Top 10 Military Planes

they are the iron wings that rule the

they are the iron wings that rule the sky

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten military planes for this list we’re

military planes for this list we’re

military planes for this list we’re looking at the best of the best when it

looking at the best of the best when it

looking at the best of the best when it comes to fixed-wing aircraft that have

comes to fixed-wing aircraft that have

comes to fixed-wing aircraft that have been utilized primarily for a military

been utilized primarily for a military

been utilized primarily for a military application and our ranking our choices

application and our ranking our choices

application and our ranking our choices based on their design effectiveness and

based on their design effectiveness and

based on their design effectiveness and status as icons let the battle for air

status as icons let the battle for air

status as icons let the battle for air superiority commence number 10 the

superiority commence number 10 the

superiority commence number 10 the Lockheed Martin f-22 Raptor probably the

Lockheed Martin f-22 Raptor probably the

Lockheed Martin f-22 Raptor probably the most advanced fighter yet the Raptor is

most advanced fighter yet the Raptor is

most advanced fighter yet the Raptor is a multi-role fighter that boasts thrust

a multi-role fighter that boasts thrust

a multi-role fighter that boasts thrust vectoring and stealth technology giving

vectoring and stealth technology giving

vectoring and stealth technology giving it excellent handling and the ability to

it excellent handling and the ability to

it excellent handling and the ability to evade enemy radar systems however it’s

evade enemy radar systems however it’s

evade enemy radar systems however it’s been criticized as an expensive solution

been criticized as an expensive solution

been criticized as an expensive solution to a problem that doesn’t exist

to a problem that doesn’t exist

to a problem that doesn’t exist meaning it’s so far ahead of the

meaning it’s so far ahead of the

meaning it’s so far ahead of the competition that it has no competition

officially entering service for the US

officially entering service for the US Air Force in 2005 and finally used in

Air Force in 2005 and finally used in

Air Force in 2005 and finally used in combat in 2014 in the battle against the

combat in 2014 in the battle against the

combat in 2014 in the battle against the Islamic state the f-22 Raptor with its

Islamic state the f-22 Raptor with its

Islamic state the f-22 Raptor with its incredible abilities and exorbitant

incredible abilities and exorbitant

incredible abilities and exorbitant price tag makes our list with flying

price tag makes our list with flying

price tag makes our list with flying colors number 9 the Lockheed f-117

colors number 9 the Lockheed f-117

colors number 9 the Lockheed f-117 nighthawk although it’s one of the first

nighthawk although it’s one of the first

nighthawk although it’s one of the first stealth aircraft to be deployed on a

stealth aircraft to be deployed on a

stealth aircraft to be deployed on a large scale by the US military the

large scale by the US military the

large scale by the US military the Nighthawk is actually a bit of a

Nighthawk is actually a bit of a

Nighthawk is actually a bit of a misnomer the F designation suggests a

misnomer the F designation suggests a

misnomer the F designation suggests a fighter aircraft but it’s actually an

fighter aircraft but it’s actually an

fighter aircraft but it’s actually an attack plane meriting an a designation

attack plane meriting an a designation

attack plane meriting an a designation nonetheless the hawk makes our list not

nonetheless the hawk makes our list not

nonetheless the hawk makes our list not only for the groundbreaking stealth

only for the groundbreaking stealth

only for the groundbreaking stealth technology it introduced but also for

technology it introduced but also for

technology it introduced but also for the secrecy that surrounded the aircraft

the secrecy that surrounded the aircraft

the secrecy that surrounded the aircraft during its first years in action

during its first years in action

during its first years in action although it was retired in 2008 we

although it was retired in 2008 we

although it was retired in 2008 we remember it for its large bombing role

remember it for its large bombing role

remember it for its large bombing role in the Gulf War and it’s fierce good

in the Gulf War and it’s fierce good

in the Gulf War and it’s fierce good looks

looks

looks number 8 mccain goatee a bitch make 15

number 8 mccain goatee a bitch make 15

number 8 mccain goatee a bitch make 15 World War 2 had ended the Iron Curtain

World War 2 had ended the Iron Curtain

World War 2 had ended the Iron Curtain had descended and both the US and the

had descended and both the US and the

had descended and both the US and the USSR were scrambling to adopt the

USSR were scrambling to adopt the

USSR were scrambling to adopt the technology popularized by the Nazis the

technology popularized by the Nazis the

technology popularized by the Nazis the east beat the West to develop the jet

east beat the West to develop the jet

east beat the West to develop the jet fighter technology into an aircraft and

fighter technology into an aircraft and

fighter technology into an aircraft and this caused panic within the US Air

this caused panic within the US Air

this caused panic within the US Air Force

Force

Force the mig-15 was devastating to American

the mig-15 was devastating to American

the mig-15 was devastating to American fighters in the Korean War as the more

fighters in the Korean War as the more

fighters in the Korean War as the more powerful Jets design made them faster

powerful Jets design made them faster

powerful Jets design made them faster and more maneuverable than any propeller

and more maneuverable than any propeller

and more maneuverable than any propeller driven plane in the NATO Arsenal this

driven plane in the NATO Arsenal this

driven plane in the NATO Arsenal this forced the u.s. to redesign their Jets

forced the u.s. to redesign their Jets

forced the u.s. to redesign their Jets and launched the world into the era of

and launched the world into the era of

and launched the world into the era of jet-powered fighter planes number seven

jet-powered fighter planes number seven

jet-powered fighter planes number seven grumman f-14 tomcat

most people forget that the second

most people forget that the second largest air force in the world is the US

largest air force in the world is the US

largest air force in the world is the US Navy and from the late 70s to the 2000s

Navy and from the late 70s to the 2000s

Navy and from the late 70s to the 2000s the Tomcat was their go-to jet conceived

the Tomcat was their go-to jet conceived

the Tomcat was their go-to jet conceived as a long-range interceptor to protect

as a long-range interceptor to protect

as a long-range interceptor to protect the aircraft carriers it launched from

the aircraft carriers it launched from

the aircraft carriers it launched from its variable-sweep wing and twin tail

its variable-sweep wing and twin tail

its variable-sweep wing and twin tail design not only added to its sleek look

design not only added to its sleek look

design not only added to its sleek look but also its stability at speeds

but also its stability at speeds

but also its stability at speeds exceeding twice the speed of sound

exceeding twice the speed of sound

exceeding twice the speed of sound retired in 2006 the Tomcat starred

retired in 2006 the Tomcat starred

retired in 2006 the Tomcat starred alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun and we

alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun and we

alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun and we remember it for its Hollywood good looks

remember it for its Hollywood good looks

remember it for its Hollywood good looks as well as its impressive specs number

as well as its impressive specs number

as well as its impressive specs number six the mcdonnell douglas f-4 phantom ii

six the mcdonnell douglas f-4 phantom ii

six the mcdonnell douglas f-4 phantom ii it’s sharp wing design and two enormous

it’s sharp wing design and two enormous

it’s sharp wing design and two enormous ly powerful engines made this jet a

ly powerful engines made this jet a

ly powerful engines made this jet a force to be reckoned with introduced in

force to be reckoned with introduced in

force to be reckoned with introduced in 1960 and making a name for itself in the

1960 and making a name for itself in the

1960 and making a name for itself in the Vietnam War the f4 phantom was at one

Vietnam War the f4 phantom was at one

Vietnam War the f4 phantom was at one point used by three different branches

point used by three different branches

point used by three different branches of the US military the Air Force the

of the US military the Air Force the

of the US military the Air Force the Navy and the Marine Corps it tested the

Navy and the Marine Corps it tested the

Navy and the Marine Corps it tested the use of missile technology and after a

use of missile technology and after a

use of missile technology and after a short period of trial and error the

short period of trial and error the

short period of trial and error the phantom went on to become one of the

phantom went on to become one of the

phantom went on to become one of the most versatile high-flying

most versatile high-flying

most versatile high-flying and lethal jets in US history and at the

and lethal jets in US history and at the

and lethal jets in US history and at the time one of the fastest

number five the Lockheed sr-71 blackbird

number five the Lockheed sr-71 blackbird with international tensions at a boiling

with international tensions at a boiling

with international tensions at a boiling point in the 1960s the need for a

point in the 1960s the need for a

point in the 1960s the need for a surveillance plane capable of safely

surveillance plane capable of safely

surveillance plane capable of safely flying reconnaissance became clear and

flying reconnaissance became clear and

flying reconnaissance became clear and present this led to the development of

present this led to the development of

present this led to the development of the Blackbird a jet which under ideal

the Blackbird a jet which under ideal

the Blackbird a jet which under ideal circumstances could fly upwards of

circumstances could fly upwards of

circumstances could fly upwards of 85,000 feet in altitude and faster than

85,000 feet in altitude and faster than

85,000 feet in altitude and faster than Mach 3 holding the world record for the

Mach 3 holding the world record for the

Mach 3 holding the world record for the fastest plane ever built the

fastest plane ever built the

fastest plane ever built the impressiveness of the sr-71 is unmatched

impressiveness of the sr-71 is unmatched

impressiveness of the sr-71 is unmatched though it’s being replaced by unmanned

though it’s being replaced by unmanned

though it’s being replaced by unmanned aerial vehicles or drones the Blackbird

aerial vehicles or drones the Blackbird

aerial vehicles or drones the Blackbird could make our list on Pierce statistics

could make our list on Pierce statistics

could make our list on Pierce statistics alone luckily it’s also one of the

alone luckily it’s also one of the

alone luckily it’s also one of the best-looking

number four the McDonnell Douglas f-15

number four the McDonnell Douglas f-15 Eagle the bread and butter of the US Air

Eagle the bread and butter of the US Air

Eagle the bread and butter of the US Air Force the Eagle is considered one of if

Force the Eagle is considered one of if

Force the Eagle is considered one of if not the most successful contemporary

not the most successful contemporary

not the most successful contemporary fighter with a record of over 100

fighter with a record of over 100

fighter with a record of over 100 victories debuting in 1976 its

victories debuting in 1976 its

victories debuting in 1976 its maneuverability and impressive top speed

maneuverability and impressive top speed

maneuverability and impressive top speed of Mach 2.7 make it one of the most

of Mach 2.7 make it one of the most

of Mach 2.7 make it one of the most formatively performing jets ever as well

formatively performing jets ever as well

formatively performing jets ever as well it proved its durability in 1983 when on

it proved its durability in 1983 when on

it proved its durability in 1983 when on an Israeli training mission one f15

an Israeli training mission one f15

an Israeli training mission one f15 suffered a mid-air collision and was

suffered a mid-air collision and was

suffered a mid-air collision and was able to land with only one wing I don’t

able to land with only one wing I don’t

able to land with only one wing I don’t think any other aircraft could have

think any other aircraft could have

think any other aircraft could have taken that amount of damage or that

taken that amount of damage or that

taken that amount of damage or that portion of its its flight surfaces

portion of its its flight surfaces

portion of its its flight surfaces remove it and continue to bring us home

remove it and continue to bring us home

remove it and continue to bring us home safely representative of the US Air

safely representative of the US Air

safely representative of the US Air Force’s might the eagle boasts an

Force’s might the eagle boasts an

Force’s might the eagle boasts an impressively long service record and has

impressively long service record and has

impressively long service record and has not yet lost its edge

not yet lost its edge

not yet lost its edge number three the Supermarine Spitfire

first flown in the late 1930s the

first flown in the late 1930s the high-performance interceptor Spitfire

high-performance interceptor Spitfire

high-performance interceptor Spitfire has been one of the most well known

has been one of the most well known

has been one of the most well known aircraft since its saw combat in the

aircraft since its saw combat in the

aircraft since its saw combat in the Battle of Britain however this plane is

Battle of Britain however this plane is

Battle of Britain however this plane is not famous for its impressive

not famous for its impressive

not famous for its impressive performance statistics but rather for

performance statistics but rather for

performance statistics but rather for the men of the Royal Air Force who

the men of the Royal Air Force who

the men of the Royal Air Force who bravely flew while holding the line in

bravely flew while holding the line in

bravely flew while holding the line in one of history’s darkest hours

one of history’s darkest hours

one of history’s darkest hours the Spitfire has come to symbolize

the Spitfire has come to symbolize

the Spitfire has come to symbolize Britain’s defiance against the Nazis

Britain’s defiance against the Nazis

Britain’s defiance against the Nazis advance and it’s remembered for being

advance and it’s remembered for being

advance and it’s remembered for being evocative of the quote by Winston

evocative of the quote by Winston

evocative of the quote by Winston Churchill never was so much been owed by

Churchill never was so much been owed by

Churchill never was so much been owed by so many to so few

so many to so few

so many to so few number two North American p-51 Mustang

number two North American p-51 Mustang

number two North American p-51 Mustang the Mustang was rushed into production

the Mustang was rushed into production

the Mustang was rushed into production in the middle of the Second World War

in the middle of the Second World War

in the middle of the Second World War and proved itself an admirable fighter

and proved itself an admirable fighter

and proved itself an admirable fighter in that conflict and later ones like the

in that conflict and later ones like the

in that conflict and later ones like the Korean War serving less as a defensive

Korean War serving less as a defensive

Korean War serving less as a defensive fighter in World War two than another

fighter in World War two than another

fighter in World War two than another war plane like the Spitfire the Mustang

war plane like the Spitfire the Mustang

war plane like the Spitfire the Mustang became the fighter plane to fear as it

became the fighter plane to fear as it

became the fighter plane to fear as it flew escort for long-range bombing

flew escort for long-range bombing

flew escort for long-range bombing missions deep into Nazi airspace it was

missions deep into Nazi airspace it was

missions deep into Nazi airspace it was so remarkable even to its enemy then

so remarkable even to its enemy then

so remarkable even to its enemy then when reichsmarschall Hermann Goering saw

when reichsmarschall Hermann Goering saw

when reichsmarschall Hermann Goering saw them flying above Berlin in 1944 he

them flying above Berlin in 1944 he

them flying above Berlin in 1944 he remarked that the war was over

remarked that the war was over

remarked that the war was over and that Germany had lost before we fly

and that Germany had lost before we fly

and that Germany had lost before we fly off with our top pick here are some

off with our top pick here are some

off with our top pick here are some honorable mentions number one the Boeing

honorable mentions number one the Boeing

honorable mentions number one the Boeing b-52 stratofortress while most of the

b-52 stratofortress while most of the

b-52 stratofortress while most of the planes on this list were built to fight

planes on this list were built to fight

planes on this list were built to fight wars this bomber was built to enzym

wars this bomber was built to enzym

wars this bomber was built to enzym developed in the late 40s early 50s

developed in the late 40s early 50s

developed in the late 40s early 50s this massive superstructure of a plane

this massive superstructure of a plane

this massive superstructure of a plane which needs eight turbojet engines to

which needs eight turbojet engines to

which needs eight turbojet engines to fly was constructed to carry nuclear

fly was constructed to carry nuclear

fly was constructed to carry nuclear weapons in the event of all-out nuclear

weapons in the event of all-out nuclear

weapons in the event of all-out nuclear war meaning it was a crucial piece of

war meaning it was a crucial piece of

war meaning it was a crucial piece of Cold War machinery

inducted into the US Air Force in 1955

inducted into the US Air Force in 1955 it’s also one of the longest serving

it’s also one of the longest serving

it’s also one of the longest serving planes ever and has come to symbolize

planes ever and has come to symbolize

planes ever and has come to symbolize aerial warfare this plane makes number 1

aerial warfare this plane makes number 1

aerial warfare this plane makes number 1 based on scale and firepower alone plus

based on scale and firepower alone plus

based on scale and firepower alone plus it has one badass nicknamed the buff or

it has one badass nicknamed the buff or

it has one badass nicknamed the buff or big ugly fat

big ugly fat

big ugly fat [Music]

do you agree with our list which planes

do you agree with our list which planes did you think should have flown higher

did you think should have flown higher

did you think should have flown higher on our list for more top tens about top

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