Top Fighter Jets in Service (2025)
1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (USA) – Best Air Superiority Fighter
- Role: Air dominance
- Strengths:
Stealth: Most advanced in air-to-air combat
Supercruise: Sustains Mach 1.8 without afterburners
Maneuverability: Thrust vectoring for extreme agility
Advanced Radar Avionics: AN/APG-77 AESA radar
- Weaknesses:
No longer in production (only ~186 exist)
Limited multirole capability (not optimized for ground attack)
2. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (USA) – Best Multirole Stealth Fighter
- Role: Stealth multirole fighter
- Variants:
- F-35A (USAF, conventional takeoff)
- F-35B (USMC, STOVL for short takeoff vertical landing)
- F-35C (US Navy, carrier variant)
- Strengths:
Stealth: Most advanced low-observable design
Sensor Fusion: Superior battlefield awareness
Networking: Shares data across multiple platforms
- Weaknesses:
Slower than F-22 (Mach 1.6)
Less maneuverable in dogfights
3. Chengdu J-20 "Mighty Dragon" (China) – Best Non-US Stealth Fighter
- Role: Stealth air superiority fighter
- Strengths:
Stealth Sensor Fusion (though debated against US designs)
Improved Engines (WS-15) now allow better performance
Long-range missiles advanced radar
- Weaknesses:
Maneuverability still inferior to F-22
Avionics and stealth may lag behind US fighters
4. Sukhoi Su-57 "Felon" (Russia) – Best Russian Fighter Jet
- Role: Stealth multirole fighter
- Strengths:
Thrust vectoring for supermaneuverability
Multirole capability (air-to-air air-to-ground)
Advanced radar electronic warfare systems
- Weaknesses:
Limited stealth capability (inferior to F-22 F-35)
Few in service (~20 operational as of 2025)
5. Eurofighter Typhoon (Europe) – Best Non-Stealth Fighter
- Role: Multirole air superiority fighter
- Strengths:
Excellent agility dogfighting ability
Advanced AESA radar avionics
Operated by multiple NATO nations
- Weaknesses:
No stealth capabilities
Verdict: The Best Fighter Jet in Service
| Category |
Best Fighter |
| Best Air Superiority Fighter |
F-22 Raptor |
| Best Multirole Fighter |
F-35 Lightning II |
| Best Non-US Stealth Fighter |
J-20 Mighty Dragon |
| Best Non-Stealth Fighter |
Eurofighter Typhoon |
| Best Russian Fighter |
Su-57 Felon |
If you want
the absolute best fighter today, the
F-22 Raptor still dominates
air-to-air combat, but the
F-35 Lightning II is the best all-around stealth fighter with superior
sensor fusion, networking, and multirole capabilities.
