Systems for air superiority
An air-superiority fighter exists to defeat other aircraft and control contested airspace. The deciding specs are kinematic performance (thrust-to-weight and climb rate), sensor reach (radar range and datalink), and missile engagement envelope, in that order. A jet that sees first and holds more energy usually wins before either side gets a gun shot.
15 matching systems in our database.
What matters for air superiority
- ●Thrust-to-weight: above 1.0 the aircraft can accelerate going straight up, which decides most within-visual-range fights.
- ●Max speed (Mach) and rate of climb: energy to disengage, re-engage or run down an intercept.
- ●Radar range: detecting first lets the pilot choose the terms of engagement before being seen.
- ●Hardpoints and compatible air-to-air missiles: how many engagements the jet can sustain per sortie.
Air Superiority systems in our database
L Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Lockheed Martin
F-22A Raptor
Max speed 2,410 km/h
Range 2,960 km
Payload 2,270 kg
D Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Dassault Aviation
Rafale F4
Max speed 1,912 km/h
Range 3,700 km
Payload 9,500 kg
L Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Lockheed Martin
F-35A Lightning II
Max speed 1,960 km/h
Range 2,800 km
Payload 8,160 kg
E Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Eurofighter GmbH
Eurofighter Typhoon
Max speed 2,495 km/h
Range 2,900 km
Payload 9,000 kg
B Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Boeing
F-15EX Eagle II
Max speed 2,660 km/h
Range 3,900 km
Payload 13,380 kg
L Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Lockheed Martin
F-16C Block 70/72 Fighting Falcon
Max speed 2,120 km/h
Range 4,220 km
Payload 7,700 kg
B Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Boeing
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Max speed 1,915 km/h
Range 2,346 km
Payload 8,050 kg
K Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)
KF-21 Boramae
Max speed 2,200 km/h
Range 2,900 km
Payload 7,700 kg
S Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Sukhoi
Su-57
Max speed 2,440 km/h
Range 3,500 km
Payload 10,000 kg
S Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Saab AB
JAS 39E Gripen
Max speed 2,124 km/h
Range 4,000 km
Payload 5,300 kg
S Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Sukhoi
Su-35S
Max speed 2,500 km/h
Range 3,600 km
Payload 8,000 kg
A Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
J-20
Max speed 2,100 km/h
Range 3,400 km
Payload 11,000 kg
R Missile
Missile
Raytheon (RTX)
AIM-120D AMRAAM
Range 160 km
Weight 152 kg
R Missile
Missile
Raytheon (RTX)
AIM-9X Sidewinder
Range 35 km
Weight 85 kg
M Missile
Missile
MBDA
Meteor
Range 200 km
Weight 185 kg
Frequently asked questions
- What makes a fighter good at air superiority?
- High thrust-to-weight (above 1.0 lets it out-accelerate an adversary going straight up), a capable AESA radar for first detection, and enough hardpoints to carry a useful air-to-air missile load. Maneuverability matters, but seeing and shooting first from a datalink-networked jet usually decides the fight before it becomes a dogfight.
- Does stealth matter for air superiority?
- Yes. Signature reduction delays the point at which an adversary's radar gets a firing solution, which extends the window where your own sensors and missiles have the advantage.