🛩️ The World’s Deadliest Birds: Types of Fighter Jets, Their Capabilities & Fuel Analytics

Fighter jets are the apex predators of the skies. From stealth and speed to sheer firepower and agility, these machines represent the pinnacle of aviation technology. Whether dominating airspace or engaging in electronic warfare, fighter jets define modern military superiority.

In this post, we break down the top fighter jets in the world, comparing their capabilities, fuel consumption, weapon systems, and mission roles in a clean analytics grid format.

✈️ Top Fighter Jets and Their Capabilities

Here’s a quick look at the most advanced and widely used fighter jets globally:

Fighter Jet	Country	Type	Max Speed (Mach)	Range (km)	Stealth	First Flight
F-22 Raptor	USA	5th Gen Stealth	2.25	2,960	✅	1997
F-35 Lightning II	USA	5th Gen Stealth Multi-role	1.6	2,200	✅	2006
Sukhoi Su-57	Russia	5th Gen Stealth	2.0	3,500	✅	2010
Dassault Rafale	France	4.5 Gen Multi-role	1.8	3,700	❌	1986
Eurofighter Typhoon	EU	4.5 Gen Multi-role	2.0	2,900	❌	1994
Chengdu J-20	China	5th Gen Stealth	2.0	3,400	✅	2011
F-15EX Strike Eagle II	USA	4.5 Gen Heavy Fighter	2.5	3,900	❌	2021
MiG-35	Russia	4++ Gen Multi-role	2.25	2,000	❌	2007

🔥 Weapon Systems & Mission Roles

Fighter Jet	Main Weapon Systems	Air-to-Air Role	Air-to-Ground Role	Electronic Warfare
F-22 Raptor	AIM-120, AIM-9X	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐
F-35 Lightning II	AIM-120, JDAM, GBU	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Su-57	R-77, R-74, KH-59	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Rafale	Meteor, MICA, SCALP EG	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eurofighter	Meteor, Storm Shadow	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
J-20	PL-15, PL-10	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
F-15EX	AIM-120, JDAM	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
MiG-35	R-77, KH-31	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐

⛽ Fuel Consumption & Cost Analytics

Fuel consumption and operational cost matter when these jets are deployed in real missions. Here’s the analytics:

Fighter Jet	Fuel Consumption (Liters/Hour)	Fuel Type	Flight Hour Cost (USD)	Engine Type
F-22 Raptor	11,000	JP-8	$70,000	Twin Pratt & Whitney F119
F-35 Lightning II	5,600	JP-8	$36,000	Single Pratt & Whitney F135
Su-57	10,500	TS-1/Jet-A	$40,000	Twin Saturn AL-41F1
Rafale	6,500	Jet-A1	$18,000	Twin Snecma M88
Eurofighter	6,000	Jet-A1	$25,000	Twin Eurojet EJ200
J-20	8,500	Jet-A	$30,000	Twin WS-10 or WS-15
F-15EX	12,000	JP-8	$29,000	Twin GE F110
MiG-35	9,000	TS-1/Jet-A	$18,000	Twin Klimov RD-33MK

🧠 Key Takeaways

F-22 Raptor is the most dominant air-to-air fighter, but F-35 is the most versatile across all roles.
Su-57 and J-20 are solid 5th-gen contenders, though Western analysts question their stealth.
Rafale and Eurofighter offer incredible multirole flexibility and lower operating costs.
Operational cost and fuel consumption vary massively — a key factor for long-term deployments.

🛠️ Conclusion

Fighter jets are no longer just about speed and altitude—they’re digital, stealthy, AI-enabled machines of war. Understanding their fuel efficiency, mission roles, and combat capabilities helps contextualize their role in modern geopolitics and air superiority strategy.