Best Fighter Jet

[Pochera]

So what do you think is the best fighter jet in the world and why? I think that the American F-22 Raptor is the best since it is very advanced, is a stealth fighter, and armed to the teeth. Sure it is expensive, but I feel that the cost is worth it. While I feel that the F-22 Raptor is the best, I think that other great fighter jets include the:

F-15 Eagle (not a single combat loss)
F-16 Fighting Falcon (advanced and widely exported)
F-35 Lightning II (highly advanced, stealth, set to be widely exported)
F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet (advanced and highly versatile)
Eurofighter Typhoon (highly advanced)
F-2 Viper Zero (basically an F-16 Fighting Falcon on steroids)

[Kubra]

the MIG-23 fite me m80's

[Pochera]

the MIG-23 fite me m80's

The MiG-23 is obsolete now and could barely stand up to Iranian Air Force F-4 Phantom II's in the Iran-Iraq War.

[Kubra]

the MIG-23 fite me m80's

The MiG-23 is obsolete now and could barely stand up to Iranian Air Force F-4 Phantom II's in the Iran-Iraq War.

aw cheating that's like putting a flyweight against and welterweight, except here weight refers to quality rather than physical weight
the MIG-23 is the best in its class of quality

[Eastern Equestria]

"Best" in terms of what, OP? Dogfighting? Ability to establish and maintain air-superiority?

[Singaporean Transhumans]

This, weaponized.

[Eastern Equestria]

Overall I'd have to go with the obvious choice, the F-22. Raptors can, and have, been outdone in turning fights by their generation 4.5 counterparts. Of course, their unparalleled low-observable technology would allow them to intercept enemies completely undetected, and long before any dogfight scenario. They weren't designed with "fairness" in mind.

[L Ron Cupboard]

Jet Li

[Eastern Equestria]

Jet Li

[Insaeldor]

Obviously the Saab JAS 39

[Saiwania]

The best Russia has to offer is the Su-35. On paper it is a formidable threat to any F-22s, it has potential as a raptor killer if the planes were to ever cross paths in battle.

[Dooom35796821595]

The best Russia has to offer in the Su-35.

But I'm afraid not, the F-22 is far superior. Of course we'll never find out in a conflict since the Americans won't export the F-22, and the Russian export model will be of lower quality with ill trained/inexperienced pilots.

[Saiwania]

But I'm afraid not, the F-22 is far superior. Of course we'll never find out in a conflict since the Americans won't export the F-22, and the Russian export model will be of lower quality with ill trained/inexperienced pilots.

The Su-35S Flanker E is a highly capable aircraft which is why China is acquiring the jet. At the least it is said to be roughly on par with an F-22 and can possibly take on older generations of western aircraft currently in service. It can definitely travel at a faster mach speed than an F-35.

[Atomic Utopia]

F-22 hands down. It is stealth, carrier capable, not a worthless overengineered piece of shit that did not meet the design goals like the Lightning II, was cheaper than the Lightning II to design, and is capable of speeds near mach 2. All in all a terrifying plane, and tremendously effective.

[Dooom35796821595]

F-22 hands down. It is stealth, carrier capable, not a worthless overengineered piece of shit that did not meet the design goals like the Lightning II, was cheaper than the Lightning II to design, and is capable of speeds near mach 2. All in all a terrifying plane, and tremendously effective.

The naval variant of the F-22 was canceled in 93.
The F-22 is also designed for a completely different role then the F-35, and the latter can hover indefinitely. It required a revolutionary engine design and radar helmet, as well as lots of other innovations and upgrades, some of which may be applied to the F-22. Thus the R&D was very expensive.

[Risottia]

There is no single "best fighter" because there's a lot of different tasks for fighters (which include close air support btw), and operational criteria such as operation cost, time between maintenance, and cost of maintenance.

Overall, my favourites would include
as interceptors, the Su-35 and the Eurofighter, with the good old F-15c coming close
as tactical multirole, the last version of the MiG-29
as carrier-based multirole, the Rafale
as CAS, the Su-25
as interdictors, the Tornado and the Mirage F1, although the Su-34 shows a lot of promise and the F-15e has proven to be a phenomenal machine for its era

[Eastern Equestria]

The best Russia has to offer is the Su-35. On paper it is a formidable threat to any F-22s, it has potential as a raptor killer if the planes were to ever cross paths in battle.

Considering that the F-22 has stealth and the Su-35 doesn't, you've got it completely backwards. Nothing the Russian Air Force currently operates can touch the F-22. You could make arguments for the PAK FA in that regard, but it's not in active service yet.

[The Conez Imperium]

I like the SAB JAS 39 Gripen.

A 2012 Jane's Aerospace and Defense Consulting study compared the operational costs of a number of modern combat aircraft, concluding that Gripen had the lowest cost per flight hour (CPFH) when fuel used, pre-flight preparation and repair, and scheduled airfield-level maintenance together with associated personnel costs were combined. The Gripen had an estimated CPFH of $4,700 whereas the next lowest, the F-16 Block 40/50, had a 49% higher CPFH at $7,000

[Eastern Equestria]

I like the SAB JAS 39 Gripen.

A 2012 Jane's Aerospace and Defense Consulting study compared the operational costs of a number of modern combat aircraft, concluding that Gripen had the lowest cost per flight hour (CPFH) when fuel used, pre-flight preparation and repair, and scheduled airfield-level maintenance together with associated personnel costs were combined. The Gripen had an estimated CPFH of $4,700 whereas the next lowest, the F-16 Block 40/50, had a 49% higher CPFH at $7,000

Gripens may be highly cost-efficient, but can they do this, or this? I didn't think so.

Also, the F-14 is getting a serious lack of love in this thread. Skip to 0:29 for the sexiest jet engines you'll ever hear.

[The Conez Imperium]

I like the SAB JAS 39 Gripen.

Gripens may be highly cost-efficient, but can they do this, or this? I didn't think so.

Also, the F-14 is getting a serious lack of love in this thread. Skip to 0:29 for the sexiest jet engines you'll ever hear.

Nah, I think the Germans had it first, didn't even need jet engines...

Also this thread reminds me of the Indian jet competition...

[Saiwania]

Considering that the F-22 has stealth and the Su-35 doesn't, you've got it completely backwards. Nothing the Russian Air Force currently operates can touch the F-22.

Don't believe in relying on stealth, instead be skeptical of it. Stealth is doomed to matter less as radars outpace any countermeasures to being detected. A better approach is improving jamming and electronic warfare. The Su-35's airframe is virtually the same as the T-50 PAK FA's and can be easily converted to fifth generation if needed. Sukhoi markets the Su-35S as a 4++ generation fighter and has almost everything fifth generation planes offer with minor differences. It is designed to be as advanced as a fighter plane can get without falling into the fifth generation category.

[Eastern Equestria]

Gripens may be highly cost-efficient, but can they do this, or this? I didn't think so.

Also, the F-14 is getting a serious lack of love in this thread. Skip to 0:29 for the sexiest jet engines you'll ever hear.

Nah, I think the Germans had it first, didn't even need jet engines...

Well, those noises weren't produced from any engines but from specialized sirens that the Luftwaffe had placed on their dive-bombers as part of a psychological warfare campaign against the allies.

Considering that the F-22 has stealth and the Su-35 doesn't, you've got it completely backwards. Nothing the Russian Air Force currently operates can touch the F-22.

Don't believe in relying on stealth, instead be skeptical of it. Stealth is doomed to matter less as radars outpace any countermeasures to being detected. A better approach is improving jamming and electronic warfare.

Yes, anti-aircraft ground systems are getting much sticker to avoid, and this bodes much worse for non-stealth aircraft than the opposite. Speaking strictly from an air-to-air perspective as we were, the F-22 is still top dog.

The Su-35's airframe is virtually the same as the T-50 PAK FA's and can be easily converted to fifth generation if needed. Sukhoi markets the Su-35S as a 4++ generation fighter and has almost everything fifth generation planes offer with minor differences. It is designed to be as advanced as a fighter plane can get without falling into the fifth generation category.

Yeah. That's the very definition of gen 4+ fighters. Even stealth-enhanced ones like the Su-35S still don't compare with genuine 5th generation fighters.

[Dooom35796821595]

Considering that the F-22 has stealth and the Su-35 doesn't, you've got it completely backwards. Nothing the Russian Air Force currently operates can touch the F-22.

Don't believe in relying on stealth, instead be skeptical of it. Stealth is doomed to matter less as radars outpace any countermeasures to being detected. A better approach is improving jamming and electronic warfare. The Su-35's airframe is virtually the same as the T-50 PAK FA's and can be easily converted to fifth generation if needed. Sukhoi markets the Su-35S as a 4++ generation fighter and has almost everything fifth generation planes offer with minor differences. It is designed to be as advanced as a fighter plane can get without falling into the fifth generation category.

Stealth is still important as it makes it harder to keep a lock on the frame during evasive maneuvers. It will form one part of what makes the new generation of air superiority fighters, including EW, avionics, limited self repair, elastic wing material, human brain implants.....that or unmanned fighters.

[Laanvia]

"Best" in terms of what, OP? Dogfighting? Ability to establish and maintain air-superiority?

In your opinion, obviously.

[Laanvia]

the MIG-23 fite me m80's

Really?