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TOP TEN
> Top Ten US Jet Fighters |
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(Click photos to enlarge.) |
1. F-22 Raptor
A technological masterpiece, but each model comes
at an astronomical price. Lockheed Martin claims
the 5th-generation aircraft is the best overall
fighter in the world today. |
2. F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter
Almost as good as the F-22, but with a cheaper
price tag, the US Military has chosen the F-35 to
be the nation's premier aircraft through 2040. |
3. F-15 Strike Eagle
This fighter jet's high thrust-to-weight ratio
allows the craft to turn tightly without losing
speed. The F-15 proved its worth during Operation
Desert Storm by attacking targets deep in enemy
territory. |
4. F-16 Fighting Falcon
The F-16 is a true dogfighter designed to go up
against enemy aircraft in close combat. Though the
official name is "Fighting Falcon", pilots refer
to it as the "Viper", named after television's Battlestar Galactica starfighter. |
5. A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog)
Designed exclusively for close air support, this
"tank killer" features a seven-barrel Gatling-type
rotary cannon that can shred tanks. |
6. F/A-18 Hornet
The Super Hornet is a versatile craft that can
quickly change roles between dogfighting and
attacking ground targets. During the Gulf War, two
Hornets shot down two MiGs and still managed to
complete their bombing run. |
7. F-4 Phantom
The F-4 Phantom was a workhorse in the Vietnam War
and was still useful during the Gulf War. The
aircraft's emblem is a cartoon ghost called "The
Spook". |
8. F-14 Tomcat
The Tomcat features a variable-sweep wing and was
immortalized in the 1986 movie Top Gun starring
Tom Cruise. |
9. A/V-8B Harrier II
This awesome jet can land like a helicopter! |
10. F-117 Nighthawk
The first operational aircraft designed around
stealth technology, it was among the only US
aircraft to strike downtown Baghdad during the
Gulf War. |
