Due to China's expanding industries, the world is heading toward significant dynamics in 2025 and beyond. This will not affect the growing global demand for US fighters, especially with the new orders of American phantoms from NATO countries and allies. In addition, new advanced and upgraded fighters will emerge in the future.

The Chinese aviation industry is increasing significantly, as seen by COMAC airliners and the military's Shenyang and Chengdu fighter jets. Also, the sanctions on Russia may reduce the number of MiGs and Sukhoi in countries' fleets. The figures below represent the world's most dominant fighters in 2025.

5 MiG-29 Fulcrum

The MiG-29 fleet, with 788 active units, ranks for 5% of the world's fighters.

The MiG-29 is a 4th-generation air defense fighter designed in response to the F-15 and F-16 American fighters. It has dual-purpose capabilities and was introduced in the early 1980s. The MiG-29, introduced in the 1970s, is equipped with air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions.

India is the highest MiG-29 operator, owning 65 units after Russia, which operates 236 active MiGs. Orders for the MiGs are significantly low, with less than 10 new orders. In 2013, Russia announced plans to build a new fighter, the Su-27, to replace the MiG-29.

On the other hand, the Indian Air Force IAF is planning to upgrade its MiG-29 jets with new avionics and control systems, including stand-off ground attack weapons like the Israeli Rampage missile. The initial upgrade will involve 24 MiG-29 UPGs carrying the High-Speed Low Drag HSLD Mk-II missiles, which have a range of over 180 kilometers. This will require additional hardware and software installation, including new bomb racks, cables, and software development.

On January 10, 2025, the Russian military shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft, eight ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, and 689 drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine AFU, according to Bulgarianmilitary.com. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down the aircraft. The military also shot down five Hammer-guided aerial bombs, 41 HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems, and 689 unmanned aircraft-type UAVs.

4 F/A-18 Hornet

The F/A-18 fleet stands at 827 units, with 125 more new orders

The F/A-18 Hornet, introduced in 1974, is a multirole combat aircraft designed to meet Navy fighter escort and interdiction mission requirements, maintain fleet air defense, and perform various missions. The new upgraded Eagle enhancements include increased range and improved carrier suitability for continued strike fighter role against 21st-century threats. The Navy commissioned the development of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, a new, larger airframe using the Hornet's design concepts.

Due to carrier compatibility, the F/A-18 Hornet is a competent, affordable, and available tactical aircraft in the US Navy inventory. It is the backbone of the carrier air wing and offers next-generation multi-role strike fighter capability. The United States receives the world's largest inventory of Hornets, followed by Canada, Finland, and Spain. Kuwait also owns 35 and ordered 28 in 2024.

1. The United States Marine Corps operates 137 units.
2. The US Navy F/A-18E/F operates 416 and ordered 93

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which made its first flight in November 1995, can perform various tactical missions, including air superiority, day/night strikes, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strikes, reconnaissance, forward air control, and tanker missions. Its capability, flexibility, and performance make it suitable for modernizing air or naval aviation forces.

3 F-15 Eagle

The Eagle counts 919 units in service and makes up 6% of the global fighter jet fleet.

The F-15 Eagle is a tactical fighter designed for air supremacy by the Air Force. It is an all-weather, air-to-air, and deep interdiction fighter. Its superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through a high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. The fighter's electronic systems and weaponry enable it to detect, acquire, track, and attack enemy aircraft in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace. The weapons and flight control systems are designed for safe and effective air-to-air combat.

The F-15E, designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed interdiction, includes its advanced family, which began with the Saudi Advanced for the Royal Saudi Air Force, replaced the older hybrid electronic/mechanical system with a digital fly-by-wire control system, allowing for increased service life. The Advanced Eagle was further developed with variants like the F-15QA for the Qatari Emiri Air Force and the F-15EX Eagle II for the USAF.

On January 6, 2025, the US Department of Defense DoD announced that Boeing had been awarded a $615,760,630 contract to begin production of the EPAWSS system for the F-15EX fighters being delivered to the USAF. The contract also includes provisions for equipping F-15E Strike Eagles already in service. As the USAF continues to incorporate the first batches of its new F-15EX Eagle II fighter bombers, the production of new components and systems has reached new milestones.

The US Air Force has ordered 54 F-15C/E and 46 F-15EX. Qatar expects to receive an additional 35 new Eagles, while Indonesia and Israel ordered 49 in 2024.

2 Su-27/30/35 Flanker

Flankers were developed into a family of combat fighters, including the Su-30/33/34/35/37 and the license-built Shenyang J-11.

​​​​​Introduced in 1985, the Su-27, Mach 2.35 (1,795 MPH, 2,888 km/h), is primarily used for long-range air defense against American and Boeing bombers, protecting the coasts, and escorting Soviet heavy bombers. There are 1,284 currently active Su-2735, representing 9% of the world's fighter jets, with only 15 new orders in 2024.

The Su-27 was developed into various variants, including the Su-30 for deep interdiction missions, the Su-33 for naval fleet defense, and the Su-37 for thrust-vectoring capabilities. Sukhoi initially developed the Su-35 from the Su-27, which was known as the Su-27M. Sukhoi designated the Su-27K to be the Su-33. However, the MiG-29 was considered a suitable replacement.

The Su-27's success is mainly due to its excellent engines, particularly the AL-31F turbofan engine. The AL-31F's design features a four-stage low-pressure compressor with about 23 variable guide vanes, which prevents stalling and flameout in the combustion chamber even during significant airflow changes. This insensitivity to strongly alternating flow allows the jet to perform flight maneuvers without noticeable delay in ramping up to full power.

In 2003, the company intended to use it as an intermediate export aircraft while the Sukhoi PAK FA (Su-57) program was developed. This variant, also known as the Su-35, integrates technology from the PAK program, has a revised cockpit and weapons-control system, and uses thrust-vectoring engines instead of canards. The type had its first flight in February 2008. Although it was intended for export, the Russian Air Force became the initial client in 2009, with the production version named Su-35S.

Since 2022, the Flankers have been subjected to rigorous combat operations, particularly given Russia's fleet of at least 400 units and Ukraine's 29 units. In March 2023, a Russian Su-27 was damaged in an attack on Uglovoye airfield in Primorsky Krai, Russia. During the same month, a Russian Su-27 intercepted an American MQ-9 Reaper drone, dumping fuel onto it before colliding with it, causing it to crash into the Black Sea. On 17 May 2024, a Ukrainian Su-27 was shot down during the Kharkiv offensive.

China's fleet is abundant in the Su-27 and its Chinese derivatives, J-11/16, with 319 jets currently operating.

1 F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper)

With 2,084 units in service, the F-16 Viper makes up 15% of the world's fighter fleet.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics. However, in 1993, Lockheed Corporation acquired General Dynamics's aircraft division. The Fighting Falcon was introduced in 1976 and delivered to over 25 other countries. More than 4,600 have been built, and 2,084 are actively running worldwide. It was announced that the US Air Force will continue operating it until 2040.

The latest F-16 Block 70/72 variant is the most advanced 4th or 4.5 generation fighter and brings a new level of capability to air forces around the world. The fighter's top speed is Mach 2.05 (1,353 MPH; 2,178 km/h), and its maximum range is 2,277 NM (2,620 mi; 4,217 km). Deliveries of Block 70/72 began in 2019; the first Block 70 was delivered to Bahrain in January 2023.