Top 10: Most widely used fighter jets in 2026

Thousands of fighter jets are in active duty across the world’s air forces in 2026, from 5th-generation models like the F-35 to relics of the 1970s such as the Sukhoi Su-24.

The 2026 World Air Forces Directory has tracked a total of 14,074 active combat aircraft around the world. The most popular fighter jet in 2026 remains the F-16 Fighting Falcon, with over 2,100 aircraft in active service. The F-16 is followed by the Russian Su-27 family, with thousands of them active. Meanwhile, other models are flown in their hundreds.

Join us as we count down the top 10 most popular fighter jets in the world for 2026.

10. Sukhoi Su-25 – 371

Johannes Kraak / Shutterstock.comDeveloped in the Soviet Union and in service since 1981, the Sukhoi Su-25 Grach is the tenth most widely used fighter jet in the world in 2026. According to the 2026 World Air Forces Directory, a total of 371 are in active service.

The aircraft is currently used by former Soviet Union, Central Asian and African countries, including Belarus, Ukraine, among others. The biggest Su-25 fleet remains with the Russian Air Force, totaling 131 units. The aircraft is no longer in production. But up until 2017, Sukhoi produced approximately 1,300 Su-25s.

The Su-25 is widely used in Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine. Russia relies on the Su-25 for close air support. However, operating at low altitudes to target front-line positions makes the Su-25 highly vulnerable to man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), long-range surface-to-air missiles. It has suffered substantial losses for both Ukraine and Russian militaries.

9. Sukhoi Su-24 – 383

WikimediaKnown by its NATO reporting name of Fencer, the Su-24 was developed in the 1960s and took its first flight in 1967. Approximately 1,400 were produced between 1967 and 1993, and it remains in service with Syria, Ukraine, Algeria and several other forces.

Naturally, the biggest fleet is in Russia. The Russian Air Force flies 260 Su-24, while its naval arm has 36 for a total fleet size of 296. In the current Russia-Ukraine war, at least 39 of the type are thought to have been destroyed, 25 on the Ukrainian side and 14 from Russia.

The Su-24 is a supersonic fighter jet, with an unusual side-by-side crew seating arrangement. It has twin engines with afterburners and, like the F-14 Tomcat, uses variable sweep wings for efficient flying and takeoff. Its fixed armament is a single fast-firing GSh-6-23 cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition and either two or four R-60 infrared missiles are usually carried for self-defense.

8. Eurofighter Typhoon – 528

BAE SystemsThe Eurofighter Typhoon is a competent and versatile fighter with twin engines and a delta wing. Manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, it’s a modern fly-by-wire jet with a glass cockpit and two Eurojet EJ200 engines, each capable of providing up to 60 kN of dry thrust and >90 kN with afterburners.

European countries like Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK all have significant fleets of Typhoons in their stables. However, the type has also been exported, and is in service with Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

Unlike several aircraft on this list, the Typhoon is still in production. The 2026 World Air Forces Directory has tracked 528 in active service, putting this fighter jet in eighth place.

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7. Chengdu J-7/F-7 – 649

WikimediaManufactured for almost 50 years, from 1965 to 2013, more than 2,400 J-7s have been built. Constructed in China, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) still has the bulk of the active fleet, with 387 in service, plus 30 with the naval forces and three dozen as trainers.

The export version, known as the F-7, is in service with Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Pakistan, as well as several African forces. However, many of these are on the way out. North Korea reduced its J-7 fleet by 90 aircraft in 2024, and Pakistan completely removed its J-7s and is replacing them with newer Chinese-Pakistani JF-17s.

Does the J-7 look familiar? There’s a good reason for that. In the 1950s and early ‘60s, the Soviet Union shared a huge amount of technical documentation and intelligence with China. The results of this can be seen in the Shenyang J-6, which was engineered from the MiG-19. The Chinese were working on a re-engineering of the even more capable MiG-21 when relations between the two countries broke down and the J-7 project ground to a halt.

Unexpectedly, in 1962, Russia offered the technology transfer again, and allegedly delivered various parts, documentation and even completed aircraft to the Shenyang Aircraft Factory. However, the documentation was incomplete, and the Chinese designers had to reverse-engineer the aircraft.

The J-7 turned out looking quite similar to the MiG-21, but there are some differences. In particular, the hydraulic systems and internal fuel arrangements are different, and the cockpit was redesigned. But in terms of performance and appearance, there’s still a lot of the MiG in this Chinese fighter.

6. MiG-29 – 728

#image_titleThe Soviet answer to the F-16, the MiG-29 Fulcrum was a comparatively light and cheap fighter jet intended to supplement the heavier Su-27. It was exported across the globe and remains operational in many countries with past ties to the USSR. An estimated 1,600 have been put into service since production began in the early 1980s.

In the 2000s Russia developed an upgraded version of the jet, the MiG-35. However, it wasn’t successful, and just over a dozen were made. Meanwhile, the worldwide fleet of old MiG-29s continues to decline, as many Fulcrums are being retired, while others are being destroyed during international conflicts. Current estimates are that more than 40 have been destroyed in the war in Ukraine.

Major operators today include India with 101, Ukraine with 44 and Uzbekistan with 26. North Korea claims to have 26, but Russia is, of course, the biggest operator. The Air Force has 235 while the Navy has 18, giving Russia the world’s biggest fleet of MiG-29s at 254.

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5. McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet – 874

U.S. Navy photoDeveloped as a light carrier-based fighter and attack jet for the United States Navy, the F/A-18, also known simply as the F-18, was also exported to Australia, Canada, Spain, and other countries to be used as a regular fighter jet.

In the 1990s, a heavily upgraded version, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, was developed and is still in production. But the line is winding down. Boeing is completing its final orders of 37 F-18s for the US Navy and expects to close the St. Louis production line in 2027.

As many as 1,479 Hornets were produced, and more than half remain operational. Today, large fleets are operated by Canada, Finland, Spain, Kuwait and Switzerland, but the largest fleet is still at home in the US. The US Marine Corps has 132, while the US Navy has 471 for a total fleet size of 603.

4. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II – 883

MasterChaff / Shutterstock.comThe only fifth-generation fighter jet on this list, the F-35 was intended to replace earlier jets like the F-16 and the F/A-18 in various branches of the US military. It’s a successful export too, in service with air forces including Australia, Italy, the UK and South Korea. In line to take deliveries in the future are Canada, Singapore, Germany and Switzerland, among others.

Although groundbreaking in many ways, initially the F-35 had a number of problems, and its development grossly exceeded its budget. However, with problems ironed out, Lockheed Martin has continued to ramp up production of the aircraft, and is currently capable of producing 156 per year. The 1,000th aircraft was delivered in July 2024, according to Air and Space Forces.

The 2026 World Air Forces Directory lists 883 active F-35s globally, the majority of which fly with the US military. The USAF operates 305 active units, the Marine Corps has 137, and the Navy operates 55. More than 100 additional F-35s are dedicated to USAF training operations.

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3. McDonnell Douglas F-15 – 897

USAFNot just one of the most popular, the F-15 is considered the most successful fighter jet ever built. It scored more than 100 victories in air combat while never actually being shot down.

Of the original F-15 (A/B/C/D/J/DJ), 1,198 units were built between 1972 and 1997. Alongside this, the F-15E Strike Eagle was built from 1985 until 2017, with 435 units rolled out. But the F-15 is not done yet. The current iteration being manufactured is the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II.

The F-15EX Eagle II, badged as a Boeing plane since the merger with McDonnell Douglas, features advanced avionics, better weapon options, and innovative electronic warfare tools. It’s been ordered by the US, Japan, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The first combat-ready F-15EX Eagle II was delivered to the 123rd Fighter Squadron “Redhawks” of the 142nd Wing at Portland Air National Guard Base in Oregon on June 5, 2024. Boeing is currently producing around 1.5 aircraft per month, but hopes to elevate that to two aircraft a month in 2026.

2. Sukhoi Su-27 family – 1,299

WikimediaThe Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, developed in the Soviet Union as an answer to the F-15, was extremely popular and successful. It spawned a huge family, with Sukhoi continuing to produce upgraded versions such as the Su-30, the Su-34, and the Su-35, while China developed several home-grown copies such as the Shenyang J-11 and the J-16.

The original Su-27 was built from 1982 to 2010, and 680 were produced. Its sister aircraft, the Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35, are all still being manufactured, with as many as 1,000 units having been produced.

Out of the 1,600 or so aircraft produced, 1,299 remain active and in operation. Russia has the biggest fleet, with 407 in the Air Force and another 43 in the Navy. China has a sizable fleet too, with 319 in total. Many other nations operate this type, including Kazakhstan and Vietnam.

1. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon – 2,102

Initially developed as a cheaper and lighter counterpart to the F-15, the F-16 Fighting Falcon grew to become the most popular fighter jet in the world, with more than 4,600 produced to date.

Taking its first flight in 1974, it’s incredible that, 50 years later, the F-16 remains in use by more than 25 air forces worldwide. The USAF operates 691 of the type as combat aircraft and fleets of more than 100 aircraft fly for Egypt, Greece, Israel, Taiwan, Turkey, and South Korea.

As the old F-16s continue to be retired, new and upgraded versions enter production. Additionally, more and more countries keep ordering the aircraft. According to its current manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, F-16 production lines are at a very high capacity. The company has been forced to delay some deliveries.

A huge number of variants of the F-16 have been produced, with different iterations being specialized, often for a specific customer. Incremental improvements to engines, radars, avionics, and other functions have ensured this 1970s aircraft remains relevant and capable to this day, reflected in the fact it’s the most widely operated fighter jet in 2026.The post Top 10: Most widely used fighter jets in 2026 appeared first on AeroTime.

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