19 May These U.S. Military Fighter Planes Rule The Sky
Do you know America has almost 13,000 military aircraft, which is three-to-four times greater than any other country?
Since the Wright brothers took off in the first-ever motor-operated airplane, America has been one of the biggest manufacturers and procurers of fighter jets. The first fighter jet- Messerschmitt ME-262, was introduced during WWII.
If we talk about the exact figures, the U.S. military has a total of 13,000 aircraft, while other nations have no more than 3000. Here’s our list of America’s top 5 war jets that continue to dominate the skies even today-
F-15 EAGLE
Built and developed by Mcdonnell Douglas, this fighter jet entered the service in 1976. Despite being the oldest on our list, the F-15 Eagle is one of the most iconic fighter jets with 0 losses in aerial combat. This decades-old jet has racked up to 100 victories and is sold to countries like Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. This war jet has a twin-engine system with an improved all-weather strike derivative. The jet’s fast acceleration is achieved through wing-loading and high engine thrust-to-weight ratio.
F-22 RAPTOR
The F-22 Raptor was manufactured by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. This one-seater, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical war jet first entered the skies in 1997 and was introduced publicly in 2005. Still in service, this fighter aircraft is tagged as one of the most expensive fighter jets ever produced. It also comes with a powerful array of weaponry. Its low-radar profile makes it perfect for stealth missions.
F-18 SUPER HORNET
F-18 Super Hornet is a variant of Mcdonnell Doughlas’s F-18 Hornet. Slightly bigger than the original F-18 Hornet, this war jet is the most versatile and multirole aircraft. It entered the U.S. Forces in 2001. This multi-specialty aircraft has an internal rotary cannon system and carries air-to-surface weapons and air-to-air missiles.
F-16 FIGHTING FALCON
Developed by General Dynamics, the F-16 Fighting Falcon entered the army in the 1970s. It was initially developed as a pure air fighter. However, with recent modifications, it is also used as a multirole fighter. This war jet is frequently used in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. In addition to having features like a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility and a side-mounted control stick, it is also adept at carrying out electronic attacks.
T-45 Goshawk
Manufactured by Douglas and British Aerospace, T-45 Goshawk was introduced in 1991. It was developed as a jet-fight trainer for the U.S. Navy.
Several variants like T-45A, glass cockpit and T-45C were added to this fighter jet. The upgraded version of the T-45 Goshawk, which is a two-seater, is still used by the U.S. Air Force.
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