In this review of aerial firepower, we will explore several classes of combat aircraft in service today. To understand the role of air power on the battlefield in the modern era, it is necessary to consider both the “pointy end of the spear” and the many strategic support platforms that complement each other’s missions.
Combined arms tactics in the 21st Century demand ever-increasing levels of technological sophistication to overcome rivals. Digitalized weapons systems and stealth technology are well-known game changers, but equally important, although less glamorous, are the aerial tankers and airlifters. So with that said, let’s break it down and go down the list of the best military aircraft in the world.
Airbus A330 MRTT
Aerial refueling tanker
The Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a versatile military tanker and transport aircraft derived from the successful commercial A330 airliner. Developed by Airbus Defence and Space to flexibly fulfill multiple military support roles, the first MRTT entered service in 2008 with the Royal Australian Air Force.
The Airbus A330 MRTT, the 
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, and the KC-135 Stratotanker represent different generations and philosophies of aerial refueling. The A330 MRTT is the largest and most modern, offering superior fuel and passenger capacity, making it best for long-range and high-volume strategic missions.
It has proven to be a highly successful export product, and the unit cost is approximately $150 to $170 million. The big jet can carry 300 passengers or 45,000 kg of cargo, and has the ability to refuel both probe-and-drogue and boom-equipped aircraft. Combat-proven, the MRTT is operated by 14 air forces worldwide, including key NATO members and allies.
The KC-46 Pegasus is smaller, more maneuverable on the ground, and designed to operate from more austere airfields. The MRTT is combat-proven and mature, while the KC-46 has faced significant technical issues with its Remote Vision System (RVS) that are still being addressed.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
Tactical airlift
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large, robust military transport aircraft that excels in both strategic and tactical airlift roles. Developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), it was designed to replace the C-141 Starlifter. The C-17 is a workhorse for both the USAF and partner nations like the United Kingdom, Canada, and India. The C-17 is a uniquely versatile asset for rapidly delivering heavy equipment globally and closer to the action.
The C-17 is fast and capable of transcontinental or transoceanic transits while carrying 170,900 lbs (77.5 tons) of cargo. It can land on short and unpaved runways and perform medical evacuation and airdrop missions. The first C-17 flew in 1991, with production ending in 2015 at around $218 million per plane.
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III serves as a vital bridge between the smaller, tactical Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and the massive strategic Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. The C-130 excels at operating from highly austere, short runways near the front lines, but has the smallest payload and range of the three.
The Airbus A400M Atlas is a newer competitor and, surprisingly, faster than the C-17 in cruise speed. It operates more as a hybrid tactical/strategic lifter, but the C-17 beats it on payload. The Antonov An-124 Ruslan, for comparison, is purely strategic and cannot execute similar tactical maneuvers, but it is much larger than the C-17, used mainly for outsized cargo.
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Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion
Airlift helicopter
The CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter designed to be the US Marine Corps’ primary heavy lift platform for the next several decades. It offers over triple the lift capacity of its predecessor, the CH-53E Super Stallion. It has the ability to lift 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles, operate in hot-and-high conditions, and is the largest single rotor helicopter not made in Russia.
The CH-53K is significantly newer and more powerful than its competitor, the Boeing CH-47F Chinook, which can lift a maximum weight of around 21,000 pounds. The Chinook is a battle-proven, highly reliable, and significantly more affordable alternative in terms of acquisition cost. The Russian Mil Mi-26 is the only currently produced helicopter in the world that surpasses the CH-53K in raw lifting performance.
Developed by Sikorsky for the US Marine Corps to replace the aging E-model, its first flight was in 2015. The USMC recently began procuring production models, with initial operational capability (IOC) declared in April 2022. The fleet is now actively being deployed. Unit costs are approximately $140 million per aircraft. Production is ramping up, and foreign sales are potentially on the horizon, with Israel considering the helicopter.
Boeing AH-64E Apache
Attack helicopter
The AH-64E Apache is the latest and greatest iteration in a long line of the world’s best attack helicopters. The AH-64 is legendary for its extremely rugged airframe, exceptionally hard-hitting armament, and unique ability to “sneak up” on targets by flying low, which also makes it nearly silent until it’s directly overhead. The iconic attack helicopter is primarily operated by the US Army, but also by 17 international partners and counting.
The global fleet counts over 1,300 examples, and the Apache boasts a distinguished operational history and proven combat record with the US allied nations. The production line shows no signs of slowing down as Boeing has a substantial backlog of new-build and upgrade orders. Poland recently agreed to a deal for 96 new Apache helicopters. The deal is valued at nearly $4.7 billion, and once fulfilled, will represent the largest fleet outside of the United States. Christina Upah, vice president of Boeing’s Attack Helicopter Programs, said:
“This important agreement allows us to begin building one of the largest and most formidable Apache fleets that the world has ever seen. Working closely with the Polish Armed Forces, we’re focused on disciplined execution to help enhance Poland’s defense capabilities and keep up with the strong demand for the most advanced attack helicopter.”
It was originally developed by Hughes Helicopters but is now produced by Boeing. The E model represents a significant modernization of the D model, with the first Es rolling off the line in 2011 with an estimated price of approximately $35 million. The European competitor, the Eurocopter Tiger (EC665), has lower detectability but a lighter armament compared to the American heavyweight.
The Chinese CAIC Z-10 and the Mi-28NM represent powerful rivals that match the Apache’s heavy armor and firepower, though they lag in sensors and weapons technology. The Mil Mi-28NM Havoc is the most modern Russian variant designed as a direct counter with enhanced survivability features and modernized avionics. The Bell AH-1Z Viper is also a highly capable attack helicopter, but the Apache offers superior sensor technology and greater payload capacity, among other advantages.
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Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Strategic strike
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an iconic, low-observable (stealth) heavy strategic bomber designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deliver conventional and nuclear weapons. Developed during the Cold War in secrecy as part of the Advanced Technology Bomber program with the first flight was in 1989.
Key points include its unparalleled stealth capabilities, which allow it to evade sophisticated radar, its massive range without refueling, and precision strike capability with a large payload. Its strategic value is its unique ability to hold high-value, heavily defended targets at risk. A very small, highly critical fleet of 20 aircraft is currently operated solely by the US Air Force. It is slowly being replaced by the B-21 Raider. The extremely high unit cost of over $737 million (closer to $2 billion with R&D costs factored in) led to limited production.
The B-2 relies entirely on low-observable stealth technology and subsonic speed to penetrate enemy airspace undetected. Meanwhile, rivals like the Tupolev Tu-160M Blackjack rely on supersonic dash capabilities and long-range stand-off missiles to strike targets from a distance. Stealth technology has made such tactics virtually obsolete on the modern battlefield.
Unlike the versatile, long-serving Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which relies on standoff ranges and massive payloads, or the high-speed Rockwell B-1B Lancer, which uses speed and immense conventional firepower to penetrate airspace, the B-2 is built to slip entirely past sophisticated radar defenses to strike critical, heavily defended targets deep within territory. The incoming Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is designed as the stealthier, more cost-effective successor to the B-2.
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Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
Fighter jet
The US Air Force’s F-22 Raptor is widely considered the most mature and capable fifth-generation fighter, or any fighter jet for that matter. The aircraft, despite debuting decades before the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon and Chengdu J-20 Mighty, is still considered superior to both in numerous aspects. The Su-57 lacks true 5th-gen stealth, and the J-20 is closer, but it is still lacking in performance, radar evasion, and weapons technology.
All three are fifth-generation stealth fighters incorporating low-observable features, integrated avionics, and high-performance engines capable of supersonic speeds. The F-22’s combination of stealth, integrated avionics, and “supercruise” (sustained supersonic flight without afterburners) enables it to dominate the airspace against all known threats. Also, the newer F-35 Lightning II, although a stealth fighter, is not considered a true air superiority fighter like the F-22.
Operated exclusively by the US Air Force, the fleet of 187 aircraft is expected to undergo a “Super Raptor” upgrade cycle. Developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force under the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. First flight was in 1997, and with the new upgrades, it is expected to continue serving until after the 6th-Gen Boeing F-47 is available in the next decade. Production ended in 2011 with the final unit cost being around $150 million each.
