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.
72 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
Lockheed Martin
F-22A Raptor
Dassault Aviation
Rafale F4
Lockheed Martin
F-35A Lightning II
Lockheed Martin
F-35B Lightning II
Lockheed Martin
F-35C Lightning II
Dassault Aviation
Rafale C
Dassault Aviation
Rafale M
Eurofighter GmbH
Eurofighter Typhoon
Boeing
F-15EX Eagle II
Lockheed Martin
F-16C Block 70/72 Fighting Falcon
Boeing
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)
KF-21 Boramae
Sukhoi
Su-57
Boeing
F-15C Eagle
Lockheed Martin
F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon
Boeing
F/A-18C Hornet
Saab AB
JAS 39E Gripen
Dassault Aviation
Mirage 2000-5
Sukhoi
Su-35S
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)
FA-50 Golden Eagle
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG)
J-10C
Saab AB
JAS 39C Gripen
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC)
JF-17 Thunder
Mikoyan (MiG)
MiG-29
Mikoyan (MiG)
MiG-35
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi F-2
Sukhoi
Su-30SM
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Tejas Mk1A
Northrop Grumman
F-14 Tomcat
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-15
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-16
Mikoyan (MiG)
MiG-31
Sukhoi
Su-27
Boeing
F-4E Phantom II
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-35
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC)
JF-17 Thunder Block 3
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
J-20
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-11B
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Tejas Mk2
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Tejas Navy Mk1
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-8II
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
F-CK-1 Ching-kuo
Turkish Aerospace Industries
TAI Kaan
Cochin Shipyard Limited
Vikrant
Dassault Aviation
Mirage 2000-9
Dassault Aviation
Mirage F1
Babcock International Group
Queen Elizabeth-class
Raytheon (RTX)
AIM-120D AMRAAM
Raytheon (RTX)
AIM-9X Sidewinder
Fincantieri
Cavour
MBDA
Meteor
Boeing
MQ-28 Ghost Bat
HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program)
Kowsar
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)
Type 002 Shandong
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)
Type 003 Fujian
Denel Aviation
A-Darter
MBDA
ASRAAM
MBDA
MICA EM
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Python 4
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
R-73
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
R-77
Defence Research and Development Organisation
Astra Mk1
Naval Group
Charles de Gaulle
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Derby
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Python-5
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
R-27
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
R-37M
TÜBİTAK SAGE
Gökdoğan / Bozdoğan
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
PL-10
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
PL-15
Anduril Industries
Fury (YFQ-44A)
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.