Humans have always chased speed – from race cars to rockets – but nowhere is the thrill of going faster more extreme than in the world of fighter jets. Built for power, agility and raw velocity, these machines push the limits of engineering and physics.
In this gallery, we count down the 10 fastest jets in history and reveal the stories behind their record-breaking designs.
So strap in and have your sick bags at the ready as we take to the skies to see which jet flies fastest of all.
10 – F-22 Raptor
This single-seat stealth fighter is a fearsome weapon, with a top speed of Mach 2.25 and long-range cruising ability – not to mention a whole load of missiles on board.
Its stealth capabilities are so advanced that the F-22 isn't allowed to be sold to anyone outside of the USA. However, despite its speed and stealth, it has been overshadowed and superseded by the slower but more versatile F-35 Lightning II jet.
Production of the F-22 ended after only 187 planes were built, making it a relatively rare sight in the skies.
9 – MiG-29 Fulcrum
The MiG-29 was built by the USSR to compete with the likes of the F-15 Eagle during the Cold War. It is a lightweight fighter that can fly 1,500km on a tank of fuel and be refuelled whilst in the air. It is also very fast - with a top speed of Mach 2.3. This speed and famed agility mean it has seen a lot of combat over the years.
This jet is very well built and rugged, being able to withstand taking off and landing on the roughest of runways. With a constant upgrade programme in place, it is still used by many countries around the world.
8 – F-14 Tomcat
The F-14 is perhaps best known as the star of the 1986 film Top Gun. If you're familiar with that movie, you will be aware of its agility and the cockpit built for two. You would also be familiar with the fact that they were operated from aircraft carriers, which made for some impressive take-off and landing sequences.
The F-14 is equipped with two jet engines, which help it achieve a top speed of Mach 2.34, and was in service for over 30 years, making it one of the best-known jet fighters in the world.
7 – MiG-23 Flogger
The MiG-23 is one of the most recognisable jets on our list, thanks to its variable-sweep wing design. This also makes it very light and agile in flight, and perfect for dogfight situations. Its maximum speed of Mach 2.35 also means it would be difficult to outrun.
Because of this, it has proved to be a very popular plane, with over 5,000 examples being built over 18 years. Despite the design being nearly 60 years old, they are still in service in some countries thanks to some awesome build quality.
6 – Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker
The versatile Sukhoi Su-27 jet has a top speed of Mach 2.35, which means it just misses out on our top 5. But this jet isn't all about speed. It also boasts an impressive range and good manoeuvrability in flight, meaning that it has taken part in many different types of missions over the years.
The climbing abilities of this plane are legendary, reaching a mind-blowing 12km altitude in less than a minute. Thanks to its versatility and flight characteristics it is still in production today, over 40 years after its introduction.
5 – F-15 Eagle
McDonnell Douglas's venerable F-15 fighter aircraft seems to have been around forever. But despite being in service for nearly 50 years, it is still one of the fastest jets around, with a top speed of Mach 2.5.
Thanks to its low weight and high wing area, the F-15 is incredibly nimble – it can make tight turns without losing any speed. This makes it ideal for dogfight situations as well as being a popular attraction at airshows around the world.
4 – MiG-31 Foxhound
The MiG-31 is one of the oldest jets still in operation today. It was designed to be a more user-friendly version of the MiG-25, which was difficult to fly at low altitudes. In comparison, the MiG-31 is very stable at such heights, as well as being just as happy at high altitudes.
Due to its design, it is not as agile as many other jets on our list, and it is easy to spot on radar. However, it is equipped with a fearsome arsenal, including many long-range missiles. And a top speed of Mach 2.83 it certainly is a very impressive jet.
3 – MiG-25 Foxbat
Nearly 60 years have passed since the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 first flew, and yet it is still the third-fastest jet fighter on our list. Surprisingly, it is also still in service in some countries despite even the newest versions being positively ancient.
Incredibly, this plane was theoretically capable of reaching speeds of at least Mach 3.2, but the top speed was limited to Mach 2.83 to prevent any engine damage from prolonged running at higher velocities.
Over its long life, nearly 1,200 examples have been built, making this one of the most successful fighter planes of all time.
2 – Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
The SR-71, known as the 'Blackbird', hasn't been seen in the skies since 1999, but is still the second-fastest jet ever built. It was so quick that if any missiles were launched against it, it would be able to outpace them.
When it was introduced in 1966, it was hugely technologically advanced, with a top speed of Mach 3.3. It was developed to fly at high altitudes during reconnaissance missions throughout the Cold War. It still holds the record for the highest sustained flight by an aircraft at an altitude of nearly 26km, set in 1976.
The last operator of the SR-71 was NASA, which used the plane to train pilots in high-speed and high-altitude flight. A successor, the Lockheed SR-72, is rumoured to appear in 2025.
1 – NASA X-43
The fastest jet in the world is NASA's X-43 experimental plane. Thanks to its scramjet design, it was able to reach a speed of Mach 9.6, or 11,854 km/h.
Three of these planes were built in total. One was destroyed during testing in 2001, whilst the other two successfully flew for 10 seconds before gliding for 10 minutes and intentionally crashing into the ocean.
The design of these unmanned aircraft meant that they had to be dropped from a Boeing B-52 in order to fly, but even so, it is still more than a little impressive.
| Position | Plane | Air Speed |
| 10 | F-22 | Mach 2.25 |
| 9 | MiG-29 | Mach 2.3 |
| 8 | F-14 | Mach 2.34 |
| 7 | MiG-23 | Mach 2.35 |
| 6 | Sukhoi Su-27 | Mach 2.35 |
| 5 | F-15 | Mach 2.5 |
| 4 | MiG-31 | Mach 2.83 |
| 3 | MiG-25 | Mach 2.83 |
| 2 | SR-71 Blackbird | Mach 3.3 |
| 1 | X-43 | Mach 9.6 |
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