What is the fastest fighter jet on Earth?

Answer 1

Fastest Fighter Jet on Earth

• The fastest "true fighter" on Earth (meaning an aircraft that has weapons and the capability to shoot down other aircraft) is the Soviet/Russian MIG-25 Foxbat. It has, or rather had, a top speed of MACH 3.2. However it's not the absolute fastest aircraft, the absolute fastest "air-breathing" aircraft in the world is of course the famous SR-71 Blackbird. Who's top speed is STILL classified, but it is widely rumored to have been able to travel at well over MACH 3.5+.

• Going by the above definition of "true fighter" I would have to say that the somewhat obscure A-12, nearly identical to the SR-71, was designed to shoot down soviet bombers, was configured to fire missiles. Check it out!

• The fastest fighter jets in service (or ever used in service) are the MiG 31 "foxhound" or the MiG 25 "foxbat", which do look very similar. people get confused and call the SR-71 the fastest jet FIGHTER, when it is not a fighter plane, it is actually a surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft (that's what the "SR" stands for).

• Since the American SR 71 blackbird is only a strategic reconosance aircraft, the fastest fighter aircraft is the soviet Mig 25 foxbat which goes up to Mach 2.8
• The second answer is partially correct. There is an experimental fighter, almost identical to the SR-71 Black bird designated the A-12, which has firing capability, but is relatively useless. The A-12 had missiles, alright, but it couldn't aim them or lock on. It was still a reconnoisance aircraft with modifications for defending itself. Then they developed the YF-12 as an alternative, which has an AN/ASG-18 fire-control radar to shoot the missiles. Also, the YF-12 carried 2 passengers instead of 1, and had modifications to the fuselage.