The most advanced fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force are no longer just fast, loud machines built to win a dogfight. They are flying supercomputers that fuse radar, satellites, and battlefield data into one picture for the pilot.
From the stealthy F-22 Raptor to the sixth-generation F-47 now in development, this list ranks the 10 aircraft that define American air power heading into 2027.
Quick Answer
The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II remain the most advanced operational fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force today, combining stealth, sensor fusion, and network warfare. Right behind them, the F-15EX Eagle II and the in-development F-47 NGAD (targeting a 2028 first flight) represent the next leap in American air superiority.
What Makes a Fighter Jet “Advanced” in 2026?
Before ranking the list, it helps to know what actually separates an advanced fighter aircraft from an old one. Raw top speed is only a small piece of the puzzle today.
Military aviation experts weigh several factors when judging modern combat aircraft:
- Stealth technology — how well the airframe evades radar detection
- Supersonic speed and maneuverability under combat load
- Advanced avionics and AESA radar for beyond visual range missiles
- Sensor fusion — combining radar, infrared, and satellite data into one screen
- Electronic warfare systems for jamming and self-protection
- Payload capacity and precision strike capability
- Combat readiness and real-world deployment history
With those benchmarks in mind, here is how the U.S. Air Force fleet stacks up, counted down from #10 to the single most advanced fighter aircraft in the inventory.
Top 10 Most Advanced Fighter Jets in the U.S. Air Force
10. F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (Legacy Block 25/30/32)
The older-block F-16C/D still forms a large share of Air National Guard squadrons across the country. First introduced in the late 1970s, this legacy Falcon has been upgraded repeatedly, but it lacks the AESA radar and modern electronic warfare suite found in newer variants.
Best For: Air National Guard homeland defense and training missions.
Why It Matters: It keeps decades of combat-tested reliability flying at a fraction of the cost of newer jets.
- Speed: Mach 2.0
- Stealth features: None — conventional radar signature
- Strengths: Proven airframe, low operating cost, high maneuverability in a dogfight
- Limitations: Older radar, no internal stealth, shrinking parts supply as the fleet ages
9. A-10C Thunderbolt II
The A-10C is not a pure air-to-air fighter, but it earns its spot for being one of the most feared close air support aircraft ever built. Its GAU-8 Avenger cannon and titanium-armored cockpit make it a battlefield legend.
Best For: Close air support and troops-in-contact situations.
Why It Matters: No other U.S. Air Force jet is purpose-built to protect ground forces the way the A-10 is.
- Speed: Roughly 420 mph (subsonic)
- Stealth features: None — designed for survivability, not radar evasion
- Strengths: Heavy armor, devastating cannon, low-altitude precision
- Limitations: Slow, vulnerable to modern air defenses, repeatedly targeted for retirement
8. F-15C/D Eagle
The original F-15 Eagle defined air superiority for the Cold War generation and reportedly still holds one of the best air-to-air kill ratios of any fighter ever flown. It is now being phased out as the F-35 and F-15EX take over its mission.
Best For: Legacy air sovereignty missions with Air National Guard units.
Why It Matters: It proved that raw speed and energy management could dominate the skies for over 40 years.
- Speed: Mach 2.5
- Stealth features: None
- Strengths: Exceptional climb rate, powerful radar for its era, unmatched combat legacy
- Limitations: Aging airframe, no stealth, being retired in favor of newer platforms
7. F-16 Block 50/52 (Frontline Fighting Falcon)
The active-duty Block 50/52 Falcon carries the HARM anti-radiation missile as its specialty, making it the Air Force’s go-to jet for suppressing enemy air defenses. It flies alongside stealth aircraft to clear the way for strike packages.
Best For: Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions.
Why It Matters: It takes out enemy radar and missile sites before other aircraft ever enter the fight.
- Speed: Mach 2.0+
- Stealth features: Limited radar-reducing coatings, no full stealth shaping
- Strengths: Precision SEAD missions, high sortie rate, combat-proven reliability
- Limitations: No internal weapons bay, moderate radar signature compared to fifth-generation jets
6. F-16V “Viper” (Block 70/72)
The newest F-16 variant, known as the Viper, is essentially a different aircraft under the same silhouette. It uses an AESA radar, a modern glass cockpit, and a significantly upgraded electronic warfare suite that keeps it relevant against modern threats.
Best For: Allied nations and Air National Guard units needing an affordable, high-tech multirole fighter.
Why It Matters: It proves fourth-generation airframes can still compete when paired with fifth-generation electronics.
- Speed: Mach 2.0+
- Stealth features: Reduced radar cross-section coatings, no internal weapons bay
- Strengths: AESA radar, modern avionics, lower cost per flight hour than stealth jets
- Limitations: Not a true stealth aircraft, cannot match F-35 sensor fusion
5. F-15E Strike Eagle
The two-seat F-15E Strike Eagle blends air-to-air capability with precision ground attack. It has flown combat missions from Desert Storm to recent operations in the Middle East, carrying everything from laser-guided bombs to cruise missiles.
Best For: Deep strike missions requiring both firepower and self-defense.
Why It Matters: Few aircraft anywhere combine payload, range, and air-to-air survivability this effectively.
- Speed: Mach 2.5
- Stealth features: None, relies on speed and electronic countermeasures
- Strengths: Massive weapons payload, two-crew coordination, extensive combat record
- Limitations: High radar visibility, aging compared to fifth-generation jets
4. F-15EX Eagle II
The F-15EX is a brand-new aircraft built on a battle-proven design. Delivered to the Air Force starting in 2021, it is reportedly the fastest fighter currently in the U.S. Air Force inventory and can carry one of the heaviest weapons loads of any jet in the world.
Best For: High-payload missions and hypersonic weapons integration.
Why It Matters: It carries oversized weapons that cannot fit inside the F-35’s internal bays, complementing stealth fighters rather than replacing them.
- Speed: Mach 2.5 (reportedly the fastest active USAF fighter)
- Stealth features: None — a non-stealth “quarterback” platform paired with stealth aircraft
- Strengths: Up to 29,500 lbs of weapons capacity, open-architecture software, fly-by-wire controls
- Limitations: No stealth shaping, less survivable in heavily defended airspace
Latest Update: The Air Force continues expanding F-15EX deliveries to Air National Guard bases, with the jet increasingly tapped for future hypersonic missile integration and homeland air defense duty.
3. F-35A Lightning II
The F-35A is the most widely produced fifth-generation fighter in the world and the backbone of the future Air Force fleet. Its real strength is not top speed but its sensor fusion, which merges radar, infrared, and allied aircraft data into a single picture for the pilot.
Best For: Multirole stealth strike, air superiority, and coalition operations.
Why It Matters: It turns every pilot into the center of a networked battlefield, seeing threats long before older jets ever could.
- Speed: Mach 1.6
- Stealth features: Advanced low-observable airframe, internal weapons bays
- Strengths: Best-in-class sensor fusion, data sharing with allies, precision strike including nuclear-capable weapons
- Limitations: Slower than the F-22 and F-15EX, historically high maintenance costs
Latest Update: Lockheed Martin delivered roughly 190 F-35s globally in 2025, pushing the worldwide fleet past 1,300 aircraft, even as the Pentagon has debated future order volumes amid budget reviews.
2. F-22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is the world’s first operational fifth-generation fighter and still the most dominant pure air superiority jet flying today. Its radar cross-section is reportedly comparable to a small metal marble, making it nearly invisible on enemy screens.
Best For: Air dominance missions against the most capable enemy aircraft.
Why It Matters: No adversary fighter currently fielded can reliably see or catch the Raptor in a straight fight.
- Speed: Mach 2.25
- Stealth features: Extremely low radar cross-section, internal weapons bays, thrust-vectoring for extreme agility
- Strengths: Unmatched stealth-plus-speed combination, supercruise capability, superb close and long-range combat performance
- Limitations: Production capped at 187 jets, no export sales allowed, aging onboard systems compared to the F-35
Latest Update: The Air Force continues funding modernization upgrades for the Raptor fleet to keep it relevant as a bridge aircraft until the F-47 reaches operational service in the early 2030s.
1. F-47 NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance)
Topping this 2026-2027 ranking is the aircraft that does not officially exist yet in operational form: the Boeing F-47. Awarded to Boeing in March 2025 under a contract worth more than $20 billion, the F-47 is being built to replace the F-22 as America’s sixth-generation air dominance fighter.
As of mid-2026, manufacturing of early test aircraft is underway in St. Louis, with Air Force leadership publicly confirming the program is progressing with “unprecedented maturity.” The jet is expected to fly for the first time before January 2029.
Best For: Future high-end air dominance against peer adversaries like China’s next-generation fighters.
Why It Matters: It is designed to fly as a “quarterback” for swarms of autonomous drone wingmen, changing how air combat is fought.
- Speed: Publicly stated to exceed Mach 2, with a combat radius nearly double the F-22’s
- Stealth features: Next-generation “extreme low observability” blended airframe shaping, reportedly built for deep-penetration missions
- Strengths: Pratt & Whitney XA103 adaptive-cycle engine, manned-unmanned teaming with FQ-42 and FQ-44 drone wingmen, AI-assisted combat systems
- Limitations: Not yet flying, highly classified specifications, program cost and schedule risk typical of first-of-kind sixth-generation aircraft
Latest Update: In July 2026, Air Force officials confirmed the F-47 remains on track for a 2028 first flight, with the fiscal year 2026 defense budget committing roughly $4.4 billion to the program, the largest single-year investment in a crewed U.S. tactical aircraft in more than two decades.
Comparison Table: Speed, Stealth & Generation
| Rank | Fighter Jet | Generation | Top Speed | Stealth Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | F-47 NGAD | 6th | Mach 2+ | Extreme (in development) | First flight targeted 2028 |
| #2 | F-22 Raptor | 5th | Mach 2.25 | Extremely Low | Active |
| #3 | F-35A Lightning II | 5th | Mach 1.6 | Very Low | Active, full production |
| #4 | F-15EX Eagle II | 4.5th | Mach 2.5 | None | Active, expanding fleet |
| #5 | F-15E Strike Eagle | 4th | Mach 2.5 | None | Active |
| #6 | F-16V Viper (Block 70/72) | 4.5th | Mach 2.0+ | Limited | Active, new production |
| #7 | F-16 Block 50/52 | 4th | Mach 2.0+ | Limited | Active |
| #8 | F-15C/D Eagle | 4th | Mach 2.5 | None | Phasing out |
| #9 | A-10C Thunderbolt II | 4th | ~420 mph | None | Active, limited |
| #10 | F-16C/D Legacy (Block 25/30/32) | 4th | Mach 2.0 | None | Air National Guard |
Latest 2026 Updates: NGAD, F-47, and the F-35 Program
The biggest story in U.S. Air Force aviation right now is the F-47’s rapid progress. Air Force officials confirmed in mid-2026 that early test aircraft are already in production in St. Louis, with a first flight expected in 2028 and operational fielding targeted for the early 2030s.
The jet’s Pratt & Whitney XA103 adaptive-cycle engine is designed to switch between high-thrust supersonic combat power and fuel-efficient long-range cruise, giving it a combat radius reportedly close to double that of the F-22.
Meanwhile, the F-35 program continues full-rate production, though the Pentagon has faced budget discussions in 2026 around future order volumes. The F-22 fleet, though capped at 187 jets, continues receiving modernization upgrades to remain relevant as a bridge aircraft until the F-47 arrives.
For readers who want to track these developments directly from primary sources, the official U.S. Air Force website, U.S. Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing regularly publish official fact sheets and program updates.
What Sets U.S. Air Force Aircraft Apart From Global Rivals
American fighter jets have maintained air superiority in nearly every major conflict since World War II, and that advantage does not happen by accident. Several factors combine to keep the U.S. Air Force ahead of competitors like Russia’s Su-57 and China’s J-20.
Sustained research investment. Decades of funding through programs tied to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have produced breakthrough radar, materials, and propulsion technology that eventually reaches production aircraft.
Elite pilot training. Programs like the Navy’s TOPGUN school and the Air Force Weapons School put pilots through realistic combat scenarios that few air forces in the world can replicate at scale.
Industrial depth. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman maintain the engineering talent and manufacturing capacity needed to build aircraft as complex as the F-35 and F-47, something very few countries can match.
Allied integration. The F-35 program alone includes partner nations across Europe and Asia, spreading development costs while building a shared logistics and tactics network that strengthens every operator, not just the United States.
These same advantages are now being applied to the NGAD family of systems, where manned fighters like the F-47 are expected to fly alongside autonomous drone wingmen rather than as solo platforms. This “combat ecosystem” approach represents a fundamental shift from how fighter jets have operated for the past 80 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the most advanced fighter jet in the U.S. Air Force right now?
A. The F-22 Raptor is the most advanced operational fighter jet currently flying, though the F-35A Lightning II is the most widely deployed fifth-generation aircraft.
Q. Is the F-47 NGAD flying yet?
A. No. As of 2026, the F-47 is in early manufacturing and testing, with a first flight targeted before January 2029.
Q. Which is faster, the F-22 or the F-15EX?
A. The F-15EX Eagle II is reportedly the fastest fighter currently in the Air Force inventory at around Mach 2.5, slightly ahead of the F-22’s Mach 2.25.
Q. How many F-22 Raptors does the Air Force have?
A. Production was capped at 187 F-22 Raptors due to cost, and no export sales have ever been permitted.
Q. What makes a fighter jet “fifth-generation”?
A. Fifth-generation fighters combine true stealth shaping, advanced sensor fusion, and network-centric data sharing with other aircraft and ground forces in real time.
Q. Why is the F-15EX not a stealth aircraft?
A. The F-15EX prioritizes speed, payload, and sensors over stealth shaping, allowing it to carry heavier weapons loads that stealth jets cannot fit internally.
Q. What company is building the F-47 NGAD fighter?
A. Boeing was awarded the Next Generation Air Dominance contract in March 2025 to build the F-47, with production underway in St. Louis.
Q. Is the A-10 Thunderbolt II being retired?
A. The Air Force has proposed retiring the A-10 multiple times, but it remains in limited active service due to its close air support effectiveness.
Q. What engine powers the F-47 NGAD?
A. The F-47 is expected to use the Pratt & Whitney XA103, a three-stream adaptive-cycle engine that shifts between high-thrust combat power and efficient long-range cruise.
Q. Will drone wingmen fly alongside the F-47?
A. Yes. The Air Force plans for the F-47 to operate with autonomous drone wingmen under the FQ-42 and FQ-44 programs, with a goal of more than 150 combat-capable drones by the end of the decade.
Final Thoughts
The U.S. Air Force fighter fleet is in the middle of one of its biggest transitions since the jet age began. Proven fourth-generation workhorses like the F-16 and F-15 still carry the bulk of daily missions, while fifth-generation stealth jets like the F-22 and F-35 handle the highest-risk operations.
With the F-47 NGAD now in early production and targeting a 2028 first flight, the next chapter of American air dominance is already being written, and this ranking will likely look different by 2028.