Which Country Dominates the Skies with Fighter Jets?
When it comes to superior fighter jets, the United States takes the crown. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps boast an unmatched fleet of aircraft operating from aircraft carriers, making them a formidable force in the skies. However, China is quickly catching up, developing its own advanced fifth-generation carrier-based fighter jets. Meanwhile, France remains the only other nation with domestically-produced carrier-based jets, while Russia’s presence in this arena is dwindling due to the scrapping of its sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.
Globally, the list of active carrier-capable fighter jets is relatively short. The U.S. leads with models like the Lockheed Martin F-35C and F-35B, the F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler, and the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II. The Harrier is being phased out, with the U.S. Marines planning to retire the last of them by 2026. The Italian Navy is also moving away from these legacy jets, leaving the Spanish Navy as the final operator. On the other hand, China’s Navy operates Shenyang J-15s and J-11s, but they are transitioning to more modern designs. France’s Rafale-M is another key player, also being adopted by India to update its fleet.
The Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II stands out as arguably the most capable carrier-based fighter jet globally. As the carrier variant of the F-35 family, it offers extended range and payload capacity compared to its STOVL counterpart, the F-35B. The U.S. Navy plans to acquire 273 of these advanced jets, solidifying its air superiority. Other nations like the UK, Italy, and soon Japan, also operate U.S. fighter jets from their carriers, underscoring America’s leading role in this field.
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Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
