Top 10 Best Fighter Jets in the World 2025
In the ever-evolving landscape of global air power, 2025 marks a year of intense competition and rapid technological advancement.
Modern fighter jets are no longer just fast and agile—they are stealthier, smarter, and deadlier than ever before.
Nations are investing heavily in fifth and even sixth-generation aircraft, with capabilities ranging from artificial intelligence integration to hypersonic weapons deployment.
This list of the Top 10 Best Fighter Jets in the World (2025) considers speed, stealth, maneuverability, avionics, payload, and combat-proven performance.
From American stealth icons to emerging Chinese and Russian challengers, these warbirds represent the pinnacle of modern aerial warfare.
10. Dassault Rafale (France) – The Agile Multirole Veteran
The Rafale, crafted by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, has become a trusted name in both European and export military fleets. Known for its versatility, the Rafale can perform air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and even nuclear strike missions.
It's equipped with AESA radar, IRST (Infrared Search and Track), and Spectra electronic warfare systems.
With combat experience in Libya, Mali, and the Middle East, the Rafale has proven its reliability in some of the world's harshest combat environments.
Watch: Dassault Rafale in Action
9. Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon (China) – The Stealth Challenger
The J-20 is China’s bold entry into the fifth-generation fighter race. Developed by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, this jet boasts a stealthy design aimed at countering Western air dominance.
Although it initially faced limitations with engine performance, China’s advancements in indigenous WS-15 engines are steadily closing that gap.
With internal weapons bays, long-range missiles, and advanced radar, the J-20 is a true symbol of China's rising military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
Watch: J-20 Comparing China's secretive fighter jet to the F-22 & F-35
8. Eurofighter Typhoon (Europe) – Precision and Power
A collaborative effort by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the Typhoon is one of Europe’s premier air superiority fighters.
With a top speed of Mach 2 and advanced agility, it shines in high-speed dogfights and precision strikes.
Recent upgrades have enhanced its ground attack capabilities, making it a true multirole asset. Its integration with weapons like the Meteor air-to-air missile ensures it can hit enemies before being seen on radar.
Watch: Why did the UK choose Eurofighter Typhoons
7. Shenyang FC-31 (China) – Stealth for Export
The FC-31, also known as the J-35 in its naval version, is China's stealth jet aimed primarily at export markets.
Though it’s still undergoing testing and refinements, the FC-31 shows clear intent to rival the American F-35 in terms of design and multirole capabilities.
With a sleeker, twin-engine configuration and a reduced radar signature, this jet may soon take off from Chinese aircraft carriers, drastically boosting China's blue-water capabilities.
Watch: China shows off latest stealth fighter jet “SHENYANG J-35
6. Su-57 Felon (Russia) – Stealth with Firepower
Russia’s answer to Western fifth-gen fighters, the Su-57 “Felon,” brings stealth, supermaneuverability, and raw firepower into one imposing platform.
Though early production was slow and plagued with delays, the aircraft has matured significantly. It incorporates a radar-absorbing coating, 360-degree sensors, and is armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in some variants.
It also boasts internal weapon bays and thrust-vectoring nozzles that make it a dogfight demon.
Watch: Su-57 flying demonstration at ZhuHai Airshow 2024
5. Boeing F-15EX Eagle II (USA) – The Beast Reborn
The F-15EX is proof that legends can be reborn. While it lacks stealth, it compensates with brute force: it can carry more weapons than any other jet on this list, up to 22 missiles.
With an advanced radar, improved survivability, and faster mission readiness than its stealthy cousins, it’s ideal for air dominance in less-contested environments.
The F-15EX is also a perfect deterrent for near-peer threats, especially when quantity and loadout matter more than radar evasion.
Watch: Why America's New F-15EX Eagle II Feared Around the World
4. Sukhoi Su-35S (Russia) – The Maneuverability Monster
The Su-35S is arguably the most capable 4++ generation fighter jet in service. Its thrust-vectoring engines allow it to perform jaw-dropping aerobatics, giving it a close-combat advantage that few can match.
Equipped with powerful radar, jamming pods, and long-range R-77 and R-37 missiles, the Su-35 has seen action in Syria and Ukraine.
While it lacks true stealth, its agility and weaponry make it a serious threat to even fifth-gen fighters.
Watch: Why the SU-35 is Such a Formidable Aircraft
3. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (USA) – The Multirole King
The F-35 is not just a fighter jet—it’s a global ecosystem. With versions operating from airstrips, carriers, and short runways, it’s the most flexible stealth fighter ever built.
Its unique strength lies in sensor fusion and networked warfare, allowing it to share real-time data with ground forces and allied aircraft.
Over 1,000 units are operational worldwide, making it the backbone of modern NATO air strategy. The F-35 is the world's most combat-tested fifth-generation fighter.
Watch: World's Most Modern Fighter Jet
2. Chengdu J-31 Gyrfalcon (China) – The F-35 Counter
Although less talked about than the J-20, the J-31 (or FC-31) is shaping up to be China's stealthy alternative to the F-35.
It’s being developed for carrier operations and may be fielded as the backbone of China’s next-gen naval aviation. While full specs remain classified, leaked test reports suggest it has improved engines, a refined stealth profile, and upgraded avionics.
It’s not just a plane—it’s a statement that China is ready to rival America’s airpower globally.
Watch: China’s FC-31 Gyrfalcon fourth generation jet fighter
1. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (USA) – The Undisputed Champion
The F-22 Raptor remains the pinnacle of air dominance. Even in 2025, nearly two decades after its debut, nothing beats it in stealth, maneuverability, or kill-to-loss ratio.
Capable of flying at supersonic speeds without afterburners (supercruise), and armed with AIM-120 and AIM-9 missiles stored in internal bays, it can hit before it's even seen.
No other jet can dogfight, evade radar, and dominate electronic warfare like the Raptor. Its only downside? It’s too good—so much so that the U.S. halted exports. What's on the Horizon: Sixth-Generation Fighters
Looking ahead, sixth-generation aircraft like the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance), Tempest (UK), and GCAP (Japan-UK-Italy) are already in development.
These will introduce features like AI copilots, directed-energy weapons, adaptive engines, and “loyal wingman” drones that fight alongside the pilot. The future battlefield will be part human, part machine—and 100% lethal.
Watch: Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor that uses stealth technology
Top 10 Fighter Jets Comparison – 2025
| Fighter Jet | Country | Generation | Max Speed (Mach) | Combat Radius (km) | Stealth | Estimated Unit Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor | USA | 5th | 2.25 | 850 | ✅ | $350 million |
| Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II | USA | 5th | 1.6 | 1,093 | ✅ | $109 million |
| Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon | China | 5th | 2.0 | 2,000 | ✅ | $110 million |
| Sukhoi Su-57 Felon | Russia | 5th | 2.0 | 1,500 | ✅ | $85 million |
| Eurofighter Typhoon | Europe | 4.5 | 2.0 | 1,389 | ❌ | $117 million |
| Dassault Rafale | France | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1,852 | ❌ | $125 million |
| Boeing F-15EX Eagle II | USA | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1,270 | ❌ | $97 million |
| Shenyang FC-31 Gyrfalcon | China | 5th | 1.8 | 1,200 | ✅ | $70 million |
| Sukhoi Su-35S | Russia | 4++ | 2.25 | 1,500 | ❌ | $85 million |
| J-31 Gyrfalcon | China | 5th | 1.8 | 1,200 | ✅ | $70 million |
Top 10 Fighter Jets by Max Speed (Mach)
Top 10 Fighter Jets by Range (km) - 2025
Country Contribution to Top 10 Fighter Jets (2025)
