Top 5 Multirole Fighter Jets in Active Service

In recent years, multirole fighters have significantly advanced in design, technology, combat capabilities, and mission readiness. Whether it is an active dogfight, a surveillance task, or a low-level reconnaissance mission, multirole fighters are called for the job. This article explores some of the best multi-role combat planes in active service.

5

Saab JAS 39 Gripen

Service entry: 1996

• Crew: 1 JAS 39C / 2 JAS 39D
• Length: 14.9 m (48 ft 11 in) JAS 39C
• Wingspan: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
• Height: 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in
• Max takeoff weight: 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 3,000 L (790 US gal) (2340 kg) (internal); 3,500 L (920 US gal) (2730 kg) (external)
• Powerplant: 1x Volvo RM12 afterburning turbofan engine, 54 kN (12,000 lbf) thrust dry, 80.5 kN (18,100 lbf) with afterburner
• Maximum speed: Mach 2 (2,100 km/h; 1,300 mph; 1,100 kn) at 15,240 m
• Combat range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 NM)
• Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)

Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a single-engine multi-role combat fighter designed and developed by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The delta-wing and canard-configuration aircraft performed its first flight in December 1988 and was introduced into service with the Swedish Air Force in 1996. As of December 2023, more than 300 examples of the JAS 39 have been produced.

Photo: Steam Visuals | Shutterstock

The Saab JAS 39 is used for a variety of missions, most importantly for reconnaissance missions. In 2013, the Swedish government approved the order of 60 JAS 39E to be delivered between 2018 and 2027. In 2019, the Swedish defense advisory recommended a plan to keep the JAS 39 C/Ds active until at least 2025. Today, most JAS 39s are active worldwide, with at least 120 (60 JAS 39 C/D and 60 JAS 39E) maintained and operated by the Swedish Air Force.

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4

Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet

Entry into service: 1999

• Crew: F/A-18E: 1 (pilot), F/A-18F: 2 (pilot and weapon systems officer)
• Length: 60 ft 1.25 in (18.31 m)
• Wingspan: 44 ft 8.5 in (13.62 m)
• Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
• Max takeoff weight: 66,000 lb (29,937 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F414-400 turbofans, 13,000 lbf (58 kN) thrust each dry, 22,000 lbf (98 kN) with afterburner
• Maximum speed: 1,030 kn (1,190 mph, 1,915 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Combat range: 444 nmi (511 mi, 822 km) Service ceiling: 52,300 ft (15,940 m)

Derived from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Super Hornet, the series features a single-seat or a tandem-seat carrier-based multirole fighter. The initial variant made its first flight in 1995 and was introduced to the US Navy service in 1999. The Super Hornet is powered by two General Electric F414 turbofan engines, each producing 22,000 lbf (98 kN) of thrust with afterburners.

Photo: USN

The aircraft is capable of carrying a rotary cannon as well as air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. According to Boeing,

“Two versions of the Super Hornet – the single-seat E model and the two-seat F model – are able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.”

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3

Eurofighter Typhoon

Entry into service: 2003

• Crew: 1 or 2
• Length: 15.96 m (52 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 10.95 m (35 ft 11 in)
• Height: 5.28 m (17 ft 4 in)
• Max takeoff weight: 23,500 kg (51,809 lb)
• Powerplant: 2x Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, 60 kN (13,000 lbf) thrust each dry, 90 kN (20,000 lbf) with afterburner
• Maximum speed: 2,125 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,147 kn)
• Combat range: 1,389 km (863 mi, 750 nmi) Service ceiling: 19,812 m (65,000 ft)

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the world’s most advanced swing-role combat aircraft. Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo came together to develop this Mach 2 aircraft that performed its first flight in March 1994 and entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 2003. Two Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines power the aircraft, with each generating 20,000 lbf (90 kN) thrust with afterburners.

Photo: Matthew Troke | Shutterstock

The highly agile aircraft is designed to serve as an effective dogfighter in combat missions. Later production aircraft are designed to be compatible with a wide range of new-technology armaments. The aircraft can undertake air-to-surface strike missions. With many European and Middle Eastern air forces, the Typhoon assumes the responsibility of air-defense duties.

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2

Dassault Rafale

Entry into service: May 2001

• Crew: 1 or 2
• Length: 15.27 m (50 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 10.90 m (35 ft 9 in)
• Height: 5.34 m (17 ft 6 in)
• Max takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (54,013 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Snecma M88-4e turbofans, 50.04 kN (11,250 lbf) thrust each dry, 75 kN (17,000 lbf) with afterburner
• Maximum speed: 1,912 km/h (1,188 mph, 1,032 kn)
• Combat range: 1,850 km (1,150 mi, 1,000 NM)
• Service ceiling: 15,835 m (51,952 ft)

As a result of the disagreements over design and production responsibilities, France pulled out of the Eurofighter consortium and designed its own multirole aircraft, Dassault Rafale. The twin-engine fighter jet is equipped with a wide range of weapons. Two Snecma M88 turbofan engines power the Dassault Rafale, each generating up to 17,000 lbf (75 kN) thrust with afterburners.

Photo: Dassault

Referred to as an Omnirole “4.5th-generation” aircraft, it is capable of performing air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions. Apart from the European nations, a handful of Asian and Middle Eastern air forces, including the Indian Air Force, Indonesian Air Force, Qatari Air Force, and the United Arab Emirates Air Force operate the jet.

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1

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Entry into service: 2015

• Crew: 1
• Length: 51.4 ft (15.7 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft (11 m)
• Height: 14.4 ft (4.4 m)
• Max takeoff weight: 65,918 lb (29,900 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 l turbofan, 28,000 lbf (125 kN) thrust dry, 43,000 lbf (191 kN) with afterburner
• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 at high altitude
• Combat range: 669 nmi (770 mi, 1,239 km) Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is part of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program to replace a wide range of fighter, strike, and ground attack aircraft. Capable of strengthening national security, enhancing partnerships among allies, and powering economic growth. According to Lockheed Martin,

“The F-35 delivers an unrivaled advantage for our pilots, nation, and global partners as the most advanced node in the networked 21st Century Security vision. The F-35 is the National Defense Strategy in action and remains the cornerstone of the U.S. Services Fighters Fleet and allied fleets worldwide.”

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

The F-35 platform is capable of sharing information securely across all domains, including air, land, sea, space, and cyber. Whether it is active combat or reconnaissance missions, the F-35 has a significant dominance over its adversaries.

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What are your thoughts on some of the most capable multirole combat aircraft on the market? Share your views in the comments section.