The best fighter. The best plane. The coolest planes in the world

Fighters are a type of aircraft that are used for military purposes primarily to destroy opponents. In this way, it is possible to gain air supremacy, protect ground facilities and escort other vehicles, such as bombers. Among the many types of such aircraft, over time, the best military fighters in the world were singled out.

Despite its name, vehicles are considered defensive weapons. By themselves, fighters are not used for the offensive. The exception is local conflicts, when aircraft hit ground (much less often surface) targets. It is believed that fighters will soon be replaced by UAVs, which are now being actively developed, but so far the aircraft retain their value.

Tenth place. Dassault "Mirage" 2000

During the Second World War, French aviation was almost completely defeated by the German army. Since then, the country has managed to recover, and thirty years ago, the French Mirage fighter appeared, which instantly became the main one in its type. The aircraft proved to be excellent in operations that were carried out in North Africa.

The successful application led to early orders from India. In this country, the Mirage also showed its best side. With its help, the enemy headquarters and aircraft were destroyed, and they also carried out attacks using guided missiles. As a result, resistance was broken in just a few days.

Mirage was taken out of production in 2006, but there is still evidence that this fact did not prevent its participation in the Libyan war. According to the information, the fighter caused serious damage to Gaddafi's army equipment.

Ninth place. F-16 Fighting Falcon

More recently, this fighter was among the most widely used around the world. This was achieved through good quality, which was combined with a moderate cost. At that time, Falcon became the main export product for the US Air Force. Today, more than 4,700 units of this fighter are used in the world.

Falcon is actively used in various conflicts. Most often, he is remembered by the example of the NATO operation, which was carried out against the troops of Yugoslavia. It was also used in the Iraq War. In total, you can count about a hundred conflicts involving such an American fighter.

If we consider the Israeli army, then in it the aircraft is still the most effective of its kind. At the same time, by the end of 2017, the production of an improved, modernized version of this series will begin.

Eighth place. MiG 35

The phrase "Russian production" can cause a variety of thoughts, but only if we are talking not about military equipment. Here the country has established itself since the days of the Soviet Union. As for the MiG 35 fighter, he managed to get into the ratings of the very best even before the prototypes got to the fighting.

The aircraft should start to be used only from 2018, while it already shows significant improvements made by domestic engineers.

For example:

• The fighter is much more economical in terms of fuel consumption,
• It has the ability to automatically control the aiming time,
• The volume of air produced by the oxygen station has been increased,
• The production of an aircraft is three times cheaper than analogues from abroad.

In general, the MiG 35 differs much more comfortable conditions for the pilot. However, since the model has not yet been put into operation, various flaws in the equipment remain in it. Perhaps this is due to the desire of the Ministry of Defense to present a fighter early for participation in tenders.

Seventh place. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

For almost forty years, this aircraft was considered the most successful project in America. Moreover, it is guaranteed to be used by the armed forces until at least 2025, which means that it will retain its effectiveness even at the age of fifty.

F-15 Eagle shows excellent results in combat. It is believed that he was defeated only once, which did not prevent him from hitting about a hundred other aircraft along the way. The fighter was used to fight in Syria, where the pilot Peled managed to destroy six enemy aircraft and seriously damage four more.

This model is actively used by the armed forces of many countries of the world. In total, there are about six hundred Eagles, which is an excellent indicator for an aircraft of this age. On average, it is believed that any malfunctions in it occur once every fifty thousand hours of flight.

Sixth place. Dassault "Rafale"

For French aviation, this particular aircraft is considered the real crowning thought of aircraft designers. It is not known what heights this fighter would have achieved if the cost of its production had not been so high. It requires objects of precision engineering in large quantities.

For the first time, "Rafale" began to be used fifteen years ago, during the war in Afghanistan. He then made an excellent display of his abilities against the Libyan army. However, if we consider more contemporary conflicts, the fighter was used only a few times to strike at the Islamic State in Iraq.

Now "Rafal" is used mainly for exercises. Perhaps this is partly due to the numerous incidents that resulted in crashes or explosions of a vehicle in the air. It should be noted that the human factor was considered the cause of such incidents.

Fifth place. Sukhoi Su-30

Another representative domestic aviation. This fighter model is one of the most reliable. It perfectly demonstrates itself during the exercises, but it is also widely used in other areas. For example, with its help, training battles were conducted with England and America, where the Su-30 showed complete superiority.

This fighter is the backbone of the Indian Air Force. He played a huge role in the operation in Syria, and it was largely thanks to him that it ended successfully. No less importance of "Dry" was observed during the liberation of Palmyra.

However, not everything is so rosy. There have been incidents with this aircraft. During their existence, there were nine of them, which is enough low rate. However, the incidents were related to lack of fuel and engine fire, and not human error.

Fourth place. Eurofighter Typhoon

This fighter can be considered unique in many ways. First of all, this is due to the fact that it was produced by the joint efforts of several countries at once. These are the members European Union namely Spain, Italy, Germany and England. The aircraft quickly proved its effectiveness in real operations, for example, in Iraq and Syria.

One of the main advantages of the Typhoon is the function of jamming enemy radars, which makes it possible to change the flight of guided missiles. The aircraft has one of the best performance in terms of firing range.

"Typhoon" is widely used by the armed forces of not only European countries, but also the states of the Middle East. About five hundred of these aircraft have now been put into operation. Many of them are distinguished by their own modification and were produced using unique technologies.

Third place. Sukhoi Su-35

This fighter for a long time was something like dark horse, since the technology of its production was kept in great secrecy. This led to the fact that many potential buyers did not dare to invest in such, at first glance, a risky project.

Everything changed when the Su-35 demonstrated itself in practice. Fighters worked alongside the main attackers Russian forces VKS, as a result of which many drew attention to them. In the future, it is this aircraft that will form the backbone military base Russia in Syria.

In fact, it is a modernization of the Su-27 model. This can be judged by the same glider. However, this only proves that Russian technology for aviation is durable and follows tradition.

Second place. F-22 Raptor

This fighter is a very interesting case. In fact, it can rightfully be considered the best, as it has a variety of advantages. The Raptor is economical, efficient and versatile. It is the backbone of the US Air Force in Syria, where it seriously interferes not only radical Islamists, but also to representatives of the ISIS military forces.

The superiority of the Raptor is demonstrated by the story in which the pilot not only quickly and effectively coped with the task, but also managed to stay in the air for about six hours after that without attracting the attention of the enemy. This allowed him to transmit the coordinates of several important positions.

Behind last years the fighter completed more than 200 combat missions and generally demonstrated good reliability. However, the cost of its production is very high, and the presence of the latest developments on board has led to an export ban. Moreover, there were so many problems with this fighter that it was eventually discontinued.

First place. Dry T-50

The first place is Russian fighter fifth generation. It is distinguished by the ability to conduct combat with several opponents at once, and some of them may be in the airspace, while others on the ground. This was achieved through increased maneuverability and a number of advanced technologies.

The aircraft is highly valued not only by domestic experts, but also by Western experts, who separately noted Russia's progress in the issue of technologies for reducing visibility. However, the T-50s have not yet entered full service. On this moment are being tested, and in closed mode. Even the final version of the prototype has not yet been made public.

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More than a hundred years ago, humanity discovered the third dimension - the plane of the Wright brothers took off into the sky. Very little time passed, and the air ocean turned into another battlefield - combat aviation became a significant factor that seriously affects the outcome of ground operations.

First combat aviation massively began to be used during the First World War. At first, military aircraft were unarmed, they were mainly used to conduct aerial reconnaissance and bombing (if this term can be called the manual dropping of various explosive objects on the enemy's heads). The very idea of ​​air combat seemed absurd and impossible to many. However, machine guns were soon mounted on airplanes, fighter planes appeared, and fierce battles unfolded in the skies.

Period between two world conflicts military aviation developed rapidly - combat aircraft became faster, more powerful, more deadly.

9. "Ilya Muromets"

In ninth place in the top 10 is the legendary multi-engine aircraft, created in Russia on the eve of the First World War. After its launch, the Ilya Muromets became the world's first heavy bomber. This aircraft set several records for flight range and payload. "Ilya Muromets" became the first successful project of the genius from Kiev Igor Sikorsky.

A total of 76 units of this aircraft of various modifications were built. After the outbreak of the First World War, a special squadron was created, consisting of Ilya Muromets heavy bombers. The latest modifications of this aircraft could take on board about 1500 kg of bombs - an unheard of power for that time. In addition to bombs, defensive weapons were also installed on the Ilya Muromets - from two to six machine guns.

The rest of the countries participating in the First World War quickly appreciated the successful experience of Russia - soon heavy multi-engine bombers appeared in service with France, Germany, and Great Britain.

Igor Sikorsky did not accept the revolution and emigrated from Russia to the United States.

8. Junkers Ju 87 "Thing".

In eighth place in the top 10 is the single-engine German dive bomber Ju-87, one of the most famous combat aircraft of World War II. He became a symbol of the German blitzkrieg in Western Europe and on the Eastern Front.

This aircraft had non-retractable landing gear ( soviet soldiers called him "lappetzhnik"), which significantly worsened its aerodynamics and reduced speed, but the accuracy of bombing Ju 87 had no equal. Several innovative ideas (air brakes, siren) were used in the design of the Stuka, thanks to which the aircraft became so effective. However, after the loss of German air supremacy, the Yu-87 became an easy target for enemy fighters.

7. IL-2

In seventh place in the top 10 is another legendary fighting machine during the Second World War - the Soviet attack aircraft Il-2. Luftwaffe fighter pilots called this attack aircraft "concrete aircraft", and the German infantry - "black death" or "plague".

Serial production of IL-2 began on the very eve of the Great Patriotic War, at the beginning of 1941. In total, Soviet industry produced more than 36 thousand units of this machine.

The IL-2 had several innovative solutions in its design, the main of which was the inclusion of armor directly into the power circuit of the aircraft. Prior to this, armor was also used to enhance the protection of aircraft, but it was simply hung on top of the hull, which significantly made the structure heavier.

Despite the high security of the aircraft, the losses of these aircraft in the first months of the war were very significant. There is information that the pilots were awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union for ten successful sorties on the Il-2 (according to another version, for thirty).

6 Hawker Siddeley Harrier

In sixth place in the top 10 is the British VTOL aircraft Hawker Siddeley Harrier. This machine first took to the skies in 1966 and gave rise to a whole family of combat vehicles that are still in service with the US Navy and several other countries of the world.

In the 60s, the idea of ​​​​creating an aircraft that could take off and land without a run (VTOL) was very popular. However, it was very difficult to develop and manufacture such a machine. The most successful were the British, their aircraft could not only do without a runway, but also effectively perform the functions of a combat aircraft. Hawker participated in the Falklands War and showed themselves with the best side. main reason The success of the British was the magnificent engine of Rolls-Royce.

VTOL aircraft were also built in the USSR, but the Soviet Yak-38 turned out to be an unsuccessful machine.

5. MiG-15

This fighter is one of the most famous Soviet aircraft in the West. It was created in the late 40s, had a large number of modifications, produced under the Soviet license in several countries of the world. The MiG-15 first appeared in the skies of Korea and made a splash in the West. Up to this point, Soviet technology was considered something backward and outdated, but this jet fighter became a cold shower for Western strategists.

The Americans were preparing an armada of strategic bombers for delivering nuclear strikes on the territory of the USSR, but familiarity with the MiG-15 made it clear that the chances of breaking through the barrier Soviet fighters minimal.

The main enemy of the MiG-15 in the Korean sky was american fighter F-86 Saber, however, according to most experts, the Soviet machine was superior to its opponent.

4. B-17 "Flying Fortress"

In fourth place in the top 10 is another aircraft of the Second World War - the American strategic bomber B-17. It was developed in 1934 and almost immediately became a legend. It was the first American serial all-metal strategic bomber.

He bombed the cities of Germany, participated in the hostilities in the Pacific. Four engines provided the B-17 with a speed of over 500 km / h and a practical ceiling of more than 10 km, and nine (later twelve) 12.7-mm machine guns made this bomber a very difficult opponent for any fighter.

In addition, the B-17 was fantastically reliable. Cases are documented when an aircraft returned to base with one engine running, with huge holes in the fuselage, or with virtually no tail.

3. Su-27

2. F-15 Eagle

In second place is the main potential enemy of the Su-27 - the American F-15 Eagle air superiority aircraft. This machine also belongs to the fourth generation of fighters, but it took to the air about ten years earlier than the Su-27. This aircraft is still in service with the US Air Force, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Japan. He participated in several armed conflicts, on account of the "Eagle" more than a hundred confirmed victories in air duels without a single loss - this is a real killer. F-15 Eagle fought in the skies of Yugoslavia, Syria and Iraq. According to the statements of the military of these countries, the Americans lost more than ten F-15 units. However, the problem is that no one has been able to provide the wreckage of the F-15 Eagle as evidence.

Based on this fighter, several modifications have been developed, the most advanced being the F-15E Stike Eagle.

1. F-22 Raptor

Heading our top 10 is the first (and so far the only) serial fifth-generation fighter - the American F-22 Raptor. This aircraft is capable of reaching supersonic speeds without turning on the afterburner, it is made using stealth technology, has very advanced on-board electronics and a phased array radar.

It should be noted that the F-22 Raptor, which is part of the US Air Force, surpasses other fighters not only in terms of its characteristics, but also in terms of price: the cost of one machine is more than $146 million. Currently, only Americans can afford such spending. Fifth generation fighters are being developed both in China and in Russia. The projects are still at the testing stage.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

The first inventions that made it possible to rise into the air caused euphoria, because then it was a miracle to get off the ground, rising up for several kilometers. But with the development of technology, people began to feel more confident in the sky, and thanks to fighters, they can even consider themselves masters of the air spaces. Equipped with a host of innovative features, they impress with their capabilities and military power. We present to you top 10 best fighter planes in the world.

10 Boeing F/A-18E

American-made carrier-based aircraft, which is often placed on aircraft carriers. It has at its disposal a six-barreled cannon capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute, as well as many other weapons, including laser-guided and non-laser-guided missiles.

9F-16 Fighting Falcon

Created in the USA in 1979, Falcon is still actively used not only at home, but also in other countries of the world. Due to its minimum price, as well as high flight capabilities, it has been put into service in more than thirty states. That is why it is considered one of the best fighters in the world.

8 Saab JAS 39 Gripen

It is in service with the Swedish army and, although it was released and first tested in action back in 1988, it still has impressive technologies. The reason for this is that in the manufacture of the JAS 39 Gripen, the designers focused on the terrain of their country - the mountains, as well as not simple Scandinavian climatic conditions.

The creation of Russian masters from the design shop named after P. Sukhoi, which was tested and passed a lot of different checks, each of which showed a high class of the car. In competitions between British and American counterparts, the Su 30 has always emerged victorious. It is also valued for its well-thought-out rescue system, because in nine out of ten cases, in an accident, the pilot remains safe and sound.

6. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

The creation of drawings and the development of the aircraft began in 1962. It took to the skies a decade later, but, despite its age, it is still in use today, and will continue to do so, according to representatives of the US Air Force, until at least 2025. Such trust "Eagle" deserved its reliability. Speed ​​and power can be found in other aircraft, but only this one has such a minimum number of breakdowns.

The US military has praised Russia's new development, the Su-35, as the most powerful and deadly aerial vehicle ever built by the Russians. Therefore, the Su 35 will not be able to get around the top of the best fighters in the world. It is still little used, and exact data on all its capabilities are kept secret.

Among American aircraft with destructive power, it is considered the best. The Raptor is light, agile and economical. Since its inception, which happened in the 90s, only two aircraft of this model have crashed.

3 Eurofighter Typhoon

It was simply impossible not to include the Typhoon in the top 10 fighters in the world, created by the joint efforts of the best designers in England, Italy, Spain and Germany. The development of the European Union to stabilize the situation in the Middle East, which has the ability to create noise and interference on enemy radars, which is why it is not possible to hit the Typhoon homing system.

Russian-made fifth-generation fighter, which has all the best from previous models and is equipped with many of the latest developments. According to preliminary data, the Su 57 can simultaneously fight with several opponents, both in the air and on the ground.

Completing the list of the best fighters in the world today is the Su 27 with its extensive history. It has been in operation for quite a long time and still shows excellent results. So during a military conflict in the expanses of Africa, one such managed to destroy three enemy fighters. And among the shortcomings, only one is obvious - high fuel consumption.

The most important evaluation criterion is combat experience. All presented fighters, except for 10th place (but there are good reason) participated in the fighting. Secondly, without exception, all machines have some kind of clear advantage, most have outstanding performance characteristics.

10th place - F-22 "Raptor"

The only 5th generation fighter in the world, built according to the concept of "first to see, first to fire, first to hit the target." Supersonic "stealth machine" equipped with last word technology, has become the object of heated debate about its price, capabilities and relevance. Literally from the words of an American broadcast: “Why spend 66 billion dollars on the F-22 program, if a deep modernization of the F-15 and F-16 can give a comparable effect? Because technology must evolve, progress cannot be stopped…”
Lack of real combat experience negatively affects the evaluation of "Raptor". The most modern fighter takes only 10th place.

9th place - Messerschmitt Me.262 "Schwalbe"

The world's first jet combat aircraft. 900 km/h It was a breakthrough. It was used as a fighter-interceptor, blitz bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.
The airborne complex included 4 30 mm cannons with 100 rounds per barrel and 24 unguided rockets, which made it possible to riddle a 4-engine bomber in one go.
Having received the captured "Swallows", the Allies were impressed by their technical excellence and manufacturability. What was the cost of crystal clear radio communication.
Until the end of the war, the Germans managed to release 1900 "Swallows", of which only three hundred were able to take to the skies.

8th place - MiG-25

Soviet supersonic high-altitude interceptor that set 29 world records. In this role, the MiG-25 had no competitors, but it combat capabilities remained unclaimed. The only victory was achieved on January 17, 1991, when an Iraqi MiG shot down a US Navy F/A-18C Hornet carrier-based fighter.
Much more productive was his service as a scout. During combat service in the zone of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the MiG-25R opened the entire system of fortifications of the Bar-Leva line. The flights were on top speed and an altitude of 17-23 km, which was the only means of protecting an unarmed intelligence officer. In this mode, the engines gobbled up half a ton of fuel every minute, the aircraft became lighter and gradually accelerated to 2.8 M. The MiG skin heated up to 300 ° C., according to the pilots, even the cockpit lantern heated up so that it was impossible to touch it. Unlike the titanium SR-71 "Black Bird", the thermal barrier became a problem for the MiG-25. The allowed flight time at speeds over Mach 2.5 was limited to 8 minutes, which, however, was long enough to cross Israeli territory.
Another remarkable feature of the MiG-25R was its potential ability to "capture" 2 tons of bombs in flight. This especially tickled the nerves of the Israeli military: an indestructible scout is still tolerable, but an indestructible bomber is really scary.

7th - British Aerospace Sea Harrier

The first vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (the land version of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier appeared back in 1967). Having gone through a series of upgrades, it still remains in service with the US Marine Corps under the name McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier II. The clumsy-looking aircraft is very photogenic in flight - the sight of a combat vehicle hovering in one place will not leave anyone indifferent.
The main secret of the British designers was the way to create lifting thrust. Unlike their Soviet counterparts from the Yakovlev Design Bureau, who used a scheme with 3 independent jet engines, the Harrier uses a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus power unit with a deflectable thrust vector. This made it possible to increase the combat load of the aircraft to 5,000 pounds (about 2.3 tons).
During the Falklands War, the Harriers of the Royal Navy operated at a distance of 12,000 km from home and achieved excellent results: they shot down 23 Argentine aircraft, without a single loss in air battles. Pretty good for a subsonic aircraft. In total, 20 Harriers took part in the hostilities, of which 6 were shot down when attacking ground targets.
According to all experts, without the support of carrier-based aircraft, the Royal Navy could not have defended the Falklands.

6th place - Mitsubishi A6M

Legendary deck Zero-sen. An enigmatic plane from Mitsubishi engineers, which combines the incongruous. Excellent maneuverability powerful weapons and a record flight range - 2600 km (!) With a curb weight of 2.5 tons.
"Zero" was the embodiment of the samurai spirit, demonstrating contempt for death throughout its design. The Japanese fighter was completely devoid of armor and sealed fuel tanks, the entire payload reserve was spent on fuel and ammunition.
For a whole year, aircraft of this type dominated the sky over Pacific Ocean, ensuring the victorious offensive of the Imperial Navy. At the end of World War II, the Zero played a grim role, becoming one of the main assets of kamikaze pilots.

5th place - F-16 "Fighting Falcon"

The review of the F-16 is written in the form of a comparison with the MiG-29, I hope this will help answer many questions for readers.

The rule of fighter aviation says: whoever finds his enemy first has the advantage. Therefore, the optical review in dogfight It has great importance. Here "American" has the advantage. The frontal projection of the F-16 almost matches the MiG-21, about which American pilots said that at a distance of 3 kilometers it is almost impossible to visually notice. Visibility from the F-16's cockpit is also better, thanks to the canopy. For the MiG-29, the fact that the RD-33 engine creates a dense plume of smoke in some flight modes is disadvantageous.
In close maneuverable combat, thanks to the integral layout and the presence of 2 engines, the MiG has outstanding flight characteristics. F-16 is somewhat behind. The turning speed of the MiG-29 reaches, according to Russian data, 22.8 ° / s, while that of the F-16 - 21.5 ° / s. The MiG is gaining altitude at a speed of 334 m/s, the rate of climb of the F-16 is 294 m/s. The difference is not so great and good pilots can level it.

Front-line fighter armament should include both the air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon categories. The F-16 has at its disposal the largest set of weapons, is capable of using guided and unguided bombs and anti-radar missiles. Electronics placed in an additional container makes it possible to point the use of weapons. The MiG-29, on the contrary, is forced to limit itself to unguided bombs and NURSs. In terms of carrying capacity, a net loss: for the MiG-29 this figure is 2200 kg, for the F-16 - up to 7.5 tons.

Such a huge difference is explained simply: the payload reserve of the MiG-29 “ate” the second engine. According to many experts, the MiG has a largely erroneous layout, 2 engines for a front-line fighter is too much. Rostislav Belyakov, General Designer of the MiG Design Bureau, said it best on Farnborough-88: "If we had such a reliable and high-torque engine as Pratt & Whitney, we would have designed a single-engine aircraft without a doubt." The range also suffered from such twists and turns: for the MiG-29 it does not exceed 2000 km with PTB, for the F-16 the flight range with PTB and 2 2000-pound bombs can reach 3000-3500 km.

Both fighters are equally armed with missiles medium range air-to-air class. For example, the Russian R-77 has impressive declared performance characteristics, while the American AIM-120 has repeatedly confirmed its rather modest performance in combat. net parity. But the MiG-29 has a longer airgun range and a larger caliber. The six-barreled "Volcano" F-16, on the contrary, has a larger ammunition load (511 shells versus 150 for the MiG).

The most important element is avionics. Radars are difficult to evaluate, because manufacturers hide exact specifications. But according to some statements by pilots, it can be determined that the MiG-29 radar has the most high angle view - 140 degrees. The APG-66 radar for the F-16A and, accordingly, the APG-68 for the F-16C have viewing angles of no more than 120 degrees. A significant advantage of the MiG-29 aircraft is that the pilot has a helmet with a Slit-ZOOM sight, which gives decisive superiority in close air combat. But the F-16 again has its own important advantage - the flight control system (Fly-by-Wire) and the HOTAS engine control system (Hands on Throttle and Stick), which makes the aircraft exceptionally easy to fly. At the push of a single switch, the Falcon is ready for battle. In contrast, the MiG-29 is manually tuned, which takes much longer to get into combat.
Design Bureau MiG and General Dynamics demonstrated completely different approaches to solving the same problem. Interesting design solutions have been implemented in both aircraft, and in general the verdict is as follows: the F-16 is a multifunctional fighter, while the MiG is a pure air fighter, focused primarily on close maneuverable combat. Here he has no equal.

Why did the Falcon win, and the MiG-29 did not enter the Top 10 rating at all? And again the answer will be the results combat use these machines. F-16 fought in the skies of Palestine, passed the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. A separate page of the Falcon "and was a raid on the Iraqi nuclear center"Ozirak" in 1981. Having traveled 2800 km, the Israeli Air Force F-16s secretly penetrated Iraqi airspace, destroyed the reactor complex and returned without loss to the Etzion airbase. The total number of F-16 air victories under the control of pilots from NATO countries, Israel, Pakistan and Venezuela is about 50 aircraft. There is no data on the defeat of the F-16 in air combat, although one aircraft of this type was shot down by air defense systems in Yugoslavia.

4th place - MiG-15

A single-seat jet fighter, whose name has become a household name in the West for all Soviet fighters. Entered service with the Air Force of the Soviet Union in 1949. The plane that prevented the Third world war.
Literally, from the words of the Military Channel: “In Western society, there is an opinion that Soviet technology is something cumbersome, heavy and outdated. There was nothing like this in the MiG-15. A fast and agile fighter with clean lines and an elegant shape ... ” His appearance in the skies of Korea caused a sensation in the Western press and a headache for the US Air Force command. All plans for drawing collapsed nuclear strike across the territory of the USSR, from now on the B-29 strategic bombers did not have a single chance to break through the barrier of jet MiGs.
And one more important point, - The MiG-15 became the most massive jet aircraft in history. It was in service with the Air Force of 40 countries of the world.

3rd place - Messerschmitt Bf.109

Favorite fighter aces of the Luftwaffe. Four famous modifications: E ("Emil") - the hero of the battle for England, F ("Friedrich") - it was these fighters that "broke the silence at dawn" on June 22, 1941, G ("Gustav") - the hero of the Eastern Front, the most successful modification, K ("Elector") - overpowered fighter, an attempt to squeeze out all the remaining reserves from the car.
104 German pilots who fought on the Messerschmitt were able to bring their score to 100 or more downed vehicles.
An ominous, fast and powerful aircraft. The real Fighter.

2nd place - MiG-21 vs F-4 "Phantom II"

Two different views on the appearance of the 2nd generation jet fighter. An 8-ton light front-line fighter and a 20-ton universal fighter-bomber, which became the basis of the fighter fleet of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
Two irreconcilable adversaries. Hot battles in the skies of Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, India and Pakistan. Hundreds of downed cars on both sides. Bright combat history. Until now, they are in service with the air forces of many countries.

Soviet designers have relied on maneuverability. Americans - on missiles and electronic equipment. Both views turned out to be wrong: after the first air combat it became clear that the "Phantom" in vain abandoned the guns. And the creators of the MiG realized that 2 air-to-air missiles are unacceptably small.

1st place - F-15 "Eagle"

Murderer. 104 confirmed air victories without a single loss. None of the modern aircraft can boast of such an indicator. The F-15 was created specifically as an air superiority aircraft and for 10 years, before the advent of the Su-27, it was generally out of competition.
The first time the F-15 went into battle on June 27, 1979, when the Israeli "Needles" shot 5 Syrian MiG-21s in close maneuvering combat. For more than 30 years of combat service, the MiG-21, MiG-23, Mirage F1, Su-22 and MiG-29 (4 in Yugoslavia, 5 in Iraq) have become F-15 trophies. No less impressive were the achievements of the “Needles” in Asia, for example, during the “Team Spirit-82” exercises, 24 F-15 fighters based on Okinawa made 418 “combat” sorties in 9 days, of which 233 - within three days, while the degree of combat readiness of all aircraft was almost continuously 100%.
The high flight characteristics of the F-15, its ability to operate autonomously in the conditions of the use of electronic warfare by the enemy, day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions, at high and low altitudes, made it possible to create the F-15E "Stike Eagle" strike aircraft based on its design ( 340 cars were produced). By 2015, the troops will receive a "stealth" version of the fighter-bomber based on the F-15 - the F-15SE "Silent Eagle".
The combat use of the F-15 is the cause of much controversy. Especially questioned is the fact that not a single Eagle was lost in combat. According to statements by Syrian and Yugoslav pilots, at least ten F-15s were shot down over Lebanon, Serbia and Syria. But it is not possible to confirm their words, because. neither side was able to demonstrate the wreckage. One thing is certain, the participation of the F-15 in hostilities largely determined the course of many military operations (for example, the 1982 Lebanon War).
F-15 "Eagle" is the most formidable and effective combat vehicle, so it deservedly takes 1st place.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, many of the outstanding designs were left out of the "Top 10" rankings. The hero of all air shows, the Su-27 is the best peacetime aircraft, the flight qualities of which allow you to perform the most complex aerobatics, and did not make it into the rating. The Supermarine Spitfire did not make it into the rating either - just a good aircraft in all respects. Too many successful designs were created and it was very difficult to choose the best from them.

There are enough fans in the world to make ratings of the very best. Usually it is TOP-5 or TOP-10. Military equipment is also popular in these ratings. Of course, it is difficult to talk about their objectivity. After all, all these tanks, aircraft and ships most often never met in combat conditions, and therefore they are compared according to performance characteristics taken from open sources. In addition, patriotic feelings are superimposed, because of which the compilers of the ratings prefer native cars. However, it can be interesting to look at these TOPs.

Today we have the British version of the top five fighters in the world. The comparison was carried out according to the following parameters: speed and maneuverability, the level of stealth, the weapons system installed on board, the cost of production and maintenance. Let's fly!

5. F / A-18E / F Super Hornet - American carrier-based fighter-bomber and attack aircraft

The author of the rating claims that this American fighter is ignored by many analysts, but in vain. Super Hornets serve in the US and Australian navies. The United States has about five hundred of them, and Australia has 24. "Super Hornet" has an excellent cruising speed and thrust vector control, but it is not as maneuverable as the Su-35 and F-22. After the planned upgrades, it can be expected that this aircraft will remain in service until the 2040s or even until the 2050s. Naval Forces The United States loves this aircraft very much and constantly upgrades it, not wanting to change it to something else.

• Maximum speed - 1900 km / h at an altitude of 12190 meters;
• Flight range - 2346 km;
• Combat radius - 722 km;
• Practical ceiling - 15 km.

4. lockheed The Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American fifth-generation stealth fighter-bomber.

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In fourth place is again a product of the American aviation industry. The fifth-generation stealth fighter got off to a bad start. There was constant news about technical problems, due to which it was necessary to cancel its deliveries and postpone the start of mass production. The cost of the project has long exceeded the planned value. However, the F-35 is barely making its way through.

The F-35 is available in three versions: a ground-based fighter for the US Air Force, a fighter with a short takeoff and vertical landing for marines United States and British Navy and carrier-based fighter for the US Navy.

• Maximum speed - 1950 km / h;
• Combat radius - 1150 km;
• The maximum flight range without.

3. Su-35 - Russian multipurpose supermaneuverable fighter with thrust vector control engines

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Even the British put our Su-35 aircraft above the vaunted F-35. The Su-35 is the result of a deep modernization of the Su-27. This aircraft can carry a record eight tons of payload in the form of weapons and ammunition. In terms of maneuverability, the Su-35 is not inferior to the F-22, but is capable of performing unique aerobatics that no other aircraft can perform. About 60 of these aircraft are already in service. It is planned to release 70 more pieces.

• Maximum speed - 2390 km / h;
• Combat radius - 3600 km;
• Practical ceiling - 18 km.

2. Eurofighter Typhoon - fourth-generation European multirole fighter

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Well, here we see an example of subjectivity. Since Great Britain took part in the development of the European fighter, the author of the rating put the Eurofighter above the Su-35. Although the Eurofighter looks quite ordinary in appearance, inside it is crammed with the most sensitive sensors and innovative technologies. Initially, this aircraft was conceived as a pure fighter, but the modernization significantly expanded its capabilities. In the latest modification, called Tranche, the possibilities of hitting ground targets are significantly expanded, i.e. the aircraft is capable of performing the functions of an attack aircraft.

• Maximum speed - 2495 km / h;
• Combat radius - 1390 km;

1. lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor - fifth-generation American multirole fighter

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In the first place, the British put, oddly enough, the American Raptor, with which there were so many problems that it was discontinued. In addition, this is the most expensive fighter: in 2006, it cost as much as gold equal to it in weight. Due to the latest developments on board, the US Congress banned the export of the F-22. A feature of this aircraft are sensitive long-range radars, which allows the Raptor to hit targets without coming into direct contact with the enemy.

In principle, this aircraft can be not only a fighter, but also an attack aircraft, but then it loses the advantage of "invisibility". In fact, he does not need this function, which only increases the cost of production. The Raptor has excellent maneuverability, but it is of little use, since pilots are expressly forbidden to perform certain maneuvers in order to avoid losing consciousness. Therefore, only the most experienced pilots are allowed to fly the F-22. In total, the US Air Force has 187 of these machines.

• Maximum speed - 2410 km / h;
• Combat radius - 759 km;
• Practical ceiling - 19.8 km.

Let's remember that all these ratings are quite subjective. How can, for example, put in the first place a discontinued aircraft that has not shown itself in any way? Or why is the European aircraft, which had become obsolete by the time of its appearance, placed above the Su-35? The questions, as they say, are rhetorical. We will be glad that our designers are able to create a car that not only is not inferior to foreigners, but also surpasses them in many ways.