Today’s fighters must be versatile enough to meet a huge number of requirements, from air superiority and precision attack missions to long-range shoot downs, and even supporting fighters operating from aircraft carriers. For stealth, supercruise, and thrust-vectoring, Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor remains the premier choice, but the $90 million, multi-role-capable F-35 Lightning II places much more emphasis on electronic and information warfare, sensor fusion, and multi-role versatility. They are joined by France’s Dassault Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and Boeing F-15 Eagle, all of which bring a combination of proven aerodynamic design, sensors, and weapons to the fight.

The impressive roster of these other types, including China’s Chengdu J-20 the Sukhoi Flanker variant family and MiG-31 Foxhound of Russia and the Saab JAS 39 Gripen of Sweden, shows the wide range of modern combat aviation. Some focus on stealth and long-range combat, others on speed of interception and heavyweight agility, and still others on carrier capability or low cost of land-based operation. The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet gives a further example of specialization, in this case that of naval combat aviation, where dependability and handleability are of prime importance. These ten types and many more are revealed through this study to be equipped with a variety of innovative solutions, sensory equipment, armament options and ability to perform.

1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

The United States designed the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in response to the proliferation of sophisticated Soviet aircraft in the late Cold War period. First entering service in 2005, it became a dominant air-superiority fighter by using radar stealth, supercruise, and integrated avionics to guide its long range. The aircraft has speeds of up to Mach 2.25 with power from Pratt & Whitney F119 engines that utilize two-dimensional thrust-vectoring rectangular nozzles that can be manipulated by the pilot to tilt the nose of the plane during low speed flight and to execute extreme post-stall maneuvering. These abilities allow the Raptor to stay “under the radar” in aerial combat. The F-22’s weaknesses include high maintenance needs, short range, and a limited fleet size that was dedicated to the United States Air Force.

What Makes the F-22 Stand Out:

• Advanced low-observable radar stealth
• Supercruise without using afterburners
• Mach 2.25 maximum speed
• Thrust-vectoring engines improve maneuverability
• Specialized American air-superiority platform

The F-22 embodies the technologies required to gain air superiority Stealth reduces its radar signature, supercruise means it can sustain long-range transsonic speeds without melting the afterburner, integrated avionics mean the pilot can better understand his battlespace, and thrust vectoring improves low-speed handling at high angles of attack. All these features made the Raptor better suited to an air-superiority role it also has the ground-attack, electronic-warfare, and signals-intelligence capabilities of a multi-role fighter. Its small fleet of around 183 aircraft, as described in the provided material, and the high maintenance requirements of the jets continue to be drawbacks. Despite this, the F-22 remains highly relevant in training and as an asset in American tactical airpower.

2. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation combat aircraft, built with an emphasis on strike missions, electronic warfare and information fusion from the battlefield. It is seen as a complementary aircraft to the F-22A fighter, with low observability and sensors, and electronic and information-warfare capabilities. Instead of target-breaking speed and high-G turn performance, the F-35 prioritizes sensor detection and target engagement, and limiting the enemy’s ability to detect it. Its sensor-fusion capability combines data from multiple sensors to give the pilot greater awareness of the battlespace. The aircraft has three main variants the conventional takeoff F-35A, the short-takeoff/vertical-landing F-35B, and the carrier-capable F-35C, which has larger wings for carrier operations. Its wide user base and ongoing Block 4 upgrade program are indicative of an aircraft operating across a broad spectrum of multirole operations.

Key Strengths of the F-35:

• Fifth-generation stealth design
• Advanced sensor fusion capabilities
• Integrated electronic-warfare systems
• Three operational aircraft configurations
• Multirole strike and combat missions

The principal distinction of the F-35, however, is its ability to combine strike, air combat, electronic-warfare, and intelligence-related functions in a single family of aircraft. The F-35A (for conventional runways), F-35B (for short takeoff/vertical landing), and F-35C (for aircraft-carrier operations) all embody that integrated multi-mission concept, thus giving the different services a single aircraft type to operate in their various environments. Sophisticated sensors ensure pilots develop a broader appreciation of the battlespace, while the aircraft’s stealthy design ensures operations in contested airspace. The compromise here is in some performance areas like top-end speed and turning performance, where a dedicated platform optimized for those capabilities would be better. Nonetheless, F-35 combines low observability, situational awareness, and the multirole approach to make it the most visible candidate for a fifth-generation fighter.

3. Dassault Rafale

Dassault Rafale (France) The Dassault Rafale is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, capable of both land-based and aircraft-carrier missions. Its capacity to perform air-to-air missions, strike precision ground targets, and conduct reconnaissance makes it a flexible platform for multiple missions. The Rafale employs a canard-delta wing with fly-by-wire flight-control technology to provide excellent agility and acceleration at low altitudes. Its combat package consists of a defensive electronic-warfare suite and active electronically scanned array radar, along with a 30 mm GIAT internal cannon. Designed for beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range air combat, the Rafale can carry the long-range Meteor missile, a short-range MICA missile, or a combination of both, although it does not have full radar stealth and isn’t quite as fast at high altitude.

Capabilities That Define the Rafale:

• Multirole land and carrier operations
• Agile canard-delta wing configuration
• Advanced radar and electronic warfare
• Meteor and MICA missile compatibility
• Air combat and precision strikes

Few combat aircraft have earned the reputation that the Rafale has for versatility. The land-based C and B variants have different mission sets, while the naval M version must integrate with carrier operations. The combination of flight performance, radar systems and electronic counter-measures allow the aircraft to adapt to changing mission situations. Weapon systems enable the Rafale to operate effectively in both offensive and defensive air-to-air and ground attack missions. In comparison to the stealthy fifth-generation fighters, the Rafale’s feature set does not include stealth as a critical element of the fighter’s DNA, but draws on traditional aerodynamic features, sensors and a broad mission set, which has made it attractive to France and other nations.

4. Boeing F-15 Eagle

First flying in 1972, the F-15 Eagle was designed in the US as an air-superiority fighter, and has been operated by multiple nations. The aircraft has an official air-to-air combat record of 104 victories and no losses, which is one of the aspects of the aircraft’s reputation. The design combines powerful radar, high speed, endurance, and significant weapons capacity, with later variants also introducing active electronically scanned array radar and enhanced electronic-warfare capabilities to detect a range of threats and support large missile payloads. The F-15 family of aircraft also includes the multirole F-15E Strike Eagle and the newer, more advanced F-15EX Eagle II.

Why the F-15 Remains Relevant:

• Reported 104-to-zero air combat record
• Powerful radar and detection systems
• High weapons payload capacity
• Long endurance for extended missions
• Modern Strike Eagle and EX variants

F-15 The F-15 demonstrates how a mature design can be kept up to date and even produce a specialized branch of the original. After being originally produced for air superiority roles, the F-15 eventually would provide the basis for the second-generation F-15E Strike Eagle, which entered service in 1989 with increased strike capability. Newer versions have radar and electronic-warfare equipment that helps stretch the design’s utility. The aircraft has served in the air forces of the United States, Japan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. The United States itself is phasing out a few of the air superiority F-15s in favour of F-22s, but lower F-22 orders are helping to prolong the Eagle’s usefulness. Its payload, speed, and history of operation give it a strong presence in future battles.

5. Eurofighter Typhoon

The aircraft was designed as a collaboration between the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain, and was originally envisaged as an air-superiority fighter. The aircraft performed well in this role, offering high speed, high rates of climb, and maneuverability in addition to several multirole capabilities. The aircraft can employ a combination of radar-guided air-to-air missiles in beyond-visual-range combat, such as Meteor or AMRAAM, and infrared-guided missiles at close range (ASRAAM or IRIS-T), with the advantage of an advanced helmet-mounted target-designator. The absence of stealth features in addition to the high operating costs of the aircraft, mean that it is relatively limited in its ability to perform stealth and low-level strike missions, but the aircraft has remained a highly effective fighter, demonstrating air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons competence.

Typhoon Features for Modern Combat:

• Rapid climb and high-altitude performance
• Agile canard-delta wing design
• Meteor and AMRAAM missile options
• Helmet-mounted target designation system
• Air-to-air and ground-attack capabilities

The aircraft’s inherent combat power lies in an ability to combine manouverability with a broad complement of munitions and mission equipment. Its flight-control system gives a quick-reacting aircraft, while multiple options are available to strike other aircraft at various ranges, and the latest production models have also added the option of multiple air-to-surface configurations, such as Storm Shadow, Brimstone and Marte ER. The aircraft entered service in 2003, and was acquired by a number of European and Middle Eastern air forces. It made its combat debut in Libya in 2011, as an attacker and a reconnaissance aircraft, though its lack of any sort of stealth and its high operating costs means that the aircraft cannot be called a cheap solution.

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

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole fighter-bomber aircraft that is intended to operate from the decks of United States Navy aircraft carriers. Carrier aircraft require reliable systems, consistent handling characteristics, and a cockpit from which pilots can operate efficiently at even the most demanding carrier take-off and landing conditions. The Super Hornet is known for these characteristics, and additionally for having a sophisticated radar, a low radar cross section, robust data-linking capabilities, and state-of-the-art avionics. The Super Hornet is capable of undertaking air-to-air, and air-to-surface/sea roles, and has an internally-mounted 20 mm M61A2 rotary cannon. Its armament comprises air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and additional in the form of external fuel tanks, which would extend its operational endurance. However, external weapons carriage increases drag at high subsonic speeds and high altitudes, though it has good low subsonic speed and high angle of attack performance characteristics, with good maneuverability in the absence of thrust vectoring.

What Sets the Super Hornet Apart:

• Designed for aircraft-carrier operations
• Reliable systems and predictable handling
• Advanced radar and data-link capabilities
• Internal 20 mm rotary cannon
• Strong low-speed maneuvering performance

The very nature of naval aviation has influenced the Super Hornet’s unique characteristics. Its pilots operate from a ship on the move, so a smooth flying quality and robust flight characteristics are natural requirements. The aircraft has a multirole appearance, supporting both air-combat and strike roles, and its avionics suite and data links enable it to link with the joint military force. Fuel tanks for additional endurance can be installed, and the aircraft can be fitted with an air-to-air refueling system with an external port. The two-seat F/A-18F model has tandem seating, while the single-seat F/A-18E is a prominent feature of the fleet service from 1999. Flight qualities, and its flexibility and manoeuvrability, are the major strengths which have helped cement its continuing importance.

7. Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon

China’s Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon was a landmark achievement for the country’s combat aviation development as it’s first homegrown, fully operational stealth fighter. Created as a big combat aircraft, the J-20 has a large fuselage to carry large amounts of fuel, along with a sizable internal weapons bay. Designed to operate as an air superiority and precision strike aircraft, the J-20 combines a number of apparent radar reducing design features, along with apparent supercruise capability and long-range, air-to-air missile armament, that are designed to strike at greater distances while reducing the pilot’s radar signature. Details regarding the aircraft’s engine development and even the actual extent of its low-observability characteristics are discussed in the provided material. Even so, the J-20 is an important milestone in China’s pursuit of next generation fighter aircraft.

Major Features of the J-20:

• Indigenous Chinese stealth fighter
• Large internal weapons bay
• Substantial internal fuel capacity
• Long-range air-to-air missile capability
• Designed for air-superiority missions

The J-20 was designed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force in March 2017. It is a sign that China has begun to pay more attention to combat aircraft in an increasingly difficult air-defense environment. The major airframe accommodates the fuel tank and internally carried weapons, while the shaping, for the most part, is designed to make the aircraft less visible to radar. The available information describes several versions, including an improved airframe fitted with new engines and thrust-vectoring control, as well as a two-seater for aircraft teaming. Its engines and radar signature are still a mystery, but they have not yet dulled the significance of the design. The J-20 is a part of the newer fighter designs and technology.

8. Sukhoi Flanker Series

Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker The Flanker was conceived during the Cold War in the Soviet Union in order to keep pace with high-performance American fighters like the F-15 Eagle. The Flanker name refers to an entire family of aircraft including the Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, and Su-35 and Chinese derivatives of these designs such as the J-11 and J-16. It can refer to the original Su-27 air superiority aircraft, which was designed with a range, weapons payload, and high degree of maneuverability in mind, or to later derivatives that expanded the family’s mission set to deep-strike, naval fleet escort, and fighter-bomber roles. Modern Chinese Flanker derivatives are said to feature modern radar and reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS). | Page 4}}

Strengths Across the Flanker Family:

• Long-range air-superiority design
• High maneuverability in aerial combat
• Capacity for heavy weapons loads
• Multiple specialized aircraft variants
• Modern radar and defensive systems

The Flanker family illustrates how a single design can evolve to meet different military needs. The original Su-27 was introduced in 1985 with a focus on long-range air defense, designed to intercept the enemy’s bombers and aircraft-carrier standoff attack aircraft and others. The family evolved through variants, with the Su-30 providing air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities, the Su-33 adapted for the carrier fleet for fleet protection, and the Su-34 evolving into a dedicated strike fighter-bomber. The Su-35 was a further refinement of the air-superiority and multirole version, and the Chinese J-11 is a licensed clone of the Su-27. Large airframes can be more easily detected, but at the same time the rich sensors and armament and agility remain strong advantages.

9. Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound

The heavyweight Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound from Russia is an interceptor aircraft built to engage enemies with bombs and other targets at ranges across the airspace. The aircraft has a reported maximum speed of around 3000 km/hr and is optimized for fast response across the extent of the airspace. Its Zaslon-M radar and heavy R-33 and R-37M missiles make it effective for long-range interception, allowing the MiG-31 to engage targets before they reach the range where they can be engaged in close-range combat. Rather than the approaches to stealth or high-maneuverability typical of fighters, the MiG-31 focuses on fast detection and missile ranges. Its large engines and heavy frame also make it easy to see using infrared and radar signals. Nevertheless, the MiG-31 Foxhound remains a significant component of Russian air defense strategy and is planned to be operated until at least 2030.

The MiG-31’s Interception Strengths:

• Top speed around 3,000 km/h
• Powerful Zaslon-M radar system
• Heavy long-range missile capability
• Designed for distant aerial interception
• Continues serving Russian air defense

The MiG-31 is a different general-purpose design from lightweight tactical fighters. Rather than excel at close-in dogfighting, it is designed to get to the target area quickly over long ranges, then take down incoming adversaries before reaching the borders of friendly territory. Its radar and missile integration system facilitate engagement well beyond visual range, especially for aircraft flying far away from friendly strongholds. Its large, hot engines and it’s radar cross-section as well as infrared signature hinders it from the perspective of enemy radar systems and infrared detection, and apparently its avionics are a bit behind the leading Western and Chinese sensor packages in terms of sensors’s density and performance to provide overall situational awareness. The MiG-31 entered service in the Soviet days, and remains part of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

10. Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D

Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D is a versatile lightweight multirole fighter with a focus on being a hard-to-top-tier fast jet at a lower operating cost than larger aircraft. Its potential ability to operate from dispersed highway locations, mountain-cave bases and/or forward airstrips was a foundation for a capability that would be fast, agile and a practical follower for defending the homeland. The designer’s approach to the aircraft optimizes easy speed of refueling and rearming for fast return-to-service, internal capability for long-range air-to-air missiles such as the Meteor family and the ability to work in complement with a modern national air-defense network. Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D retains a potent, and potentially cost-effective, burden of obligation while backed by its aerospace design.

Why the Gripen Offers a Different Approach:

• Lightweight and agile fighter design
• Emphasis on manageable operating costs
• Dispersed highway-base operating capability
• Rapid refueling and rearming cycles
• Meteor missile and network integration

But the real strength of the Gripen is that it prioritises operational flexibility over the size of its aircraft and its maximum payload. This allows the aircraft to operate from multiple dispersed operating locations as an alternative to demanding reliance on large major airbases. It can be turned round quickly to enable operations to continue and can link into integrated air-defence networks so the aircraft can act in conjunction with other systems. The Gripen C/D aircraft is part of a family evolving through multiple iterations of avionic upgrades and capability enhancements. The newer Gripen E/F aircraft feature a fuselage enlarged with the larger-SAS engine to boost weapons payloads, updated cockpit, radar and electronic-warfare systems. The aircraft is available to Sweden and a number of export customers including Brazil, South Africa and Hungary.