The fastest jet-powered aircraft ever is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. This legendary spy plane reached speeds of Mach 3.3 (over 3,500 km/h). The fastest combat jet (intended for fighting) is the MiG-25 Foxbat, which could touch Mach 3.2, although its engines often melted as a result.
Nowadays, fighter jets are often slower than their predecessors from the Cold War. In the past, everything revolved around pure speed to outrun missiles. Now, it is all about stealth and electronics. The aircraft in this list are a mix of modern tech and raw powerhouses from the last century.
1. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (Mach 3.3)
No list is complete without the Blackbird. Officially, it was not a fighter but a reconnaissance aircraft. It flew so high and so fast that if a surface-to-air missile was fired at it, the standard procedure for the pilot was: just accelerate. On the ground, the aircraft leaked fuel because the titanium plates only expanded and sealed due to the heat generated during flight.
2. Lockheed YF-12 (Mach 3.35)
This was the SR-71’s brother, armed. It was a prototype interceptor. In theory, it was even slightly faster than the Blackbird. However, the project was canceled because it was too expensive, and the technology was transferred to the SR-71. It remains the fastest interceptor ever built.
3. MiG-25 Foxbat (Mach 3.2)
When the West first saw this Soviet monster on radar, panic broke out. The MiG-25 was built to blast American bombers out of the sky. It could reach Mach 3.2, but pilots were warned not to exceed Mach 2.8 because the engines would otherwise literally start to melt and be destroyed.
4. MiG-31 Foxhound (Mach 2.83)
The successor to the MiG-25. The Russians realized the Foxbat was too clumsy and built the Foxhound. It is still in service and is currently the fastest operational combat jet in the world. It can fly supersonically at low altitudes, something few other aircraft can do.
5. F-15 Eagle (Mach 2.5)
The pride of the US Air Force. The F-15 is decades old, but still one of the fastest. The aircraft has so much engine power that it can fly vertically upward and still accelerate. The Streak Eagle (a stripped-down version) broke almost every climbing record in the 70s.
6. F-111 Aardvark (Mach 2.5)
A tactical bomber that could also serve as a fighter. The Aardvark had swing-wings: at low speeds, the wings were spread wide for more lift, and at high speeds, they swept back for aerodynamics. Although it looked bulky, it was lightning fast at high altitudes.
7. Su-27 Flanker (Mach 2.35)
The Soviet answer to the American F-15. The Su-27 is not only fast but also extremely maneuverable. It was the first aircraft capable of performing the famous Cobra maneuver (where the plane temporarily hangs vertically in the air to let a pursuer fly past).
8. F-14 Tomcat (Mach 2.34)
Made world-famous by Top Gun. Just like the F-111, the Tomcat had swing-wings. It was designed to protect the fleet with long-range missiles. Despite being heavy, its massive engines allowed it to reach speeds that modern fighters (like the F-35) cannot come close to.
9. MiG-23 Flogger (Mach 2.35)
A Soviet workhorse from the 70s. It was one of the most produced fighter jets during the Cold War. It was cheap and fast, but it was also known for being difficult to fly. Many Western pilots who later flew captured MiG-23s in secret test programs were impressed by the pure acceleration.
10. F-22 Raptor (Mach 2.25)
The most modern fighter in this list. The F-22 is unique because of Supercruise: it can fly faster than sound (Mach 1.8) without using afterburners. This saves fuel and helps it remain invisible to infrared seekers longer, while still being faster than almost anything trying to intercept it.