Hello everyone! Here's a list of combat role aircrafts which proved to be the enemy's deepest fears. But before going to the actual list, here are a few things which we consider in our list:-
1. North American P-51 Mustang
This legendary aircraft had a lead role in the WW II theater. Flying about 214,000 sorties, this aircraft alone claimed 4,950 air-to-air kills. The aircraft had a service ceiling of 12,000 m or about 42,000 ft, a maximum speed of 383 knots and a heavy maneuverability dodging enemy bullets. Surprisingly for that period, only 4 incidents of flight systems have been reported resulting in crash.
2. North American F-86 Sabre
The F-86, had it's role in more than a few wars. A low bypass fan jet this aircraft had a 2:1 kill ratio in the Korean war against the MiG-15s. Also, during the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, the Pakistani F-86 had a show, however, that show ain't much heroic as compared to the Korean Wars. In it's time, that is the 50's, it was, in fact one of the most feared jets. A service ceiling of 15,000 m and a top speed of 687 kn, this aircraft proved to be extremely maneuverable with a swept wing. There are no such major incidents of the F-86. However, in 1965, the Sabre was nothing in front of the Sabre-Slayer Folland Gnats of the the Indian Air Forces.
3. MiG-21 Fishbed
One of the "smoothest" and most praised aircrafts of all time. The MiG-21 had it's show in the 1971Indo-Pak war, the 1999 Kargil war, the Vietnam war, the Egypt-Syrian-Israeli conflict and many more. Almost every single time, the Fishbed proved to be heavy for the enemy. A service ceiling of 17,800 m and a top speed of Mach 2.0 made this plane a favorite of the Indian Air Force for a very long time. Pilots claimed it to be easy to learn and fly and extremely maneuverable giving it a superiority in dogfights. Even with a huge production scale and use, there are only a very few or only speculated incidents of flight system failure.
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4. BA Sea Harrier
This iconic aircraft had the capability to take off and land vertically. The VTOL allowed it to be extensively used on aircraft carriers, portraying it as a major player in the Falklands war, giving it a kill rate of 3.5:1. The aircraft has a range of 1,740 nmi, service ceiling of 16,000 m and a top speed of 635 kn. However, it's VTOL capability made it a horror for enemies, for it can easily take off from a small deck and execute strikes.
5. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Although rarely in air-to-air combat, the F-16s have effectively intercepted and neutralized boogies for it's operators. Extremely maneuverable and high speeds, the F-16s are one of those aircrafts you don't want to mess around an F-16 territory. A top speed of Mach 1.6 at sea level and Mach 2.0 at it's ceiling of 15,000+ m makes it a good interceptor.
6. Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog)
THIS... Is fear! A 30mm rotary cannon under it's nose! 11 hard points with various possibilities from bombs to missile, 381 kn of maximum speed and a 13,000 m ceiling. The Warthog is ideal for close air support. In it's long operation period, it did the job it was meant for and is so effective that it's operators find it difficult to find a replacement for the aging fleet.
7. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
Fast, stealthy, maneuverable, an ideal aircraft for air superiority. It is fear in the skies with a 221-0 kill ratio. A service ceiling of more than 20 km, a super-cruise of Mach 1.8 at sea level and Mach 2.25 at altitude, the F-22 is equipped with a 20mm rotary cannon in it's wing root and a 2.27 ton payload. It is not horror just for those in air, but also for those on ground.
8. Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
This iconic aircraft is one of a kind. Stealthy, quiet and fast, if a B2 decides to bomb you; you're probably dead before you hear the sound or see it on a radar screen. The B2 has a service ceiling of 15 km, a range of 11,000 km and a cruise speed of 481 kn. The 18 ton payload makes it terror for those at ground. However, once it is detected (which itself is the most difficult thing to do), there are many on this list which can easily shoot it down.
9. Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C
This Russian made aircraft is an extremely maneuverable air-superiority fighter. A 30 mm gun and the capacity to carry a nuclear weapon makes it dangerous for both air and land. The Indian MKI version of the Flanker can carry a BrahMos missile which is, as of today the fastest cruise missile on earth. The Su-30 has a service ceiling of 17.3 km and a top speed of Mach 2 at altitude, however, with a slightly bad service record.
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10. Eurofighter Typhoon
This European aircraft is an engineering marvel. It is designed to be aeronautically unstable to make it more agile in air. It has a top speed of Mach 2 and a service ceiling of 19.8 km. The 9 ton payload with a 27mm cannon makes it a horror for both air and land.
The above list is not ranked or sorted in any order. We just tried to put the most used aircrafts on the top and the new, advanced, and less used ones at the end. However, we cannot include every aircraft here. If you know any other "Terror of the skies", or you feel any entry or content is not worthy of being on this list, feel free to express your views in the comment section below.
Good Day.
- Service Ceiling : The maximum cruise altitude of the aircraft
- Speed : The maximum speed of the aircraft
- Maneuverability : The ability of an aircraft to dodge missiles
- Damage rate : Total property damage by individual aircraft
- Crash rate : Crashes due to system or engine failures in the aircraft
1. North American P-51 Mustang
This legendary aircraft had a lead role in the WW II theater. Flying about 214,000 sorties, this aircraft alone claimed 4,950 air-to-air kills. The aircraft had a service ceiling of 12,000 m or about 42,000 ft, a maximum speed of 383 knots and a heavy maneuverability dodging enemy bullets. Surprisingly for that period, only 4 incidents of flight systems have been reported resulting in crash.
The F-86, had it's role in more than a few wars. A low bypass fan jet this aircraft had a 2:1 kill ratio in the Korean war against the MiG-15s. Also, during the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, the Pakistani F-86 had a show, however, that show ain't much heroic as compared to the Korean Wars. In it's time, that is the 50's, it was, in fact one of the most feared jets. A service ceiling of 15,000 m and a top speed of 687 kn, this aircraft proved to be extremely maneuverable with a swept wing. There are no such major incidents of the F-86. However, in 1965, the Sabre was nothing in front of the Sabre-Slayer Folland Gnats of the the Indian Air Forces.
One of the "smoothest" and most praised aircrafts of all time. The MiG-21 had it's show in the 1971Indo-Pak war, the 1999 Kargil war, the Vietnam war, the Egypt-Syrian-Israeli conflict and many more. Almost every single time, the Fishbed proved to be heavy for the enemy. A service ceiling of 17,800 m and a top speed of Mach 2.0 made this plane a favorite of the Indian Air Force for a very long time. Pilots claimed it to be easy to learn and fly and extremely maneuverable giving it a superiority in dogfights. Even with a huge production scale and use, there are only a very few or only speculated incidents of flight system failure.
This iconic aircraft had the capability to take off and land vertically. The VTOL allowed it to be extensively used on aircraft carriers, portraying it as a major player in the Falklands war, giving it a kill rate of 3.5:1. The aircraft has a range of 1,740 nmi, service ceiling of 16,000 m and a top speed of 635 kn. However, it's VTOL capability made it a horror for enemies, for it can easily take off from a small deck and execute strikes.
Although rarely in air-to-air combat, the F-16s have effectively intercepted and neutralized boogies for it's operators. Extremely maneuverable and high speeds, the F-16s are one of those aircrafts you don't want to mess around an F-16 territory. A top speed of Mach 1.6 at sea level and Mach 2.0 at it's ceiling of 15,000+ m makes it a good interceptor.
THIS... Is fear! A 30mm rotary cannon under it's nose! 11 hard points with various possibilities from bombs to missile, 381 kn of maximum speed and a 13,000 m ceiling. The Warthog is ideal for close air support. In it's long operation period, it did the job it was meant for and is so effective that it's operators find it difficult to find a replacement for the aging fleet.
Fast, stealthy, maneuverable, an ideal aircraft for air superiority. It is fear in the skies with a 221-0 kill ratio. A service ceiling of more than 20 km, a super-cruise of Mach 1.8 at sea level and Mach 2.25 at altitude, the F-22 is equipped with a 20mm rotary cannon in it's wing root and a 2.27 ton payload. It is not horror just for those in air, but also for those on ground.
This iconic aircraft is one of a kind. Stealthy, quiet and fast, if a B2 decides to bomb you; you're probably dead before you hear the sound or see it on a radar screen. The B2 has a service ceiling of 15 km, a range of 11,000 km and a cruise speed of 481 kn. The 18 ton payload makes it terror for those at ground. However, once it is detected (which itself is the most difficult thing to do), there are many on this list which can easily shoot it down.
This Russian made aircraft is an extremely maneuverable air-superiority fighter. A 30 mm gun and the capacity to carry a nuclear weapon makes it dangerous for both air and land. The Indian MKI version of the Flanker can carry a BrahMos missile which is, as of today the fastest cruise missile on earth. The Su-30 has a service ceiling of 17.3 km and a top speed of Mach 2 at altitude, however, with a slightly bad service record.
This European aircraft is an engineering marvel. It is designed to be aeronautically unstable to make it more agile in air. It has a top speed of Mach 2 and a service ceiling of 19.8 km. The 9 ton payload with a 27mm cannon makes it a horror for both air and land.
The above list is not ranked or sorted in any order. We just tried to put the most used aircrafts on the top and the new, advanced, and less used ones at the end. However, we cannot include every aircraft here. If you know any other "Terror of the skies", or you feel any entry or content is not worthy of being on this list, feel free to express your views in the comment section below.
Good Day.
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