The United States and Russia are two of the world's strongest military powers. A critical component of any strong military is to have a powerful air force. Fighter jets make up a large portion of any air force's arsenal, and these two countries have produced some of the world's most advanced combat aircraft. The US, in particular, has invested huge sums into further developing its fighter fleet, and these aircraft are the most technologically advanced in the world.

The rivalry between the US and Russia stems back to the Cold War. During this time, America and the Soviet Union were both aiming to prove each other's superiority. Military might was one of the areas where the two global superpowers competed. Despite never fighting one another directly, the two nations invested billions in developing the world's most capable and impressive fighter jets. But the Soviet Union fell over 30 years ago, so is the best of Russia's combat fleet still competitive with the Americans?

The Most Successful Fighter Jet Of All Time

In the 1960s, the Americans were caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the MiG-25. Little was known about this new fighter jet, but its powerful engines and large wings suggested a high-speed fighter with excellent maneuverability. What's more, the MiG-25 began to set incredible speed and altitude records. It was looking like the entire American fleet of fighters was suddenly outclassed.

McDonnell Douglas was awarded the contract for the F-15 in 1969. There were initially two variants: the single-seat F-15A and the two-seater F-15B, but several more would eventually follow. The F-15 can fly at up to Mach 2.5, but more importantly, its huge wings and powerful engines made it one of the most maneuverable combat aircraft ever made. Its lightweight construction gives it an excellent power-to-weight ratio, and it has an exceptionally powerful weapons system.

The F-15 has been in service since 1976, and since then, the Eagle has become the most successful combat aircraft in history. To date, no F-15 has ever been lost in air-to-air combat. It has achieved over 100 victories in engagements with other aircraft, while 👁 Image
Boeing continues to manufacture the jet in the form of the F-15EX Eagle II. The F-15 is one of the most important aircraft in the United States Air Force arsenal.

The Sleek F-22 Raptor

In 1997, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor took flight for the first time. This is arguably the world's first fifth-generation fighter. Rather than simply outgunning or outrunning its opponents, the Raptor wins fights by being invisible. Using stealth technology first employed by planes like the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk and Northrop B-2 Spirit, the F-22 Raptor has one of the smallest radar cross sections of any fighter ever made. It has been reported that it's harder to detect the F-22 than the newer F-35.

Not only is the plane nearly impossible to detect on radar, but it's also capable in the air. The Raptor is reported to be the most maneuverable fighter jet in the world. It's not quite as fast as the F-15 Eagle (Mach 2.25 vs Mach 2.5), but its low weight, thrust-vectoring nozzles, and advanced avionics give it unparalleled handling characteristics. The Raptor is reported to have an upper G limit of +9.0 and a lower limit of -3.0 Gs.

The F-22 was envisioned as a full replacement for the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. However, cost overruns and the development of the F-35 Lightning II led the Raptor program to be whittled down from 750 units to just 195 aircraft. Despite development issues, the F-22 has become one of the USAF's most venerable weapons and will continue to serve as a critical asset until the arrival of the Boeing F-47.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The F-35 Lightning II is intended to be a multi-role fighter rather than one with a specific focus. Lockheed Martin has already produced over 1,200 examples, with a total order count of over 2,400 planes. This makes it one of the most common aircraft types in the US Armed Forces, despite having only been in service for 10 years. The Lightning II is designed to serve the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, and the United States Marine Corps.

There are three variants of the F-35 Lightning II, each with its own distinct purpose. The F-35A is the base variant of the Lightning II, intended for the USAF. The F-35B is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant that will primarily be used by the US Marine Corps. The F-35C is the carrier version intended for the Navy. The F-35B sacrifices fuel capacity, while the F-35C is slightly less maneuverable in order to achieve these capabilities.

The F-35 is both smaller and slower than the F-22 Raptor. It is, however, exceptionally maneuverable, and it features the most advanced avionics in the entire world. This plane also features stealth technology, but is not equipped with supercruising capabilities. This is essentially the USAF's all-rounder plane, while other aircraft like the F-22 are more specialized. Still, the F-35 Lightning II is an exceptional aircraft, especially for a multi-role fighter.

Looking At The Fastest Fighter Jet Ever Made

The MiG-25 is the aircraft that struck fear into the hearts of the Americans in the 1960s. Initial photographs depicted a huge fighter with enormous wings and two powerful engines. This suggested speed, exceptional maneuverability, while its powerful radar worried the US about the plane's reconnaissance abilities. It appeared like the Soviets were one step ahead, which was one of the reasons why the F-15 Eagle was developed.

In 1976, Soviet Air Defence Forces pilot Victor Belenko defected to the West, crash landing in Japan with his MiG-25. When the aircraft was analyzed, the Americans discovered that it wasn't all that it seemed. The majority of the plane was constructed out of steel, largely due to a lack of another suitable material at the time. The massive wings were needed just to keep the heavy fighter airborne, and while the plane could reach Mach 3.2, it could only do so for a few minutes at a time.

Despite being more compromised than initially anticipated, the MiG-25 is still one of the most impressive fighter jets of its day. It set 29 speed and altitude records during its initial years in service, and it still holds the absolute world altitude record when it reached 123,523 ft in 1977. The MiG-25 also remains the fastest fighter jet ever made (the SR-71 is a reconnaissance aircraft). Nearly 1,200 were produced across its 20 years of production, and Russia retired its last MiG-25 in the 1990s.

The State Of The Russian Air Force

The MiG-25 is possibly the most impressive fighter that Russia has ever produced. The issue is that it is a 60-year-old aircraft that is no longer in service. While Russia has produced aircraft far more advanced and capable than the MiG-25 since then, there hasn't been a Russian fighter that has posed as significant a threat since.

The Sukhoi Su-57 is widely considered to be Russia's first, and so far only, fifth-generation fighter. While fighter jet generations are not always specifically defined, it's generally agreed that a fifth-generation fighter incorporates stealth technology, excellent maneuverability, supercruise, advanced avionics, and cutting-edge software capabilities. The current fifth-generation fighters in service are the F-22, F-35, Su-57, and China's Chengdu J-20.

Here lies the issue for Russia. The country is estimated to have built around 22 of these aircraft, while the US is operating hundreds of its fifth-generation fighters. Even China has built 200 - 300 of its J-20s. While Russia has a history of producing impressive fighters comparable to American jets, the nation has fallen behind. The United States, meanwhile, continues to invest in its combat aircraft, having recently awarded Boeing the contract to develop the F-47, the world's first sixth-generation fighter.

Rundown Of The Fighter Jets

When answering the question of which nation has the most superior attack aircraft in the world, the answer is undoubtedly the United States. The USAF has hundreds of fifth-generation fighters, while its older fighters are renowned as being some of the best of their generation. The F-15 Eagle, in particular, is still being produced and has yet to lose a direct aircraft-to-aircraft engagement.

Today, it's no longer Russia that poses the biggest threat to the United States, but rather, China. Yet, China too is behind on its arsenal of J-20 fifth-generation fighters compared to the US's fleet of F-22s and F-35s. The United States continues to invest more in its fighter fleet than any other nation in the world, so it's no surprise that it has the most superior attack aircraft in the world.