These Are The 15 Fastest Fighter Jets Ever
Perhaps to some readers' surprise, older fighter jets were actually faster than the latest, most modern models.
Perhaps to some readers' surprise, older fighter jets were actually faster than the latest, most modern models.
Fighter jets are the ultimate speed machines, and over the years we have seen incredible displays of agility and over-engineering.
During the 1950s, France developed a ring-wing fighter concept that never saw the light of day. The futuristic aircraft suffers no vortex drag.
The Soviet MiG-23 'Flogger' was designed to replace the MiG-21, but it proved less agile, more costly and less effective than Russia had hoped.
The Chengdu J-20 is China's fastest fighter jet, but how does it compare to American military aircraft?
The F-117 Nighthawk served for 27 years with the US Air Force, but perhaps it's retirement was premature, as the F-117 flies on to this very day.
These WWII fighter planes were just the best in their fields, and they also looked good while carrying out their deadly missions.
Convair's remarkable B-58 Hustler was supposed to be a supersonic replacement for the B-52, but its high cost saw it retired after less than 10 years.
The Lockheed SR-71 was the world's most capable spy aircraft, but rising costs, new spy satellites and Pentagon politics were what ended its career.
Boeing's 747 is still one of the world's biggest airliners, but the US Air Force once explored the idea of a 747 aircraft carrier during the Cold War.
WWII forced both Axis and Allies to rapidly build revolutionary tanks that would give them an edge on the battlefield.
Advances in technology mean that several military jets are capable of speeds many would have written off as science fiction – let's take a look.
Operation Chrome Dome saw Boeing B-52s on constant nuclear alert, but multiple accidents almost saw these American bombers nuke the United States.
Iran has amazingly managed to keep a fleet of Grumman F-14 Tomcats in flight, despite the US banning the sale of spare parts for the Tomcats.
Soviet Ekranoplans looked like craft from the future, but these strange military creations never reached their potential and vanished into history.
The fearsome F-22 Raptor is one of the US Air Force's most advanced aircraft, yet thanks to its stealth technology, none have been sold for export.
Douglas' fearsome A-1 Skyraider shot down at least two MiG-17s during the Vietnam War, stunning the North Vietnamese into withdrawing the jets.
The Soviet Beriev VVA-14 was one bizarre looking aircraft, designed to hunt American submarines off the coast of the Soviet Union.
Anti-tank missiles are no longer a threat to MBTs. Active protection systems allow tanks to destroy incoming missiles as they close in.
Vought's striking looking F7U Cutlass was a deathtrap in the air, with over a quarter of Cutlasses lost and 25 US pilots killed flying the aircraft.
The Soviet Union's MiG-25 tricked the US into thinking it was more capable than it actually was, with the reality was that it was rather compromised.