic spacecraft. It was launched on 22nd April 2010. The spacecraft boosts into space using a launch vehicle and then re-enters Earth’s atmosphere and lands as a spaceplane. It is operated by the US Air Force. It is an unmanned space drone. On re-entering Earth, it comes in at an average speed of 16 times the speed of sound. Its maximum speed is 28,040 km/h. The Boeing X-37 has completed six spaceflights. It is also solar powered.
MiG-25 Foxbat
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a soviet built fighter jet and still one of the fastest out there. Its top speed is 3,494 km/h. The jet is primarily built using stainless steel. Its engine type is a turbojet. With high-altitude and supersonic bombers, the MiG-25 was designed in 1960. As introduced in 1970, this twin-engine interceptor became the fastest combat aircraft ever in active service with registered speeds of Mach 2.7 and 2.8, and an operational ceiling above 24,400 m (80,000 feet).
F-15E Strike Eagle
The F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter jet. The jet was designed for long-range, high-speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft. Its top speed is 3,017 km/h. It is a dual role fighter jet which is designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It is capable of deep attack and tactical nuclear delivery.
MiG-31 Foxhound
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 Foxhound was designed as a replacement for the MiG-25 Foxbat. It is a supersonic interceptor aircraft with a top speed of 3,000 km/h. The fighter jet has a multiple-target engagement capacity and made a record of reaching an altitude of 37,650 meters in 1977.
Sukhoi Su-27
The Sukhoi Su-27 is a Soviet origin twin-engine supermanoeuvrable fighter jet designed by Sukhoi. It has a top speed of 2,500 km/h. The jet is multirole and air superiority fighter. Its engine type is a twin turbofan. The Sukhoi Su-27 was built as a direct response to America’s F-15 Eagle fighter. The jet is a long-range interceptor and has remarkable agility. It is also capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound. The jet is also radar-guided and is also armed with rockets and bombs.
In the above article we have listed the top five fastest fighter jets of the world.
Evidently, majority of the names are Soviet built fighter jets.
Most fighter jets were developed during the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union kept building jets more powerful than each other’s.
Air combat or ‘dogfighting’ is now seen on very rare occasions. With negotiations being the first route to take in case of disagreements, the role of fighter jets has been reduced to purely defence.
Needless to say, cadets are still trained to fly and a country’s defence cannot go without having air combat models.
Fighter jets have and will continue to play a key role in a nation’s military and defence.
I hope this article was informative and easy to follow.
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