24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication to compile a list of the combat aircraft of the future. Arranged by how many are currently on order, we’ve also included information on aircraft types, the number in active service today, and which militaries use which aircraft.
Number one on the list with, by far, the most aircraft on order is the F-35 Lightning II. The F-35, mainly produced by Lockheed Martin, is a multi-role fighter with advanced sensors and the ability to operate in all weather conditions. The U.S. plans to keep these advanced fighters in use through the 2080s. (These are the world’s most iconic strike fighter aircraft since World War II.)
Even beyond this list of current military aircraft, governments are continually working on creating new and more advanced aviation. Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force are working today on developing a crewless drone aircraft called the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat. The MQ-28 will be designed to fly alongside crewed aircraft or to go it alone on independent flights using artificial intelligence.
Why Are We Covering This?
A strong military with advanced weapons technology requires taxpayer money. In 2024, the DOD is projected to use 14.7% of the FY 2024 U.S. federal budget. The U.S. Department of Defense DOD) plans to acquire thousands of F-35 aircraft within the next few decades. Projected costs for this plan have reached $1.58 trillion.
Here is a look at the combat aircraft of the future:
26. L-39NG
- Total aircraft on order: 4
- Total active aircraft: 0
- Militaries with this aircraft: Hungary
25. Su-34
- Total aircraft on order: 4
- Total active aircraft: 134
- Militaries with this aircraft: Russia
24. IA-63
- Total aircraft on order: 5
- Total active aircraft: 10
- Militaries with this aircraft: Argentina
23. J-10C
- Total aircraft on order: 7
- Total active aircraft: 18
- Militaries with this aircraft: Pakistan
22. AT-6
- Total aircraft on order: 12
- Total active aircraft: 0
- Militaries with this aircraft: Thailand, Tunisia
21. B-250
- Total aircraft on order: 24
- Total active aircraft: 0
- Militaries with this aircraft: United Arab Emirates
20. Hurkus C
- Total aircraft on order: 24
- Total active aircraft: 0
- Militaries with this aircraft: Turkey
19. JF-17
- Total aircraft on order: 47
- Total active aircraft: 128
- Militaries with this aircraft: Pakistan, Myanmar
18. J-15/Su-30/33
- Total aircraft on order: 50
- Total active aircraft: 45
- Militaries with this aircraft: China
17. Tu-160
- Total aircraft on order: 50
- Total active aircraft: 15
- Militaries with this aircraft: Russia
16. Su-57
- Total aircraft on order: 62
- Total active aircraft: 14
- Militaries with this aircraft: Russia
15. MiG-29/35
- Total aircraft on order: 68
- Total active aircraft: 302
- Militaries with this aircraft: Russia, Algeria, Yemen
14. Eurofighter Typhoon
- Total aircraft on order: 77
- Total active aircraft: 95
- Militaries with this aircraft: Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
13. Eurofighter
- Total aircraft on order: 80
- Total active aircraft: 201
- Militaries with this aircraft: Germany, Spain
12. FA-50 GF/PL
- Total aircraft on order: 82
- Total active aircraft: 2
- Militaries with this aircraft: Poland, Malaysia
11. AT-802 L/U
- Total aircraft on order: 87
- Total active aircraft: 0
- Militaries with this aircraft: Kenya, United States
10. Su-27/30
- Total aircraft on order: 94
- Total active aircraft: 781
- Militaries with this aircraft: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, India
9. B-21
- Total aircraft on order: 100
- Total active aircraft: 0
- Militaries with this aircraft: United States
8. F/A-18E/F
- Total aircraft on order: 108
- Total active aircraft: 421
- Militaries with this aircraft: United States, Kuwait
7. F-15
- Total aircraft on order: 162
- Total active aircraft: 410
- Militaries with this aircraft: Indonesia, Qatar, United States
6. Gripen E
- Total aircraft on order: 164
- Total active aircraft: 6
- Militaries with this aircraft: Brazil, Sweden
5. KF-21
- Total aircraft on order: 170
- Total active aircraft: 0
- Militaries with this aircraft: Indonesia, South Korea
4. Tejas
- Total aircraft on order: 180
- Total active aircraft: 32
- Militaries with this aircraft: India
3. F-16 A/C/V
- Total aircraft on order: 237
- Total active aircraft: 202
- Militaries with this aircraft: Ukraine, Taiwan, Romania, Morocco
2. Rafale
- Total aircraft on order: 362
- Total active aircraft: 211
- Militaries with this aircraft: France, Egypt, Croatia, India, United Arab Emirates
1. F-35 A/B/C/I
- Total aircraft on order: 2,703
- Total active aircraft: 661
- Militaries with this aircraft: United States, Israel, Poland, Canada
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