What are the most beautiful military aircraft?

Are you passionate about military aviation? Military fighter jets are among the most powerful in the world. Designed to achieve outstanding performance, military aircraft boast unique, combat-resistant features.

Every country has its own air force and powerful aircraft. Armies are only as strong as their air force: the better the aircraft, the better the army!

Airbus A400M Atlas, Mirage 2000D and F22 Raptor: these are the world's most powerful military aircraft!

The different types of military aircraft

Military fighter planes

Military f ighter jets are indispensable to the armed forces. First introduced during the First World War, military fighter jets were designed to intercept opposing aircraft in flight, giving armies control of the skies above them. Fighter jets are also known as fighters or air supremacy aircraft. Fighter aircraft have evolved over the course of the world wars.

Supersonic fighter jets were developed in the 50s to reach twice the speed of sound. Today's military fighter jets are extremely powerful and efficient.

Read our article on the speed of fighter jets!

Military transport and supply aircraft

Military transport and supply aircraft are used to transport people and goods. They are designed to take off and land on short, rudimentary runways. Some military transport aircraft also offer parachute airdrops.

Military training aircraft

Military training aircraft are used to train future Air Force and Space Force pilots. These small aircraft are rarely used on the battlefield: they have a real learning value.

Military interceptor aircraft

Military interceptors were originally fighter aircraft. However, they were designed to stop enemy aircraft before they reached their target. They can also be used to destroy enemy bombers. Used extensively during the Second World War, they are less essential today.

Military aircraft of the French Air and Space Force

You may know this, but the French Air and Space Force is one of the most powerful air forces in the world. It's also the oldest! In fact, France was the first country to acquire military aircraft. It has had them since 1909, and the first squadrons were created in 1912. At the time, the five squadrons were part of the French Army. The law of July 2, 1934 marked the creation of the Armée de l'Air as a fully-fledged army.

The Armée de l'air was renamed the Armée de l'air et de l'espace on September 11, 2020.

Airbus A330 Phénix: the new high-performance aircraft

The Airbus A330 Phénix is a military refueling aircraft. This exceptional aircraft was designed specifically to meet the needs of the French Air Force and space forces: 110-ton fuel capacity, Morphée (reanimation module) capability, two refueling pods... as well as a high-performance camera system.

France plans to add fifteen Airbus A330 Phénix to its fleet by 2028.

Airbus A400M Atlas: exceptional power!

TheAirbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft has exceptional capabilities! It features modern equipment, upgradable avionics and excellent connectivity. These features enable it to carry out high-risk missions in hostile conditions. This versatile aircraft boasts 11,600 horsepower per engine.

Versatile, it can project faster and farther than its predecessors, making it an excellent military airdrop aircraft.

Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules: a quadroturboprop!

The Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules is a dual-purpose military aircraft: it's both a tactical airlifter and an assault airlifter. It's a powerful four-engine turboprop with an 8-hour flight range and a 19-ton payload.

This military aircraft, designed in the 1990s, has proven its reliability in armies around the world.

Mirage 2000 D: an excellent fighter aircraft

It's impossible to list the best military aircraft in France without mentioning the Mirage 2000 D from French manufacturer Dassault! This excellent fighter is one of the best in the world, and has served in numerous conflicts. Its capabilities are regularly upgraded to make it a fully-featured, operational military aircraft.

The Mirage 2000 D is specialized for ground attack missions, thanks to its ability to track terrain at low altitude and high speed. This military fighter is a must-have for any good army!

Pilatus PC-21: the new training aircraft

All pilots entering Air Force and Space Force training use the Pilatus PC-21 for their apprenticeship. This new military training aircraft is very recent, having been designed in 2018. Its modern performance means that training for trainees and new pilots can be shortened, as its environment is so similar to that of military aircraft.

Rafale F4: a fighter with an exceptional strike capability

The latest Rafale F4 military fighter has an incredible strike capability like no other. This powerful aircraft has a number of assets that are constantly being improved: Scorpion helmet sights, excellent Radar, improved SPECTRA, but also a maximum speed of 1.8 Mach (1.8 times the speed of sound)!

The Rafale F4 military aircraft isone of the best fighters owned by the French Air and Space Force.

The most beautiful military aircraft in foreign armies

Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor

While the Rafale F4 is the most versatile fighter, the Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor military fighter is the most powerful fighter in the air! Developed by the USA, this fighter has a maximum flight speed of 2.25 Mach or 2,410 km/h... 2.25 times faster than the speed of sound!

Unfortunately, the Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor is no longer in production, making it impossible for armies to acquire a new one.

Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet

The American Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter is the successor to the superb McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter. Used by theUS Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, this new-generation fighter has similar strength and power to the Rafale F4, with a maximum speed of 1.8 Mach.

Despite this, Boeing has announced that it will end production of the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet by 2027.

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

Designed in the 1970s in the United States, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter is a so-called air superiority aircraft. This powerful aircraft is very popular, and is used by many of the world's armies. Its flight speed can reach 2.5 Mach, i.e. 2.5 times the speed of sound! It isone of the fastest fighter jets in the world.

A similar fighter, specialized for ground attacks, was also designed by the manufacturer: theF-15 Strike Eagle fighter.

Mitsubishi F-2

The Mitsubishi F-2 is an excellent fighter designed in Japan. It is a multi-role, multi-purpose fighter that proves its power through speed and maneuverability. It's an excellent fighter that has been used in many of the world's conflicts, including the Iraq war. Its top speed is 1.9 Mach (i.e. a flight speed almost twice the speed of sound!).

It's also known as Viper Zero: its pilots are called F-2 charmers and are likened to snake charmers.

MIG-31 BM

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-31 fighter is a military aircraft manufactured in Russia. It is a supersonic interceptor famous for its exceptional "look-down shoot-down" radar, capable of detecting and firing at flying targets. It is one of the world's fastest interceptors, with a flight speed of up to 2.83 Mach (3200 km/h). An excellent fighter aircraft.

Only Russia and Kazakhstan have Mikoyan-Gurevitch MIG-31s in their air forces.

Want to know which is the most powerful army in the world? Read our dedicated article!

How can I join the French Air and Space Force?

The recruitment process for joining the French Air and Space Force varies according to your level of education and the profession you are aiming for. However, you must be a French citizen, have completed your Journée Défense et Citoyenneté (JDC), be of a certain minimum age, and provide a swimming test. If you meet these conditions, you can apply to join the French Air and Space Force and become a fighter pilot!

The recruitment process is generally organized as follows:

1. Visit a recruitment center or the Air and Space Force headquarters
2. Assessment tests
3. File review
4. If your application is accepted, you can start your training!

Visit the Air and Space Force recruitment website regularly to keep up to date with recruitment procedures.

Read our article onjoining the French Army! If you're ambitious and want to progress quickly, discover the military ranks of the French Armed Forces.

Discover our article on the world's most beautiful military helicopters!