After repeated failures in the aviation industry came some of the fastest war airplanes in the world. Now, we are talking about supersonic speed; the kind of speed that can take you from flying at an altitude of 5km to the point you dance with the clouds in a matter of minutes. These world’s fastest war airplanes make fighting seem easy and fun (perhaps not, but you understand the point). Are you ready to learn about some of the fast war airplanes in the world? Here we go.
10. F-35 Lightning II
Image Source: lockheedmartin.com
The US military fighter jet named F-35 Lightning II is the next generation jet. All the great functioning of fastest war airplanes in the world you can envision including amazing stealth capabilities, improved sensor and avionics are part and parcel of this plane. It has a single seat with a single engine with a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 (or 1.6x the speed of sound). Unfortunately, F-35 Lightning II has suffered delays and economic issues and has therefore been replaced over the years.
9. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker
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The 9th position on the list of world’s fastest war airplanes is the Russian Su-27 Flanker built in 1977 for the sole purpose of fighting off the American super fighters. It has a top speed of Mach 2.45 with a twin engine and a 30-mm gun ammunition plus ten exterior pylons with the ability to hold heat seeking, air to air and both medium and small range missiles. As at now (2017) many upgraded versions of these fighter jets are available.
8. F-111Aardvark
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Developed in the 1960s by a company called General Dynamics, the F-111 Aardvark belonging to the United States Air force is among the fastest war airplanes in the world. It is a 2-person jet that found use in strategic bombing campaigns, performing warfare electronically and collecting reconnaissance. Its maximum speed was Mach 2.5 (or 2,665km/h). During the Vietnam War, this is among the war airplanes that were repeatedly put to action in combat.
7. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
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The F-15 is among the old fighter jets still operating with the US Air Force to date. It is still considered as one of the world’s fastest war airplanes with tremendous success. It has a twin-engine with the ability to propel the 18ton aircraft to 2.5 and more the speed of sound. Even though it was first flown in 1976, the US estimates it will operate well past 2025.
6. Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxbat
Image Source: Aeroflight
Talk about superpower war airplanes with super functionality! The Mikoyan Gurevich-31 is that and more. It can fly to a maximum speed of Mach 2.83 in both high and low altitudes made possible by its twin engine. This fighter jet belongs to the Soviet Union and was created to intercept enemy aircraft using both passive and active radars.
5. XB-70 Valkyrie
Image Source: MiGFLUG
The XB-70 Valkyrie is another great jet in the list of fastest war airplanes in the world. The aircraft had a total of six engines which together accelerated the 240-ton plane to speeds of Mach 3. At such speeds the plane’s frame heats up to as high temperatures as 3300C which would appear deadly but actually work better during war. The speed can allow the aircraft escape from Soviet interceptors and avoid the nuclear blast when it drops a nuclear device.
4. Mi-25 Foxbat
Image Source: MiGFLUG
With maximum speeds of Mach 3.2, the Mikoyan- Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat happens to find its spot on the fastest war airplanes. It was used by the Soviet Air Defense Forces back in 1970 to intercept enemy aircraft at amazing speeds as well as collect reconnaissance data. As of now, the Russian Air Force uses it albeit once in a while, other nations like Algeria and Syria use it too during war.
3. Lockheed YF-12
Image Source: popularmechanics.com
The Lockheed YF-12 also makes it home to the world’s fastest war airplanes. It was developed between late 1950s and early 1960s by the Lockheed Corporation. It was a two person jet capable of flying to maximum speeds of Mach 3. The US hid this aircraft during its testing period in Area 51 in Nevada. When it was first flown in 1963, the Y-12 accelerated to a velocity of Mach 3.2 making it among war airplanes treasured by the US Air Force.
2. SR-71 Blackbird
Image Source: History IN ORBIT
Also developed by the Lockheed Corporation, the SR-71 Blackbird was a Cold War period war aircraft belonging to the US Air Force. This project was also classified and even carried the title “black project”. It was a two-seater, twin-engine masterpiece capable of out-speeding threats in reconnaissance missions with its maximum speeds of Mach 3.3. This is also among the fastest war airplanes in the world with the capability to out-race surface-to-air missile in case it was detected.
1. North American X-15
Image Source: worldofaviation.net
This aircraft is currently at the top of the list of world’s fastest war airplanes. When it was flown in October 1967 by William J (Pete Knight), its maximum speed was an-all time high of Mach 6.70. Such speeds are not arrived at without some super design elements. This fighter jet has a massive wedge tail which spelled doom as a result of drag issues. To counter this, a B-52 Stratofortress carried the aircraft to a high altitude of about 14,000m then dropping it causing its own ignition. Another amazing feature of this super plane was its ability to fly to altitudes of over 100 kilometers.
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