Top 10 Best Fighter Jets in the World 2022 (5th Gen)

The jet fighters dominate the skies for the first time since the Messerschmitt ME-262 during WW2.There were many most advanced fighter jets over the past few decades, but some of them were too deadly.Consistently being one step ahead of opponents is the most essential requirement of fighting modern dog fights.Rapid automation progress drives the development of arms and radars of the longer reaches, lower signature targets, and advanced electronic warfare.Unlike in the days of more massive artillery in the Cold war, Technology defines air superiority now. As the fighting environment develops, a fighter has to handle much more than ever before, quickly. Since the tactical agility and ability to adapt to future technologies are considered from the beginning, unknown functionality areas will be easily incorporated to develop 6th generation jet fighters.Here in this post, we will see the top best fighter jets in the world in 2022:

10. Mikoyan MiG-35

Performance: 2,100 km/h (1,300 mph, 1,100 kn) / Mach 2.0

Avionics: Phazotron Zhuk-A/AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar

Role: Multirole combat aircraft

With the improvements on MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB fighters, MiG-35 was described as the deadliest fourth-generation Russian fighter jet.The first version was a modification to the previously used MiG-29M2 concept jet fighter. During the 2007 Aero India air show, Mikoyan officially displayed the first MiG-35 internationally.In terms of combat efficiency improvement, universality, and operating characteristics of the MiG-35/MEG-35D combines developments of MIG-29K/KUB and MIG-29M/M2 planes.MiG-35’s new design includes the 5th-generation intelligence surveillance systems, compatible with Russian and foreign weaponry applications, and an interconnected range of defensive control systems to enhance combat sustainability. The new total design overruns the baseline design concepts. This allows the new aircraft, just like their Western counterparts, to undertake massive-scale multi-role missions.

9. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Avionics: AN/APG-68 radar & MIL-STD-1553

Role: Multirole combat aircraft

Cost: F-16A/B: US$14.6 million, F-16C/D: US$18.8 million

The F-16 is a single-engine, extremely versatile, supersonic, tactical fighter aircraft with multi-role capability American fighter jet. It is much smaller and agile than its predecessors with improved aerodynamics and avionics but uses advanced fly-by-wire (FBW) control to achieve improved flight performance.F-16 also includes the first use of relaxed static stability (RSS) in which a fighter aircraft is intentionally designed to be slightly aerodynamically unstable. It has developed into a reliable all-weather, multi-role aircraft designed for an air fighter for supremacy. Since they approved production in 1976, over 4,600 aircraft have been produced.More advanced F-15 Eagle isn’t included in the top 10 fighter planes list because of its high cost compared to F16.The fact remains that both aircraft are built for different purposes, respectively. Ultimately, the project and budget constraints depending overall cost of the military budget are also crucial. When you compare F16 to 1v1 with its older cousin, the F-15’s advanced technology and arm power are far better. Its payload is heavier, quicker, and the coverage is at higher altitudes.When it comes to equipping an air force, the F-16 is the best choice since it is only half the cost when bought by the F-15 and less than half for its maintenance.

8. Eurofighter Typhoon

Performance: 2,495 km/h (1,550 mph, 1,347 kn) / M2.0+

Avionics: Euroradar CAPTOR Radar

Eurofighter Typhoon divides perception among experts of military aviation. Nevertheless, without question, the multi-role fighter in active service is among the most effective and the most powerful fighter jet made in Europe.The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and later Spain, as a joint effort, developed it. At the outset of the Dassault Rafale program, France was initially involved but separated shortly due to disagreements over design and other Operational requirements. The Typhoon is a highly qualified and remarkably agile dogfighter. Nonetheless, the new American fighter jets F-22 Raptor and F-35 are considered more powerful and technologically advanced.But other than the F-15, Rafale, and Su-27, many experts find Eurofighter more than capable.We expect the Typhoon to remain operational in the late 2030s when either the New Generation Fighter or the BAE Tempest replaces it.

7. Dassault Rafale

Avionics: MDPU Thales RBE2-AA AESA radar

Cost: ~€70M (Depends on accessories)

Dassault designed The Rafale as a modern and versatile jet fighter capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions.Dassault has included some new avionics in the multirole fighter aircraft.The fighter plane’s designers have taken new measures to reduce the aircraft’s radar cross-section if we look at its overall multirole design.This is a very maneuverable aircraft. The Rafale can simultaneously track 40 targets and attack on four targets.Purchasers can equip the aircraft in three different versions: RAFALE C single-seat, RAFALE M single-seat carrier, and RAFALE B twin-seat variant.The plane will hold up to the latest American F-16 & F-15 models. Recently, French Air Force and the Navy have announced the latest version of the Rafale, F3-R.Perhaps the most advanced fighter jet in Europe, the F3-R standard will have upgraded avionics and Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and the AASM Hammer precision-guided ammunition integration.

6. Sukhoi Su-35

Performance: 2,400 km/h (1,500 mph, 1,300 kn) / M2.25

Avionics: Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array radar

Cost: US$83–85 million (Su-35S)

The multi-role Su-35 is a well-designed, improved variant of the Su-27. The Russian Air Force introduced Su-35, the fourth-generation fighter, in 2012.This military jet was a substitute for the Su-27 and the older MiG-29 fighters. It’s a highly maneuverable and agile fighter with long-range, high altitude, and massive artillery capabilities.The Su-35 is the best answer to combat western air superiority (an immense threat to Western 4th generation fighter aircraft). It has 12 hardpoints for the wing and fuselage and can bear weight up to 8,000 kg in weight. Its large and powerful engines allow it to long-distance maneuvering thrusting.The Sukhoi Su-35 can reach up to supersonic speeds even without an afterburner, making it one of the fastest fighter jets. Highly maneuverable, the engines have a 3-dimensional thrust vector. But, in developing, purchasing, and hiring several of the latest technology, Russia falls behind.

5. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Performance: Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph, 1,915 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)

Avionics: Hughes APG-73 or Raytheon APG-79 Radar

Role: Carrier-based multirole fighter

In 2001, the Super Hornet entered service with the U.S. Navy, replacing the 2006 withdrawn Grumman F-14 Tomcat.The F-18 Hornet is widely regarded as the most versatile multi-role aircraft in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. For many years and in many war areas around the world, it has performed with distinction.McDonnell Douglas and Northrop built it in the 1970s and started its active service in the 1980s.The first battle was during Libya’s 1986 bombing, and it also played a significant role in the Gulf War of 1991 and later the Gulf War of 2003.Other Air Force, including the Royal Australian Air Force and the Spanish Air Force, also use Hornet.The F-18 E/F Super Hornet, its larger and more technically capable variant, features updated avionics and other improvements to bring the aircraft to modern standards.

4. Chengdu J-20

Avionics: Type 1475 (KLJ-5) active electronically scanned array

Role: Stealth & Air superiority fighter

The Chengdu J-20 is the newest addition of Chinese fighter jets.Chinese designed it to compete with jet fighters of the fifth generation, such as the US F-22 Raptor, and advanced fighters of the fourth generation, such as the Russian Su-57.Many experts speculate that the Russian MiG aviation company has supported the production of this and many other top fighter jets China currently has. The initial low-rate development of this stealthy aircraft began in 2015. In 2016, the Chinese Air Force received its first operational J-20 stealth fighters.In 2017, China’s air force officially adopted this stealthy fighter.China’s approach to its military programs has been more transparent over the past decade.Even so, on this aircraft, there is little to no official information available.The J-20 is designed with precision strike capability as an air superiority fighter; It comes down from the 1990s J-XX program.Chengdu J-20 uses retractable guided missile launchers that come out on rails, enabling the internal weapons bay to be closed down while the missiles are still hanging outside.J-20 is the third operational fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft in the world after the F-22 and F-35.The J-20 features a blended fuselage, a canard delta configuration, low intakes of jet engines, and an integrated fly-by-wire system (FBW).The aircraft made its first flight in January 2011, and Chengdu Aerospace Corporation officially unveiled it in 2016.It entered the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service in March 2017 as an air-superiority fighter.

3. Sukhoi Su-57

Performance: Mach 2 (2,120 km/h; 1,320 mph)

Avionics: Sh121 multifunctional integrated radio electronic system (MIRES)-Byelka radar

Role: Stealth & Air superiority fighter

Su-57 is intended as the first modern fighter jet to use stealth technology in the Russian military service.Sukhoi, a PAK FA product, will deliver the first aircraft of production in 2019, with a second in 2020.On January 29, 2010, the maiden flights took place.The jet is intended to overcome the previous-generation fighter plane, as well as ground and naval defense with super-maneuverability, stealth, and advanced avionics.Sukhoi has designed the aircraft to mainly carry out air defense and attack missions of the Russian Air Force and the Russian navy.If considered its overall capability to its manufacturing cost, Sukhoi 57 is the most economically efficient and best fighter jet in the world today (half the price of F-35 and one-third price of F-22).It can defend all kinds of enemy targets for ground, air, and surface locations and monitor long distances in the Russian airspace.

2. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Performance: 1,042 kn (1,199 mph, 1,930 km/h) (tested to Mach 1.61)

Avionics: Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/APG-81 AESA radar

Role: Stealth & Multirole fighter

Cost (LRIP lot 12): F-35A: $82.4M, F-35B: US$108.0M, F-35C: US$103.1M

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation, single-seat, and single-engine, all-weather, stealth, multi-role newest fighter jet for ground-assault and air-superiority operations.The aircraft descends from the Lockheed Martin X-35, competing against Boeing X-32 in 2001 to win the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. A tactical advantage over all other battle aviation is provided by the highly agile, stealthy design alongside an advanced sensor pack and modern weapon systems. As the biggest and most expensive combat initiative, the F-35 was the subject of scrutiny and criticism in the United States and everywhere else. In December 2006, the F-35 completed its maiden flight.The trio of the F-35 version Strike Fighters would cover A-10 and F-16 of the US Air Force, the F/A-18 of the US Navy, the F/A-18 and the AV-8B Harrier of the US Marine Forces and other aircraft versions for the other allied nations, including conventional take-offs and landings (CTOL), the short-off/vertical landings (STOVL), and the carriers variant (CV).

1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

Avionics: AN/APG-77 or AN/APG-77(V)1 radar

Role: Stealth air superiority fighter

The F-22 Raptor is the best fighter plane in 2021 developed by Lockheed Martin, and Boeing is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation advanced tactical fighter.The stealth, extremely advanced avionics, and higher performance like thrust-to-weight ratio with speed make this modern marvel a super-maneuverable dog-fighter.Originally an air superiority fighter, it can perform many other functions, including ground attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence.The F-22 cannot be exported under US federal law to protect its stealth technology and other high-tech features.Lockheed designed it to be highly difficult to detect and track by radar.Airframe shaping such as edges alignment, fixed geometry, serpentine bends, and angled vans that avoid the line of sight of motor faces. With turbines from any outside view are all measures to reduce radar cross-sections (RCS) and the use of radar-absorbent material (RAM). Users can also add features such as hinges and fighter pilot helmets that can provide a radar return.The F-22 also has reduced radio emissions, infrared signatures, acoustic indications, and extremely low naked eye visibility.Flat thrust-vectoring nozzles minimize infrared exhaust emissions to reduce the risk of surface-to-air- and air-to-air missiles that use infrared homing (Heat Search).The F-22 began life as a straightforward air superiority fighter.Besides, this airplane has faced a formidable air threat from other countries’ fighters since its launch.It later switched to the multi-role combatant, with an extra capacity for ground attack.

The country with the most advanced weapons has a top edge in modern warfare.And as you can see, as one of the most technologically advanced nations, Americans have that edge in the sky.Nothing denies that America supplements its combat jets faster and more regularly than most nations, regardless of the reason.Recent versions of these planes are easier to come by with contractors like McDonnell Douglas and Boeing right in our own backyard.