Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Photo by Liz Kaszynski.

The Europeans seem lost these days. Their reliance on US power, already challenged, seemed to have finally cracked with Zelensky's disastrous visit to the White House, at the end of February 2025. Since then, the NATO allies and EU countries have desperately tried to finally get their defense spending right, and at the same time lower the dependence on the very powerful (should we say former?) defense partner, the US. The problem is that the US is decades ahead when it comes to some defense technologies, such as 5th generation aircraft or missile defense systems. So you can't just decide to spend a couple of hundred of billions and you have solved your problem. When we talk about Russia being dangerous again after licking its wounds from the Ukraine War in 10-15 years, that is literally around the corner in defence planning. As many European powers operate or have orders pending from powerful US weapon systems, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the question of whether that is a weakness is often heard. The F-35 is and will be the backbone of many NATO-partners. There is talk of a "Kill switch", meaning the US can effectively hold a veto over European military operations (or over the military operations of any other nation operating modern US weapons for that matter). Given the nature of the current US president, it is understandable that European partners worry that they can be blackmailed when reliant on US weapon systems. Let's dive deeper into the F-35 saga, adding more layers to the drama and exploring the finer points of this high-tech headache.

 

The F-35: More Than Just a Plane, It's a Tech Ecosystem

The F-35 isn't just a fighter jet; it's a complex, interconnected system. Imagine it as a flying supercomputer that relies on a constant stream of data and software updates to maintain its edge. This reliance is both its strength and its Achilles' heel.

The Software Dependency: A Double-Edged Sword

• Mission Data Files (MDFs): The Brains of the Operation:
  • Think of MDFs as the F-35's combat encyclopedia. They contain crucial information about potential threats, radar signatures, and electronic warfare tactics.
  • These files are constantly updated by the US, and without them, the F-35's ability to identify and counter threats is severely hampered.
  • Bill Sweetman, a respected industry expert, emphasizes that this dependency on MDF updates is the real issue, not a mythical "kill switch."
• ALIS and ODIN: The Logistical Backbone:
  • These systems manage the F-35's maintenance, supply chain, and data flow.
  • While they don't directly control the aircraft's flight, they're essential for keeping it operational.
  • ODIN is designed to be an improvement of ALIS, and to be more cloud-based.
  • If the US were to restrict access to these systems or withhold spare parts, allied nations would face significant logistical challenges.
• Software Updates: Keeping the F-35 at Its Peak:
  • Like any modern device, the F-35 requires regular software updates to stay ahead of evolving threats.
  • These updates enhance the aircraft's capabilities, improve its sensors, and patch security vulnerabilities.
  • Without them, the F-35 risks becoming outdated and vulnerable.

The Geopolitical Implications: Sovereignty and Trust

• Concerns About US Control:
  • European nations are wary of their growing dependence on US technology, particularly in light of recent geopolitical uncertainties.
  • The fear is that the US could use its control over the F-35 to exert political pressure or limit allied military operations.
  • The fact that the United states restricts independent testing of the F-35 outside of the US, adds to the concern.
• The Nuclear Deterrent Dilemma:
  • Germany's use of the F-35 for nuclear deterrence, with US-supplied B61 bombs, further complicates the issue.
  • As Justin Bronk points out, this makes Germany "100% dependent on the US," regardless of the aircraft itself.
• The Search for Alternatives:
  • European nations are exploring ways to diversify their defense capabilities and reduce their reliance on the US.
  • However, developing indigenous alternatives to the F-35 would be a costly and time-consuming endeavor.
  • The current geopolitical climate is speeding up the process of those nations to find more options.

The Bottom Line: A Complex Web of Technology and Politics

U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters from the 58th Fighter Squadron (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Released)

The F-35 "kill switch" debate highlights the intricate relationship between technology, security, and politics. It underscores the challenges of maintaining national sovereignty in an increasingly interconnected world. While there's no literal "kill switch," the US's control over the F-35's software and logistical systems gives it significant leverage. This reality forces allied nations to grapple with difficult questions about their defense strategies and relationships with the US.

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F-15, 71st Fighter Squadron - in flight

Which is the most advanced fighter jet in the world?

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

F-22 waste of money https://t.co/MCg32LYoJK

— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) August 19, 2016

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The Air Force One operating costs

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A fighter jock (Pilot) is quite an abnormal phenomenon. He would have a weird fascination for flying boots, money gambling, cigars (bigger meaning better), and breaking simple glasses. A typical pilot likes flying single stick fighters only, especially gunnery, aerobatics, and cross countries.

He has a huge closeness for women and booze. He is usually located in luxurious cars, sometimes sports cars, at parties, or happy hour. His typical habitat (while down on the ground) is the Land of the Bearded Clam, Europe, and/or specific parts of the Orient. He likes Steve Canyon, to read Snoopy, eat steaks, and tell dirty jokes. A pilot’s favorite hiding place would generally be in dark cool bars or behind a pair of dark and tinted glasses. Typically he’d be careless of practically everything. To keep himself entertained he may decide to fire practice flares from mobile control, pour drinks right down an over-exposed décolleté, throw empty beer cans (Pointless in his case) through the B.O.Q. corridors, or become generally obnoxious. His favorite conversation revolves about a continuous chatter concerning flying, booze, or attractive women (the order of priority is irrelevant, apparently).

He has a strong dislike for the endless survival training around the globe, bomber pilots (or most other pilots, for that matter, or rivalry if you get straight to the point), mobile control, AO duty and extended alerts. He tolerates ankle biters and house apes and has an immense hatred for bingo. Whenever he is allowed he avoids ugly weather (Sometimes even when he really isn’t allowed), icy runways, lost communications, flame-outs, and ejections. Sea water makes him utterly sick (unless frozen and surrounded by scotch) and he would totally rather face a fully equipped and firing squad than be caught pushing a baby-buggy or carrying an umbrella. At the mention of matrimony, he becomes a catatonic schizophrenic and has a mysterious distaste for wearing a wedding band. He has the nerves of a fully metal build robot, the braveness and courage of Dennis the Menace, the lungs of a platoon sergeant, the strength of an atomic bomb and the imagination of a science fiction writer. He is glib as a diplomat, impervious to suggestion and is a paragon of wisdom with a wealth of unsorted, completely unrelated and irrelevant facts. He wears the largest watch he can find, has the shortest staying power, and is always trying to get laid on credit. When he tries to create an impression, either his brain turns in to pure mud or he becomes a savage, sadistic jungle creature bent on demolishing and totally destroying the world and himself with it.

 What they do.

Who else can completely stuff into a single flying suit: checklists, maps, Zeus openers, more checklists, a dime novel, guns, knives, flares and snares, nylon cording, a handkerchief, assorted inhalers, aspirin, cigarettes, a torch, another set of checklists, pencils, pens, gloves, a deck of cards, coded telephone numbers, a wallet, keys, his horoscope, a talisman, a St. Christopher medallion, yet another set of different checklists, and a chunk of an unknown substance, a lot of it.

At home with his wife he is docile, sweet, tender, loving, amiable, gentle, just a hell of a nice guy to have around the house, straight arrow all the way, exception when they’re fighting, then he becomes a beast, which you’d not want to see, who is tyrannical, suspicious, diabolical, and a masochistic sex devil who just doesn’t have no couth (these symptoms may also appear after beer break).

Fighter pilots from the RSAF and the FAF exchanging pointers after a flying mission during Exercise Garuda 2010

As a father he is tough, but oh so gentle, kind, positive, just, protective, farsighted, ambitious, and really proud of that young to be fighter pilot (He’ll never really admit it, and it’s never displayed in public, but that goes for his little girl, too).

In the air he is calculating and confident. His manly voice, gruff and steely cool (an acquired characteristic regardless of how he feels, happy or sad, tired or active, excited or not), pierces the garbled waves, barking terse commands, a reason why he gets the women. On the hunt he becomes part monster, scans with the eyes of a falcon, has the reflexes and reaction of a cat, the instincts of a barracuda, the cunning of a fox, and the capability to rotate his head three hundred sixty degrees, on every axis. When strategically approaching the target, mind and metal fuse, spawning a killer-child. Destruction is promised and precise as Euclidean geometry. Steel and fire split the icy cold atmosphere, swift and merciless, he says in his private moment of truth.

After the mission he is tired, dirty, thirsty, and bedraggled. In fact, if you notice, after they arrive, he walks with his legs crossed to the nearest toilet (or empties out his g-suit), and then straight to the bus. Hair matted with helmet rat snarls and mask scars etched on a red, raw face, he knows he has bid and destroyed the grim reaper. And then with the oily odor of JP4 clinging to a salt-encrusted zipper-ripper, he’ll unleash that shiny-eyed smile which says, “Let’s press on to the `O’ Club and inhale a few tall frosty ones; whereupon he miraculously regenerates into a critical mass and a flurry of hands, arms, legs, and body language stuns his alcoholic cohorts with tales of “hairy” deeds.

The pilot is magic, a master imposter, Houdini with the top of his blouse unbuttoned. At times he’s old, at others young, immature yet sage. The Jock is instant fear and lasting bravery. Hovers between play and business, and can make your date disappear right before your eyes. He is present, past, and future rolled and merged into one. But most of all, he’s got wings, with a throttle in his left hand and the stick in his right, shackled to a million-dollar blowtorch and always prepared to get the maximum out of every minute of every hour of every day.

• G Force – The affect it has on the human body
• Jet Engines – How they work
• Mach Loop – Speed and scenery heaven
• Fighter Jets in comparison, right here

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The Blackbird divided in pieces.

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is an ultra-long-range, strategic reconnaissance aircraft and these previously classified photos reveal how Lockheed built the three types of Blackbird - A, B and C in top secret conditions in Burbank, California.

The SR71 Blackbird required an array of specially developed materials including high temperature fuel, sealants, lubricants, wiring and other components.

Since July 28^th 1976 the SR-71 Blackbird has held the world record for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft with a record breaking speed of a whopping 2193mph.

Renowned American aerospace engineer Clarence Johnson was held responsible for many of the design's world class innovative concepts. The SR71 blackbird was designed to have basic touches of stealthy characteristics and served primarily as a precursor to modern stealth aircraft.

The Blackbird had served with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) from 1964 to 1998 and a total of 32 aircraft were built, 12 of which were lost in accidents, but none were ever lost to enemy action.

Almost every aspect of its design had required different modern approaches or breakthroughs in technology.

To withstand its high temperatures generated by friction in the upper area of the atmosphere. During the sustained Mach 3 flight, the Blackbird required a vast array of specially designed and developed materials including high temperature fuel, sealants, lubricants, wiring and other delicate components.

On July 24^th 1964, US President Lyndon Johnson publicly unveiled the existence of the classified Lockheed SR71 program. Around 93% of the Blackbird's complicated airframe consisted of titanium alloy that allowed the aircraft to operate throughout a regime in which temperatures ranged from 450 degrees to 950 degrees.

The first flight was held on December 22 and operational aircraft deliveries began in 1966.

Additional Readings -

• The SR-72 – a new Blackbird?
• The A400M Atlas

 Author - Jake Meilak

The post How They Built the SR-71 Blackbird appeared first on Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine.

The joint training was targeted at improving integration between the two most advanced radar-evading planes in service with the U.S. Air Force. Flying mixed formations, the F-22s and the F-35s flew offensive counter air, defensive counter air and deep air support missions. This maximized the capabilities provided by operating two fifth-generation platforms together.

Fifth Gen capabilities had their combat debut with the Raptor in the air to ground role during the early stages of Operation Inherent Resolve, against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria. The successful baptism of fire reaffirmed the pivotal role played by stealth technologies and sensor fusion capabilities, pulled together by 5th generation warplanes in current scenarios.

A mixed formation with the two mentioned aircraft.

Both fighters have had a rough turbulent development and the F-35 is still far from complete, but this was the vision. The F-35 and F-22 teamed up to combat against first world air

force like China or Russia. Air Force officials didn’t release many details from the training missions, but the images sort of speak for themselves. Even the largest cynics of the program have to stop and reconsider the history of the two controversial stealth fighters flying training missions together.

The F22 Raptor

The F-22 is the only fighter worldwide with a capability of simultaneously conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions with near impunity. This is reached and accomplished with a never-before-seen, state of the art standard of survivability even in the face of sophisticated airborne and ground-based threats.

Before its selection as the winner of what was previously known as the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) competition, the F-22 team conducted a lengthy 54 month long demonstration/validation program. The effort consisted of the design, construction and flight testing of two YF-22 prototype aircraft. Two prototype engines, the Pratt & Whitney YF119 and General Electric YF120, were also developed and tested thoroughly during the program. The demonstration/validation program was completed in December 1990.

A $9.55 billion contract for Engineering and Manufacturing Development of the F-22 was awarded to the industry of Boeing and Lockheed Martin in August 1991. Contract changes since then have elevated the overall contract value to a total estimate of around $11 billion. Under terms of the contract, the F-22 team would have completed the design of the aircraft, produced production tooling for the program, and would have built and tested nine flightworthy and two ground-test aircraft.

The F-22's avionics and software system is one of the most advanced software integrated into an aircraft. It is the first aircraft to use integrated avionics, where the weapons management system, electronic warfare system and the AN/APG-77 radar work together as one, giving the pilot unprecedented situation awareness. The AN/APG-77 radar was designed for air superiority and strike operations and features a low observable, active aperture, electronically-scanned array including multi-target, all-weather capability.

Vapor trails disperse in the wake of a U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptor aircraft at the 42nd Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Air Show at Point Mugu, Calif., April 1, 2007.

The F-22 uses a newer and improved version of the ACES II (Advanced Concept Ejection Seat) ejection seat that is used widely in nearly every other Air Force jet combat aircraft (ex. F-16, F-117, F-15, A-10, B-1 and B-2). The seat has a centre mounted ejection control which is situated in between the pilot’s legs. The F-22 version of the McDonnell Douglas-built ACES II includes various improvements over the previous seat models. These improvements include:

• The addition of an active arm restraint system to discard any arm flail injuries during high speed ejections.
• An improved fast-acting seat stabilization drogue parachute system to help provide increased seat stability and safety for the pilot during high-speed ejections.
• The previously mentioned drogue is located behind the pilot's head, rather than in the back of the seat and is mortar deployed.
• A new electronic seat and aircraft sequencing system that improves the accuracy of the timing of the various events that have to happen in order for the pilot to eject safely (Initiation, canopy jettison, and seat catapult ignition).
• A larger oxygen bottle gives the ejecting pilot more breathing air to support ejection at higher altitudes, when required.

The F-22 ACES II ejection system utilizes the standard analogue three mode seat sequencer that automatically detects the seat speed and altitude, and then selects the proper mode for optimum seat performance and safe recovery of the pilot.

• Mode 1 is low speed, low altitude;
• Mode 2 is high speed, low altitude;
• Mode 3 is high altitude.

Several operational problems have been experienced and some have caused costly fleet-wide groundings. Critically, pilots have experienced a decreased mental status, including losing consciousness, which is a big problem. There were a few reports of instances when pilots found to have a decreased level of alertness or memory loss after landing. F-22 pilots have gone through lingering respiratory problems and a chronic cough; other symptoms include irritability, emotional liability and neurological changes. A number of possible causes were investigated, including possible exposure to noxious chemical agents from the respiratory tubing, pressure suit malfunction, side effects from oxygen delivery at greater-than-atmospheric concentrations, and oxygen supply disruptions. Other problems include minor mechanical problems and navigational software failures. The fleet was grounded for a staggering four months in 2011 before resuming flight, but reports of oxygen issues persisted.

The F35 Lightning II

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Red Flag is an aerial combat training exercise which is hosted at Nellis AFB and Eielson AFB. Red Flag exercise is the successor of the Cope Thunder exercise. The Red flag training mission was established in 1975 as one of the initiatives directed by General Robert Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, to better train and prepare our forces for combat. Part of the exercise is to plan and control training, the 414th Combat Training Squadron's target is to maximize the combat readiness, capability and survivability of participating units by providing realistic training in a combined air, ground, space and electronic threat environment while providing for a free exchange of ideas between forces. Air crew from the USAF, USN, USMC, USA and numerous NATO / allied nations' air forces take part in one of numerous Red Flag exercises held throughout the year, each of which has a lengthy two week duration.

What it consists of

A typical Red Flag training exercise involves a large variety of attack, fighter and bomber aircraft (F/A-18, A-10, B-1 etc.), reconnaissance aircraft (Predator, Global Hawk, RC-135, U-2), electronic warfare aircraft (EC-130s, EA-6Bs and F-16CJs), air superiority aircraft (F-22, F-15C, etc), airlift support (C-130, C-17), search and rescue aircraft (HH-60, HC-130, CH-47), Command and Control aircraft (E-3, E-8C etc), A2A (Aerial) refueling aircraft (KC-135, KC-10 etc) as well as ground Command and Control, Space, and Cyber Forces. As Red Flag expanded to include all views of warfare (i.e. command, control, intelligence, electronic warfare) and included night missions to each and every exercise period, the combination of NACTS, improved tactics, and increased aircraft and aircrew capabilities improved flying safety. White forces in the exercise uses the Nellis Air Combat Training System to monitor this mock combat between Red and Blue. NACTS is the world's most state of the art, sophisticated, tracking system for combat training exercises and allows commanders, safety observers and exercise directors to monitor the mission in depth and keep live score of simulated 'kills' while viewing the simulated air battle as it occurs.

Nellis Map

In Red Flag, the ‘good guys,’ as they are sometimes called by pilots and commanders, square off against camouflaged-coloured, would-be enemy F-16s and F-15s from the 65th and 64th aggressor squadrons at Nellis AFB. The jets lurk in the yonder of the almost 3 million-acre range north of Las Vegas to make highly-realistically simulated attacks.

In previous Red Flag exercises, the Air Force typically spent around $20 million to $60 million to fly friendly and aggressor aircraft, fire cannons, missiles and drop bombs.

 Frequencies for the above are:-

Participants during the Red Flag exercise include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

Since the start of the exercise in 1975, there has been a total of 2 crashes –

• In 1979 an F111A carrying a serial no. of 67-0105, crashed, resulting in the fatalities of Maj Gary Mekash and Lt Col Eugene Soeder.

• In 1980, a crash occurred when a Royal Air Force (RAF) Blackburn Buccaneer suffered failure of the main spar, leading to deaths of the pilots.

Red Flag was depicted in the 1981 movie Red Flag: The Ultimate Game. Red Flag is also featured in a 2004 IMAX film, named Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag.

Nellis AFB

Nellis is a United States Air Force base in Nevada with the most military schools and squadrons than any other USAF base. Nellis is the host of various air combat exercises such as Red Flag and Close air support exercises such as Green Flag. Nellis AFB, Nevada, is one of the most interesting and busiest airbases in the US. Even outside the Green/Red Flag periods.

Nellis AFB entrance.

The Air Force Base was named on 30^th April 1950, and the 20^th May dedication was attended by Nellis' family. By 1^st July the Air Force had directed ATC to accelerate the Korean War training for a new 95-wing Air Force. The first academy opened at Nellis, and ATC redesignated the 3595th Pilot Training Wing as the 3595th Training Wing. On 17^th July 1950, Nellis began a pilot exchange training program to provide 115 F-51 Mustang pilots and 92 F-80 Shooting Star pilots. Nellis' advanced single-engine crew training transferred to Alabama on 1^st September 1950. Nellis assumed fighter-bomber training, and Air Traffic Control established its USAF Air Crew School on 14^th November 1950, equipped with F-80s and previous-model F-84C Thunderjets. On 1^st October, Williams Air Force Base management functions were moved to Nellis AFB. In the early 1950s, ATC assigned newly graduated aircraft and engine mechanics to Nellis AFB to learn jet aircraft maintenance. The airfield was expanded between 1951 and 1955 with longer runways capable of hosting more sophisticated jets, reconfigured taxiways and a larger aircraft parking ramp and WWII wooden structures were replaced with concrete and steel structures (ex. barracks and base housing for married personnel). The first Wherry houses were completed in 1954, with updated Capehart houses being completed in February 1960.

Additional Readings -

• What it's like to fly Close Air Combat against IS militants
• Air Force One selects the 747-8

Author - Jake Meilak

The post Red Flag Military Exercise at Nellis AFB appeared first on Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine.

• Two of Lockheed Martin's biggest projects, SR-71 and U-2 Dragonlady
• The top 10 fastest aircraft in the world

• SIPRI.org

The post The largest 25 defense companies in the world appeared first on Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine.

Su-27SKM

Number 10: Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. Its top speed of 2.35 Mach brings it to the very edge of USSR craftmanship with a twin engine and the first fly-by-wire control system on a Russian jet ever. It was built for air superiority to counter the new American 3.5 gen fighters such as the F-15 Eagle. It is armed with a 30 mm gun and 10 external pylons that can hold both Air-to-Air, heat-seeking, short and medium-range missiles. Due to all its accomplishments and popularity, it has very many different variants. Some of which are top-modern even today, 35 years after the first flight of the Flanker (1977). Some of them are:

• Sukhoi Su-30
• Sukhoi Su-33
• Sukhoi Su-34
• Sukhoi Su-35
• Sukhoi Su-37

Picture of an F-111 showing its variable sweep wing.

Number 9: General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. Number nine on this list is not a fighter but a tactical bomber capable of flying at Mach 2.5. It had, before its retirement in 1998, 9 hardpoints and 2 weapon bays, together with being able to deliver a payload of 14,300 kg of bombs, a nuclear bomb, air-to-air missiles or a 2000 round machine gun could be fitted. However, due to the Aardvark’s role in air, it was rarely fitted with the gun. The Aardvark was the first aircraft in production with a variable sweep with the configuration which is why it was also tested for carrier-based operations, however, this was never completed (although there were some successful tries).

F-15C during Operation Noble Eagle

Number 8: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle The F-15 has been claimed to be one of the most successful aircraft ever built and is still in service with the US Air Force. The Eagle’s twin-engine and thrust-to-weight ratio of almost 1:1 can propel the 18,000 kg aircraft to more than 2.5 times the speed of sound. It was introduced in 1976 and will continue to be a part of the air force beyond 2025. There has almost 1200 F-15s built and it has been exported to among others Japan, Saudi Arabia and Israel. The current plan is to keep producing them until 2019. It was first designed as an air-superiority aircraft but later the F-15E Strike Eagle was built, an Air-to-Ground derivative. The F-15 can load a variety of Sparrow, Sidewinder, 120-AMRAAM, drop bombs ( for instance Mark 84 or 82) or external fuel tanks on its 11 hardpoints. Together with its 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan gun, it is no surprise that this buster has over 100 confirmed aerial combat victories. By the way, a lot of visitors are interested in flying the F-15 - so we wrote a small article about that topic. Click the link for more information.

MiG-31 flying over Russia

Number 7: Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound With a top speed of Mach 2.83, the next aircraft on our list is the Mikoyan Gurevich-31 Foxhound (also this one was once available for tourist flights!). Due to its enormous twin-engine with a thrust of 2*152kN, it was able to fly at supersonic speeds at both high- and low altitudes. It is a Soviet Interceptor built to take out enemy aircraft and has great capabilities to do so using a combination of active and passive radars. Four Foxhounds can together control a front of 900 kilometres in length. The weapons that it has to its disposal are:

• One 23 millimetre gun with 260 rounds.
• Under fuselage:
  • 4x R-33 Air-to-Air (heavy) or 6x R-37 Air-to-Air missiles.
• On pylons:
  • Long or medium-range missiles, short-range IR missiles or a special medium-range Air-to-Air missile for high-speed targets.

The production ended in 1994 but is unknown exactly how many MiG-31 that were built but between 400-500 is said to be a qualified guess. The MiG-31 is still today in service with the Russian and Kazakhstan Air Forces. The MiG-31 is a derivative of the MiG-25 which can be read about further down (place 4) and in the link at the very end of the article.

XB-70 Valkyrie (taking off)

Number 6: XB-70 Valkyrie. The XB-70 Valkyrie was a unique aircraft with six engines which together could accelerate the 240,000-kilogram aircraft to a velocity of Mach 3. This speed resulted in the frame of the aircraft being heated up to as much as 330°C in some areas. The extreme speed was needed for two reasons: 1: To accelerate away from Soviet interceptors and 2: To be able to escape the blast of the nuclear bombs that it was capable of dropping. The big size (weight) was needed to carry the fuel needed for the 6,900-kilometre flight into the Soviet Union and escape without refuelling and to house the 14 nuclear bombs that it was capable of carrying. The aircraft had its first flight in 1964 and is now retired, only two were built.

X-2 Starbuster together with its crew

Number 5: Bell X-2 Starbuster. The Starbuster was an American research aircraft which had its first flight in 1955 and was retired in 1956. It was a continuation of the X-2 program and so Its area of investigation was to see how aircrafts behaved when flying at speeds higher than Mach 2.0. It did, as can be understood, not carry any weapons and featured a back-swept wing which made it have little air-resistance and was by that able to achieve the stunning speed of Mach 3.196 in 1956. However soon after this speed was attained the pilot, Milburn G. Apt, made a sharp turn and the aircraft tumbled out of control. He could not regain control of the aircraft and bailed out. Unfortunately, only the small parachute of the escape shuttle was opened and he hit the ground with too high speed. This fatal crash ended the Starbuster program.

Mikoyan Gurevich 25PU

Number 4: Mikoyan MiG-25 Foxbat. This jet was a Soviet machine built to intercept American aircraft during the cold war like the SR-71 and high- slow flying surveillance aircraft. Since it was built to intercept the SR-71 it was required to have an extreme speed, hence its Mach 3.2 top capability. The Foxbat, unlike the Blackbird, featured 4 air-to-air missiles which made it an interceptor rather than a reconnaissance aircraft. It has never shot down a Blackbird but it has had many other combat missions which have been successful, for instance in the Iran-Iraq war. Over 1100 Foxbats were built between 1964 and 1984, however, today the use is limited, with its only users being Russia, Syria, Algeria and Turkmenistan. For more information about this astonishing bird see the link at the bottom of the article. The MiG-25 was also the fastest plane ever offered for fun flights by MiGFlug - it was mainly used for Edge of Space flights.

YF-12A, the first YF-12

Number 3: Lockheed YF-12. This jet was an American interceptor prototype with a top speed of Mach 3.35. It looked almost like the SR-71 Blackbird and featured three Air-to-Air missiles. The reason for it looking a lot like the SR-71 was because the SR-71 was based on the YF-12, and also because both of them had the same designer, the extremely famous Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. Only 3 YF-12’s were built but the program still made it into the history books with its  “highest speed”, “highest altitude” (both of these were later surpassed by the Blackbird) and “biggest interceptor” records.

SR-71B (double cockpit)

Number 2: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird After its introduction in 1966 it has been used by both the USAF and NASA. 32 Blackbirds were built, all used for reconnaissance and experimental research. It featured stealth technology but if it was, against all odds, spotted by enemy forces, it could outrun the interceptors or surface-to-air missiles that were fired at it, due to its fantastic speed. The Blackbird was so fast that the air in front of it did not have time to escape, hence building up a huge pressure, and raised the temperature. The temperature of the aircraft, which could reach several hundred degrees high, expanded the metal, hence it had to be built by too small pieces. Because of this, the SR-71 actually leaked oil when standing still. The Blackbird holds the record for manned, air-breathing aircraft, see here. A nice documentary about the SR-71 for those who love this plane as much as we do:

The winner of our top 10 - the X-15!

Number 1: North American X-15 This aircraft has the current world record for the fastest manned aircraft. Its maximum speed was Mach 6.70 (about 7,200 km/h) which it attained on the 3rd of October 1967 thanks to its pilot William J. “Pete” Knight. To be stable at these super high velocities, it had to feature a big wedge tail, however, the downside of this was at lower speeds the drag was extremely big from such a tail. Therefore a B-52 Stratofortress had to carry it up to an altitude of about 14,000 meters before dropping it at which it ignited its own engines. Just imagine sitting in a rocket measuring only 15 m in length and then being dropped, must have been a truly magnificent feeling! The X-15 was used at such extreme speeds so that it did not use traditional ways to steer (using drag over a fin) but instead it used rocket thrusters! This made it possible to reach altitudes higher than 100 kilometres, which was one of its world records. These are the three records that brought the X-15 rocket jet into the history books:

• It was the first operational space plane.
• It got to a height of more than 100 km.
• It flew more than six times the speed of sound (Mach 6.70).

Fastest planes in the world - Overview

The fastest Aircraft in the World

• Read about the SR-71 Blackbird mentioned in the article here.
• The XB-70 Valkyrie (also mentioned in the article)
• The world's fastest (rocket-) aircraft, the experimental X-15 
• The fastest interceptor ever built, the Mikoyan MiG-25 Foxbat

• Xb70.interceptor
• AF.mil
• Livescience
• Aerospaceweb
• Air-and-Space
• CIA
• Gizmodo
• Wilson (2000)
• Logan (1998)
• Davies and Dildy (2007)
• Nasa
• Airwar.ru

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