Despite possessing the largest armada of military aircraft in the world, the United States has never relied on numbers alone to guarantee air superiority. Instead, American defense strategy has consistently emphasized qualitative dominance—ensuring that its aircraft, pilots, sensors, and networks outperform any potential adversary. In the modern era, that philosophy has manifested most clearly in the overwhelming focus on stealth fighter jets, advanced avionics, and network-centric warfare.
Today, the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps collectively operate the most advanced and diverse combat aviation fleet ever assembled. Not only are American warplanes tactically superior to those of any rival, but they also exist in far greater numbers that are combat-ready at any given moment. While China and Russia have made significant strides in developing their own stealth fighters, neither has yet matched the scale, maturity, or operational integration achieved by the United States.
According to data compiled by World Population Review, the United States fields more military aircraft than any other nation on Earth. Its defense budget alone exceeds that of the next four of the world’s top five military spenders combined. This enormous financial commitment translates directly into research, development, training, maintenance, and—critically—availability. Aircraft are only as useful as their readiness rates, and this is an area where the U.S. maintains a decisive advantage.
An April 2025 study reported to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) underscored the imbalance in global defense spending. The top five military spenders—the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India—account for roughly 60% of all defense expenditure worldwide. While China and Russia command significant resources, the United States remains in a league of its own, able to fund multiple parallel development programs while sustaining large operational fleets across the globe.
Russia is often described as America’s closest near-peer adversary in air power, but the gap between the two has widened considerably. Sanctions, industrial bottlenecks, and limited access to advanced components have slowed Russian aerospace programs, while U.S. production lines continue to deliver aircraft at scale. The result is a stark imbalance in both quantity and quality.
At the highest end of the spectrum, the world’s most capable fighter jets are concentrated in the hands of just a few air forces. The modern contest for air superiority has effectively become a race to assemble the largest and most capable fleet of fifth-generation stealth fighters, even as development of sixth-generation systems accelerates.
Japan stands out as a notable outlier among U.S. allies. It is the second-largest operator of the F-35 Lightning II outside the United States, reflecting Tokyo’s strategic assessment that air superiority will be decisive in any future conflict in the Indo-Pacific. South Korea, Australia, and several European states are following similar paths, building fleets centered on American stealth aircraft while modernizing their supporting forces.
Europe, meanwhile, made a conscious decision in the 1990s and early 2000s not to pursue a domestic fifth-generation stealth fighter. Instead, countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway opted to procure the F-35 to handle stealth-critical missions. Indigenous programs like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale continued in parallel, optimized for air policing, interception, and non-stealth strike missions. This “high–low mix” has allowed European air forces to maintain capability while deferring the enormous costs of developing a stealth aircraft from scratch.
To fully appreciate modern air power, it is essential to understand how fighter aircraft are categorized by generation—a framework used across the global defense industry. Each generation reflects major technological leaps rather than strict timelines.
First-generation fighters, emerging in the immediate aftermath of World War II, were simple turbojet aircraft without radar, reliant entirely on visual dogfighting and machine guns. Icons like the American F-86 Sabre and the Soviet MiG-15 defined this era.
Second-generation fighters introduced radar, early air-to-air missiles, and sustained supersonic flight. The MiG-21 became the most widely produced jet fighter in history, symbolizing this shift.
Third-generation aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II brought true multirole capability, improved maneuverability, and more sophisticated missile systems, allowing fighters to dominate both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Fourth-generation fighters, including the F-15 Eagle and Su-27 Flanker, represented a dramatic leap in agility and situational awareness. Fly-by-wire controls, pulse-Doppler radar, and head-up displays transformed air combat.
The so-called 4.5-generation comprises upgraded fourth-generation airframes fitted with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, advanced data links, and reduced radar signatures. Aircraft like the Eurofighter Typhoon and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet remain among the most capable non-stealth fighters in service today.
Fifth-generation fighters marked a revolution. Platforms such as the F-22 Raptor introduced all-aspect stealth, internal weapons bays, supercruise, and deep sensor fusion, allowing pilots to see and strike adversaries long before being detected.
Sixth-generation systems, now in development, promise even greater change. Artificial intelligence assistance, loyal wingman drones, directed-energy weapons, and advanced digital cloaking are expected to redefine how air combat is conducted.
The United States remains the only nation operating a mature, dual-fleet fifth-generation force. The F-22 Raptor serves as the world’s premier air dominance fighter, while the F-35 Lightning II functions as a multirole strike aircraft optimized for networked warfare.
The F-35 program, managed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, is the largest defense project in American history. It eclipses historic efforts such as the Manhattan Project, the B-29 Superfortress, and even the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber in terms of total investment. Crucially, the F-35 is the first stealth fighter produced in truly large numbers.
Currently, roughly one-third of the U.S. tactical fighter fleet consists of fifth-generation aircraft—and that proportion is still rising. Less than half of all planned F-35s have been delivered, meaning the fleet will continue to grow well into the 2030s.
American fifth-generation jets do far more than simply fly and fight. They function as nodes in a vast data network, sharing targeting and sensor information with other aircraft, ships, satellites, and ground forces. In combat, F-22s and F-35s penetrate contested airspace, detect and designate targets, and pass that information to fourth- and 4.5-generation aircraft acting as “missile trucks.” Modernized F-15EX and F-16 fighters, carrying large weapons loads, then engage targets identified by stealth platforms operating ahead of them.
While fifth-generation fighters emphasize stealth and sensor fusion, sixth-generation systems aim to dominate the entire battlespace. The U.S. Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program represents a fundamental shift away from the idea of a single aircraft. Instead, NGAD is conceived as a family of systems—manned fighters, autonomous drones, sensors, and weapons—designed to operate seamlessly together.
In 2025, Boeing was awarded the contract for the manned NGAD fighter, now designated the F-47. Intended primarily for operations across the vast distances of the Pacific, the aircraft is expected to feature extreme range, enormous electrical power generation, and deep integration with autonomous “loyal wingman” drones. These drones will extend the fighter’s sensors, carry weapons, and absorb risk in the most dangerous parts of the battlespace.
Europe’s absence from the fifth-generation race has sharpened its focus on sixth-generation development. Two major projects are underway. The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), led by France with Germany and Spain, is designed as a “combat cloud,” integrating fighters, drones, satellites, and command systems. However, political and industrial disagreements—particularly over cost sharing and intellectual property—have slowed progress.
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), involving the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, aims to produce a large, long-range fighter optimized for massive electrical output to support advanced sensors, electronic warfare, and potentially laser weapons. GCAP’s designers emphasize digital architecture and AI integration, seeking to surpass even the F-35 in networking sophistication.
European aircraft already excel in certain areas. The French Rafale’s SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, for example, does not make the aircraft invisible to radar, but it jams and deceives enemy sensors so effectively that survivability can approach that of stealth designs. Europe’s approach emphasizes active electronic warfare, while the U.S. traditionally prioritizes passive stealth shaping.
European fighters also benefit from integration with Western-standard weapons, notably the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, widely regarded as the most capable of its class in the world.
China represents the most serious long-term challenge to American air dominance. Beijing’s strategy has evolved from territorial defense to power projection deep into the Pacific. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is now the only force besides the United States to mass-produce a stealth fighter: the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon.
Estimates suggest China has produced more than 300 J-20s, likely surpassing Russia’s total stealth fleet. The J-20 continues to evolve, with improved engines, sensors, and networking capabilities. China also operates the world’s largest fleet of Flanker derivatives, including the J-11 and J-16, which serve as powerful 4.5-generation “missile trucks” supporting stealth operations.
China’s Chengdu J-10 fills a role similar to the American F-16: a highly agile, single-engine multirole fighter. Meanwhile, the JF-17 Block III—developed with Pakistan—offers advanced avionics and helmet-mounted displays at a relatively low cost, making it a potent option for nations unable to afford top-tier aircraft.
Looking ahead, China is flight-testing at least two sixth-generation demonstrators. The tailless, triple-engine J-36 emphasizes speed, altitude, and stealth, while the Shenyang J-50 appears optimized for broadband stealth and deep drone integration. Both point toward a Chinese ambition to field operational sixth-generation systems by the mid-2030s.
Russia remains a formidable air power, particularly in specialized roles such as high-speed interception and extreme maneuverability. However, by 2026, the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) increasingly trail both the United States and China in the production of modern fifth-generation aircraft.
The Su-57 Felon, Russia’s flagship stealth fighter, has been produced in very limited numbers—believed to be in the low tens. Sanctions have restricted access to critical components, forcing the Russian industry to adapt under difficult conditions. Recent integration of the AL-51 engine is intended to unlock full fifth-generation performance, including improved supercruise and reduced infrared signature.
Russia’s future ambitions center on the MiG-41, a proposed sixth-generation interceptor designed to replace the MiG-31 Foxhound. Claimed performance includes speeds exceeding Mach 4, near-space operating altitudes, and anti-satellite capabilities. Whether such claims can be realized remains uncertain.
In practice, the VKS relies on a high–low mix dominated by heavily modernized Soviet-era designs. Aircraft such as the Su-35S, Su-30SM2, and Su-34M feature advanced avionics, AESA or advanced PESA radars, and exceptional maneuverability, but they lack the full stealth and networking advantages of Western fifth-generation fleets.
Despite extraordinary technological advances, many air power theorists argue that the most critical system in any fighter jet remains the pilot. Training, experience, and decision-making still determine outcomes in the air. However, modern technology dramatically enhances what pilots can achieve.
The 21st century battlespace is defined by information dominance. Stealth, sensor fusion, AI-assisted decision-making, and autonomous drones have transformed the sky into a complex, contested domain. Pilots today manage vast streams of data while coordinating with unmanned systems and joint forces across multiple domains.
Ultimately, air power supremacy is no longer just about speed or maneuverability. It is about integration—of platforms, networks, and people. In that integrated ecosystem, the United States continues to hold a decisive edge, even as rivals race to close the gap.
