Key Points and Summary – America still sets the pace in fighter aviation. This rundown highlights the five fastest U.S. jets in 2025—F-15EX Eagle II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22 Raptor, F-15C/D Eagle, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet—and explains why speed is only part of the story.
-We outline each aircraft’s role, weapons, and avionics, from the F-15EX’s huge payload and modern EW suite to the F-22’s stealth, supercruise, and thrust-vectoring edge.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Turner, 40th Flight Test Squadron commander flies 40 FLTS Senior Enlisted Leader, MSgt Tristan McIntire during a test sortie in the F-15EX Eagle II over the Gulf of Mexico on Jun. 14, 2022. Assigned to the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the F-15EX Eagle II is the Air Force’s newest 4th generation fighter being tested at the 40 FLTS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John McRell)
– We also note how today’s fighters collaborate with uncrewed wingmen and long-range weapons to survive modern air defenses, keeping U.S. airpower lethal, flexible, and ready for near-peer fights.
The Five Fastest US Fighter Jets in 2025
Fighter jets can fly at high supersonic speeds, avoid radar detection, and carry advanced weapons. Modern jets use stealth technology, smart sensors, and sometimes even artificial intelligence. These features enable pilots to identify enemies quickly and strike them first.
The United States leads the world in fighter jet technology. Its F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II are the most technologically advanced fighters today.
Majors Michael Shower and Evan Dertien, F/A-22 Raptor pilots, and Captains Thomas Borrego and Eric Nyman, F-15 Eagle pilots, prepare for a flyover during the Air Combat Command Tattoo ceremonies held at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia September 8th and 9th, 2005. Langley’s new Raptor had a major role in this modern day version of a traditional retreat ceremony. Integrated into its music, drill, and ceremony are aircraft flyovers, fireworks, and dialogue that traces the Virginia Peninsula’s long and historic relationship with America’s armed forces. (USAF Photo by TSgt Ben Bloker)
The top 5 fastest US fighter aircraft in 2025, according to multiple aviation sources evaluating performance, stealth, and versatility, include the F-15EX Eagle II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22 Raptor, F-15C/D Eagle, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The F-15EX is the fastest, capable of reaching near Mach 3, with the F-15E and F-22 being close behind.
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
The Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet is a strike fighter capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground/surface missions.
The Super Hornet has an internal 20mm M61A2 rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and a variety of other weapons.
(Jan 31, 2009) An F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to the “Tomcatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 launches from the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are operating in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility and are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States’ commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder/Released)
Designed and initially produced by McDonnell Douglas, the Super Hornet first flew in 1995.
An electronic warfare variant, the EA-18G Growler, was also developed. Although officially named “Super Hornet”, it is commonly referred to as “Rhino” within the United States Navy. The Super Hornet has a top speed of Mach 1.6 or 1,227 mph.
F-15 C/D Eagle
The F-15 Eagle was the heavyweight champion until the F-22 Raptor was adopted. It was the best fighter aircraft in the world since 1976 and is capable of reaching Mach 2.5 (approximately 1,875 mph).
The F-15 features powerful twin engines, large control surfaces, and a rugged airframe optimized for speed, climb rates, and air superiority. The aircraft’s impressive thrust-to-weight ratio enables vertical acceleration and maintains speed during combat maneuvering.
F-15C Pilot National Security Journal Photo. Image Credit: Brent M. Eastwood/National Security Journal.
Rain on an F-15C Fighter at the Smithsonian National Security Journal Photo.
F-15C Fighter at Smithsonian August 13 2025. Image Credit: National Security Journal.
The F-15 remains undefeated in air combat, with an estimated 104 enemy aircraft shot down against zero losses.
US F-22 Raptor
The US F-22 Raptor has been the standard against which all fighter aircraft have been measured for more than 20 years. Yet it still sits at the top of the mountain in terms of dogfighting ability, stealth, supercruise ability, maneuverability, and integrated avionics.
The F-22 Raptor remains the world’s best pure fighter aircraft, but its service window is closing. The Air Force plans to replace the Raptor in 2030 with the F-35 and the Pentagon’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, the F-47.
F-22 Raptor Firing Flares. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Maj. Paul Lopez, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, performs during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 17, 2019. Founded in 2007, the F-22 Demo Team showcases the unique capabilities of the world’s premier fifth-generation fighter aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Samuel Eckholm)
“We’ve already built and flown a full-scale [sixth generation] flight demonstrator in the real world, and we broke records in doing it,” Will Roper, Director of the Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office, told Defense News in 2020. “We are ready to go and build the next-generation aircraft in a way that has never happened before.”
However, the US Air Force’s decision to prematurely halt F-22 Raptor production at just 186 aircraft was a “strategic blunder” that has created a dangerous “air superiority gap.”
What makes the F-22 great in a dogfight is the aircraft’s thrust vectoring capabilities.
Its two engines have specially designed nozzles at their ends that can move on a vertical plane to vector the aircraft’s 70,000 pounds of thrust in one direction even if the aircraft is heading in another, thus allowing the F-22 to do some impressive acrobatics, as well as leverage a highly high angle of attack during a within-visual-range engagement.
The speed of the Raptor is about 1,500 mph. The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program is a US Air Force initiative to develop a new type of uncrewed, jet-powered aircraft that will operate alongside and collaborate with crewed fighter jets. These are already flying and being tested.
The F-22 and the F-35 will each be capable of quarterbacking up to five drones.
F-15E Strike Eagle
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a two-seat dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitudes, day or night, and in all weather conditions.
The aircraft is crewed by two personnel, a pilot and a weapons systems officer. Previous models of the F-15 are assigned air-to-air roles; the “E” model is a dual-role fighter. It can fight its way to a target over long ranges, destroy enemy ground positions, and fight its way out.
An F-15E Strike Eagle stands static on the flightline before morning takeoffs at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Jan. 5, 2021. The 48th Fighter Wing conducts daily flying operations in order to ensure the Liberty Wing can deliver unique air combat capabilities when called upon by its NATO allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Madeline Herzog)
The F-15E is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or 229 engines that incorporate advanced digital technology for improved performance. F-15E pilots can accelerate from idle power to maximum afterburner in less than four seconds, a 40 percent improvement over the previous engine control system.
Faster engine acceleration means quicker takeoffs and crisper responses while maneuvering. The F100-PW-220 engines can produce 50,000 pounds of thrust (25,000 each), and the F100-PW-229 engines 58,000 pounds of thrust (29,000 each). The maximum speed is Mach 2.5 or more, equivalent to over 1,875 mph.
F-15EX Eagle II
The F-15EX Eagle II is distinguished by its ability to carry a substantial payload, including up to 22 air-to-air missiles, making it capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Key upgrades include a fly-by-wire system, a modernized cockpit with touchscreen displays, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities. This modernized version is designed as a cost-effective complement to stealth aircraft, such as the F-35, providing a reliable and versatile platform for future needs.
The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
F-15EX Eagle II. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The F-15EX Eagle II has a maximum speed of Mach 2.5 (approximately 1,900 mph or 3,058 km/h) at high altitude, although earlier reports had the top speed of the Eagle II as Mach 2.9.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
More Military
China Has the Missiles to Sink U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers, But Questions Remain
The P-51 Mustang Was the Best WWII Fighter
The U.S. Navy’s Great Aircraft Carrier Shortage of 2025 Won’t End
The Navy Isn’t Prepared For What’s Coming
Not Made in USA: The Vanguard-Class Missile Submarine Has Just 1 Mission
