The Top 5 Fastest Jets in the World

If you think the F-35 Lightning II or the MiG-31 Foxhound are fast, you haven’t seen anything yet. Here are the five fastest jets in the world that can fly over two times faster than the speed of sound!

1) F-22 Raptor (top speed - Mach 2.25 / 1,864 MPH)

The F-22 Raptor is one of today’s most advanced fighter jets. Though its top speed was recently reduced due to budget constraints, it is still the fastest stealth fighter and aircraft ever built. This might be disputable technically, you can only find the Fastest Airplane record by subtracting a planes' takeoff weight from its landing weight. The F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft that utilizes stealth technology. The F-22 first flew in 1997 and entered service with Air Force units in 2005. The cost of each aircraft was around $139 million, which puts it at number one on our list of most expensive jets. In 2016, a new contract was signed to keep producing Raptors until 2022; there are currently over 180 F-22s still flying for several countries around the world.

2) Euro fighter Typhoon (top speed - Mach 2.35 / 1,890 MPH)

Originally developed by Germany, Britain, and Italy, it is now operated by six countries including Germany and Saudi Arabia. This advanced combat fighter jet can reach a top speed of over 1,900 miles per hour. The Euro fighter Typhoon was originally designed to succeed Cold War-era fighter jets and to fill roles for multiple nations. It is still one of the fastest jets available for sale or rent today.

3) assault Raffle (top speed - Mach 2.35 / 1,850 MPH)

The assault Raffle (Thunderbolt) is a French-built fighter jet that entered service with French Air Force units in 2004. It can travel at speeds greater than Mach 2.35, thanks to its twin EJ200 turbofan engines. This aircraft has been used on combat missions by France and Egypt, as well as seeing limited action by Italian and Indian air forces during recent wars and uprisings around the globe.

4) Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound (top speed - Mach 2.83 / 1,988 MPH)

Considered to be one of, if not THE fastest jet in service. The MiG-31 is a Soviet fighter jet that was first introduced into the Russian Air Force service in 1982. It is believed to be based on a highly modified design of its predecessor, but unlike previous models, it has a variable geometry wing and extensive use of composite construction materials.

5) Su-27 Flanker (top speed - Mach 2.3 / 1,888 MPH)

The top of our list might be a bit of a surprise. It’s not as if we haven’t heard of it before, but when most people think of fast jets, they are thinking American designs: F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and so on. The Su-27 Flanker is a twin-engine, variable-sweep wing fighter jet that was designed by Sukhoi and built by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO). The Su-27 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1985, subsequently updated. Mach 2.3 is 1,888 mph or 3,116 km/h.