10. Saab JAS 39 Gripen (Sweden)
The fourth-generation, lightweight, single-engine multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Swedish Saab the Gripen (griffin). The JAS 39 Gripen uses the state of art technologies that can perform various missions, such as air defense, interception, and ground attack and reconnaissance. Its advanced aerodynamic layout makes the fighter very agile for close combat. It can take off and land on short-strip airfields.
Aerial combat is a cutting edge weapon in modern era’s military warfare. A military with a strong Air Force plays a decisive role in swinging the momentum of wars and carving out victories. Air supremacy gives a nation an added advantage to strike strategic military installations with clinical precision and combat effectiveness.
Fighter jets since ages have played a pivotal role in engaging enemy jets in air to air combat and striking selected enemy targets to inflict maximum collateral damage. With the continuous evolution in military technology, the Air-forces of the world have endeavoured to improve the strike capabilities of its fighters to be one up the enemy in its aerial attack dimensions.
Check out the list of top ten fighter aircraft based on their strike capabilities, aerial combativeness and multi role capabilities.
1. F-35 Lightning II (USA)
The F-35 Lightning II is currently hailed as the world’s most advanced jet fighters. The aircraft is designed with the modern battle space in mind. It is the most flexible, technologically sophisticated, fifth-generation multirole fighter ever built. With advanced stealth capability, F-35 delivers innovative capabilities to cater to the security needs for nations across the world.
2. F-22 Raptor (USA)
The F-22 is a multi-role air-superiority jet fighter with improved capability over current aircraft. This ultimate state of art weapon was primarily designed as an air superiority fighter, but the aircraft has some extra capabilities like Air-to-Surface, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. F-22 Raptor is a stealth technology, single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supersonic super maneuverable fighter aircraft.
3. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (USA)
Super Hornet is a combat-proven strike fighter with built-in versatility. The F/A-18E/F’s suite of integrated and networked systems provides enhanced interoperability, total force support for the combatant commander and for the troops on the ground. Both the F/A-18E (single seat) and F/A-18F (two-seat) models convert quickly from one mission type to the other with the flip of a switch to provide consistent air dominance.
4. Eurofighter Typhoon (European Union)
Eurofighter Typhoon is among the top advanced jet fighters in the world. The jet has been built by a European consortium of leading defense and aerospace companies from United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy, and their leading. Eurofighter Typhoon is the world’s most advanced swing-role combat jet providing same time deploy-able Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface capabilities.
5. Dassault Rafale (France)
The french Dassault Rafale is among the world’s most advanced jet fighters. Designed and built by Dassault Aviation, Rafale is a twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft. Rafale has created a distinct identity for itself from other European fighters of its era with a high level of legerity, capable of at the same time playing air domination, interdiction, intelligence activity, and mobile nuclear deterrent missions.
6. Sukhoi Su-35 (Russia)
Sukhoi Su-35 is among the most advanced jet fighters is the Russian made heavy class, long-range, multi-role one-seat fighter Su-35. The jet is designed by Sukhoi from the original air superiority fighter Su-27. It was originally designated Su-27M and later named Su-35. The aircraft is considered a close cousin of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI (a modernized Su-30 variant for India), because of the similar features and components.
7. F-15 Eagle (USA)
F-15 Eagle is one of the most successful modern and advanced jet fighters, with over 100 aerial combat victories. F-15 has been designed by McDonnell Douglas.F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter jet. The Eagle made its maiden flight in July 1972, and since that, it has been exported to many nations, notably Japan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. It is still in service and is expected to remain operational at least until 2025.
8. Mikoyan MiG-31 (Russia)
The Russian fighter MiG-31 has been the heir apparent to the MiG-25 “Foxbat”. The MiG-31 is a supersonic interceptor aircraft. It has been hailed as one of the fastest combat jets in the world. The latest version of this fighter jet is the MiG-31BM – a true multi-role Foxhound, able to undertake long-range interception, precision strike and defense suppression tasks.
9. F-16 Fighting Falcon (USA)
Originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force, F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most revered fighters in aerial combat history. Designed as an air superiority day fighter, this single-engine fighter evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Its production got approved in 1976, more then 4,500 aircraft have been built and serve in the air forces of 25 other nations.
