On June 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to discuss the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Denmark and the Netherlands have agreed to supply Ukraine with the aircraft to assist in the war against Russia. Zelenskyy said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “I am grateful to Mette Frederiksen for participating in the Peace Summit and for Denmark’s active assistance in engaging the countries of the Global South in the Peace Formula implementation.”
First introduced by the U.S. in the 1970s, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is still often flown by militaries today. 24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of aircraft (including the F-16) currently used in modern air forces. We reviewed the Military Factory catalogs of third-, fourth-, and fifth-generation aircraft to identify the oldest and newest fighter jets in modern air forces. We’ve added other information from the Military Factory, including aircraft type, top speed, country of origin, manufacturer, and production for each aircraft. Only aircraft currently in service with production runs of at least 10 were included.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon comes in 33rd on our list. The jet is produced by the U.S. and four other European NATO countries in an agreement that provides a common-use aircraft for NATO and also helps encourage technology sharing among friendly nations. (These are the largest air forces on Earth.)
Although it’s been around for nearly five decades, the F-16 isn’t the oldest jet on our list. That would go to the MiG-21 (Fishbed) introduced in 1959 by the Soviet Union. Interestingly, the newest jet on the list is also a MiG, introduced in 2020 by Russia. However, the U.S. is currently testing sixth-generation fighter jets which are expected to be ready by 2030. (Here is the newest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force.)
Why Are We Writing About Combat Aircraft?
The strength of a country’s military is a key component in how that country projects geopolitical power. Modern militaries today need to have a strong air force. Although the U.S. is working on developing even newer forms of aircraft, it’s interesting to see how many older fighter jets are still operational and effectively used in militaries around the world today.
Here are the oldest and newest fighter jets in modern air forces.
42. MiG-21 (Fishbed)
- Year introduced: 1959
- Type: Single-seat supersonic fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,386 mph
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
- Production run: 11,496
41. F-4 Phantom II
- Year introduced: 1960
- Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,473 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
- Production run: 5,195
40. Mirage III
- Year introduced: 1961
- Type: Interceptor aircraft / Strike fighter
- Maximum speed: 1,312 mph
- Country of origin: France
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Production run: 1,422
39. Sukhoi Su-17 / Su-20 / Su-22 (Fitter)
- Year introduced: 1970
- Type: Strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 718 mph
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi
- Production run: 2,867
38. MiG-23 (Flogger)
- Year introduced: 1970
- Type: Swing-wing figher-interceptor aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
- Production run: 5,047
37. Mirage F1
- Year introduced: 1973
- Type: Interceptor aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
- Country of origin: France
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Production run: 750
36. Grumman F-14 Tomcat
- Year introduced: 1974
- Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
- Maximum speed: 1,544 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
- Production run: 712
35. IAI Kfir (Lion Cub)
- Year introduced: 1976
- Type: Multi-role combat aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,516 mph
- Country of origin: Israel
- Manufacturer: Israel Aircraft Industries
- Production run: 230
34. F-15 Eagle
- Year introduced: 1976
- Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,875 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
- Production run: 1,500
33. F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Year introduced: 1978
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,317 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
- Production run: 4,604
32. Mirage 2000 (M2000)
- Year introduced: 1979
- Type: Strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
- Country of origin: France
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Production run: 611
31. Panavia Tornado IDS
- Year introduced: 1979
- Type: Low-level strike aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems
- Production run: 400
30. Mig-31 (Foxhound)
- Year introduced: 1979
- Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,864 mph
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Production run: 500
29. Shenyang J-8 / J-8 II (Finback)
- Year introduced: 1980
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Aviation Industry Corporation of China
- Production run: 325
28. F/A-18 Hornet
- Year introduced: 1983
- Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,190 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop
- Production run: 1,480
27. MiG-29 (Fulcrum)
- Year introduced: 1984
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,519 mph
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Production run: 1,625
26. AV-8B Harrier II
- Year introduced: 1985
- Type: Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) strike aircraft
- Maximum speed: 665 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / BAE Systems
- Production run: 500
25. Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)
- Year introduced: 1985
- Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
- Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Production run: 809
24. F-15E Strike Eagle
- Year introduced: 1988
- Type: Strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,653 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
- Production run: 420
23. Panavia Tornado ECR
- Year introduced: 1990
- Type: Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
- Country of origin: Germany
- Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems / MBB
- Production run: 52
22. KAI KF-16 Fighting Falcon
- Year introduced: 1991
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 870 mph
- Country of origin: South Korea
- Manufacturer: Korean Aerospace Industries
- Production run: 140
21. Xian JH-7 (Flounder) / FBC-1 (Flying Leopard)
- Year introduced: 1992
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,118 mph
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation
- Production run: 240
20. F-CK-1 (Ching-Kuo)
- Year introduced: 1994
- Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,379 mph
- Country of origin: Taiwan
- Manufacturer: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
- Production run: 131
19. Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D)
- Year introduced: 1994
- Type: Carrier-based air defense fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
- Production run: 35
18. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)
- Year introduced: 1996
- Type: Twin-engine air superiority strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,317 mph
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi Design Bureau
- Production run: 635
17. JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin)
- Year introduced: 1997
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,370 mph
- Country of origin: Sweden
- Manufacturer: Saab AB
- Production run: 247
16. Shenyang J-11 (Flanker B+)
- Year introduced: 1998
- Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
- Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Production run: 255
15. F/A-18 Super Hornet
- Year introduced: 1999
- Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,187 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
- Production run: 615
14. Mitsubishi F-2
- Year introduced: 2000
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
- Country of origin: Japan
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi / Lockheed Martin
- Production run: 98
13. Dassault Rafale
- Year introduced: 2001
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,383 mph
- Country of origin: France
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Production run: 201
12. Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000)
- Year introduced: 2003
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,550 mph
- Country of origin: Germany
- Manufacturer: BAE Systems / Eurofighter GmbH
- Production run: 570
11. Chengdu J-10 (Vicious Dragon)
- Year introduced: 2005
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,452 mph
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Production run: 350
10. F-22 Raptor
- Year introduced: 2005
- Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,599 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin
- Production run: 195
9. PAC JF-17 Thunder
- Year introduced: 2007
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,218 mph
- Country of origin: Pakistan
- Manufacturer: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
- Production run: 132
8. Shenyang J-15 (Flying Shark)
- Year introduced: 2013
- Type: Carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,305 mph
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Production run: 25
7. Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker)
- Year introduced: 2014
- Type: Multi-role heavy combat fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
- Production run: 130
6. HAL Tejas LCA
- Year introduced: 2015
- Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,227 mph
- Country of origin: India
- Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
- Production run: 33
5. F-35 Lightning II
- Year introduced: 2016
- Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,199 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAE Systems
- Production run: 785
4. F-16V (Viper)
- Year introduced: 2017
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 917 mph
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Hellenic Aerospace Industry
- Production run: 100
3. Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle)
- Year introduced: 2017
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,305 mph
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Production run: 55
2. Sukhoi Su-57 (Felon)
- Year introduced: 2019
- Type: Multi-role stealth aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,616 mph
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Production run: 25
1. MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F)
- Year introduced: 2020
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MIG
- Production run: 10
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