Speed has ever been the most prized attribute in war flying. Showing up first, chasing down violators, or getting away from unfriendly skies has been a matter of life and death. However, as aviation technology has progressed and air battle strategies have evolved, what “fast” means has also evolved. Let’s list down the fastest fighter planes in history—from number ten—and examine what their maximum speeds say about the evolving nature of air warfare.
10. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
The F-4 Phantom II is a Cold War-era stalwart that continues to fly with the air forces of Turkey, Greece, and Iran. Climbing at up to Mach 2.23, it’s a demonstration that sufficient engine thrust can propel even a fat airframe quickly. Its two General Electric J79 engines spawned the phrase, “Even a brick will fly if you strap on a big enough engine.” Early Phantoms lacked even a gun, a choice based on 1960s missile-centric thinking—until combat experience proved them wrong, which prompted gun pods to be installed.
9. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is the sole stealth fighter on this list and the world’s first 5th-generation fighter plane. It has a Mach 2.25 speed, but the thing that truly makes it special is its “supercruise” feature—flying supersonic without afterburners. This translates to longer range and improved fuel economy when fully laden, due to its internal bays for carrying weapons. With fewer than 200 ever produced and none exported, the Raptor is one of the most elite fighters in the air.
8. IAI Kfir
Israel’s Kfir is an upgraded Mirage 5 that could fly at Mach 2.3. Its American-built J79-J1E engine provided it with a significant performance advantage over its French forbear. Today, only Colombia and Textron’s adversary training program in the United States still fly the Kfir, but in its time, it was a force to be reckoned with as a high-speed interceptor.
7. Mikoyan MiG-29
Nicknamed “Fulcrum” by NATO, the MiG-29 was designed to counter the F-16. With a top speed of Mach 2.3, it’s famous for being super agile and for its point-defense role. Its two engines, situated very far apart from each other, make it extremely maneuverable—but at the cost of being unable to achieve supersonic speeds when flying with external fuel tanks. Despite that, it’s still in service in several countries, including Russia, Ukraine, and India.
6. Grumman F-14 Tomcat
The F-14, immortalized by “Top Gun,” could hit Mach 2.3, and some aviators claim they took it a bit higher. With variable-sweep wings for use on carriers, it was the U.S. Navy’s flagship interceptor before retirement. Iran still operates it today, with reported significant combat victories in the 1980s. One U.S. Navy crewman likened its acceleration to “being shot out of a cannon.”
5. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
The MiG-23 “Flogger” is a second variable-geometry Soviet fighter, with a top speed of Mach 2.35. It was originally conceived to be an interceptor and is less responsive at low speeds, but its swing wings enable it to use shorter runways for takeoff and cruise at supersonic speeds with efficiency. In its initial release in the late 1960s, its radar and fire control systems were state-of-the-art.
4. Sukhoi Su-27
The Su-27 and its upgraded descendants—the Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35—are among the most extensively used aircraft in the world. With a top speed of Mach 2.35, the Su-27 was designed for long-range combat and heavy load-carrying capacity, and not for raw speed. It’s still in active service with Russia, China, and India.
3. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
The F-15 is an American aviation legend, achieving Mach 2.5 in operational service and marginally lower in combat-capable form. With the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of any fighter, it can climb vertically and even shoot down a satellite in a test flight in the 1980s. It is still being produced after almost 50 years, an unusual case of a fighter that has stayed relevant throughout generations.
2. Mikoyan MiG-31
Designed to take the MiG-25’s place, the MiG-31 has its theoretical maximum speed of Mach 2.83, but operational restrictions—such as the windshield glass melting—bring it closer to Mach 1.5 in normal operating conditions. Even so, it features cutting-edge radar and extended-range weapons, such as the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, making it one of the most lethal Russian interceptors.
1. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
The MiG-25 “Foxbat” is the record-holding fastest fighter aircraft at Mach 2.83. Built during the peak of the Cold War to intercept high-flying threats, it was fast enough to prompt the U.S. to create the F-15.
Few are still operational, primarily in Syria and Libya, but their combat status is uncertain. It held several speed and altitude records, second only to the SR-71 Blackbird.
Why are today’s jets not as fast?
The reality is that speed no longer dictates air battles. Actual battles in the real world do not exceed Mach 1.2. Stealth, situational awareness, and netting capabilities drive modern air supremacy.
Fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35 emphasize sensors, information-sharing, and survivability rather than outright speed.
Though Cold War interceptors are still the leaders in high speed, this generation of fighters is engineered for a new type of war—a war where the first-to-see, first-to-shoot, and stealthy airplane will very likely win.