These are world's top 10 best fighter planes, on top is..., where do F-35 and Rafale rank?

India.com

3 days ago

New Delhi: It is not easy to determine which are the best fighter planes in the world. Every plane is designed for specific roles and missions. In such a situation, we will tell you which are the top 10 best fighter planes in the world. Sukhoi Su-57 Felon: Russia's Sukhoi Su-57 Felon is the best fighter plane in the world as it is better than all its competitors in terms of stealth technology and manoeuvrability. At the same time, its cost is also only $ 50 million per unit, which makes it one of the least expensive fighter planes. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II: The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is the second best fighter aircraft in the world. It is considered the backbone of the US Air Force. It is stealthier than the Su-57 and is more difficult to detect from every angle. Its radar cross section (RCS) is equal to that of a golf ball. However, it does not fly as fast as the Su-57 and is not capable of true supercruise (supersonic speed without afterburner). Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon: China's Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon is the third best fighter aircraft in the world. It is China's first 5th generation stealth fighter and one of the four stealth fighter jets in active duty in the world today. The J-20 was designed with long-range operations in mind. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor: F-22 is an incredible feat of engineering, making it the world's most agile and stealthiest fighter. The F-22 is able to virtually disappear from enemy radars. Boeing F-15EX Eagle II: The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is known for its weapons payloads. The fighter can fly with a weapons load of nearly 30,000 pounds, making it the most heavily armed fighter in the world. It can carry 20+ air-to-air missiles at once using the Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejector Rack (AMBER) system. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon: The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the most widely used fighter jet in the world today. According to the 2025 World Air Force Directory, there are currently 2,084 units in operation, with more than 700 of them in the US and the air fleets of Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Turkey. It is a true multirole aircraft, as comfortable in air-to-air combat as it is in reconnaissance. Sukhoi Su-35: Russia's Sukhoi Su-35 may not be equipped with stealth capability, but it is one of the most formidable 4th-generation fighters in the world. It can dominate the opponent during a dogfight in the sky through its powerful engines and two plane thrust vectoring. Sukhoi Su-35 is the only production aircraft to use this technology. In close air combat, the Su-35 is a dangerous opponent, capable of outmanoeuvring most Western jets. It is built for both air superiority and extended patrolling. Eurofighter Typhoon: The Eurofighter Typhoon is considered the backbone of European air power. It was originally designed for air superiority but has since evolved into a true multirole fighter. Designed and manufactured in the late 20th century, the Typhoon has been systematically upgraded over the years. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: The US Navy's Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's latest version is the most powerful, equipped with features like greater range, the ability to carry more payload and lower maintenance than the original Hornet. The fighter can fly with a payload of 17,750 pounds. Dassault Rafale: The French Dassault Rafale is the primary fighter aircraft of the French Air Force and Navy. The Rafale is designed for 'omnirole', a step beyond multirole, meaning the jet can carry out all mission types simultaneously. It has advanced avionics and sensor fusion, as well as one of the world's best electronic warfare suites (Spectra).
(Ranking – Aero Time)