The Shenyang FC-31 Gyrfalcon, also known as the J-35, is a next-generation fighter jet that is currently in testing. In September 2024, China completed a successful launch of the aircraft from the CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier, with the plane effectively taking off and re-landing on the ship. The J-35 would undoubtedly revolutionize China’s aircraft fleet; after all, the J-15 is currently the only fighter jet in China’s arsenal, and has not been updated in decades. Plus, the J-35 is significantly lighter than the J-15, which would allow it to more more quickly and efficiently, improving vertical climb and allowing for the strategic outmaneuvering of enemies. (These are the 42 most widely-flown jets in today’s air forces.)
Vertical climb essentially looks at how high, and how fast, aircraft can climb. This measure offers a tactical advantage in combat by giving pilots a better vantage point, escaping missiles, and establishing air strategy. While some older-generation fighter jets — such as those used in the Korean War — probably didn’t have the same advantages as our aircraft do today, aircraft makers are now focused on imbuing planes with next-gen technologies and extreme speed. This is especially important for situations where countries may not be able to employ as much stealth as they’d like. Here, 24/7 Wall St. looked into which modern fighter jets can ascend in altitude the fastest. To determine the fighter jets that have the highest fastest vertical climb rate, 24/7 Wall St. referenced Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. Aircraft were ranked by their maximum rate of climb as measured by feet per minute. In situations where maximum rate of climb was the same, we used top speed to break the tie. Supplemental data regarding manufacturer, speed, and more also came from Military Factory.
Here is a look at the fighter jets with the fastest vertical climb rate:
Why Are We Covering This?
Vertical climb is a key way to measure how effective and efficient a military aircraft is. By climbing to serious heights, fighter jet pilots can evade potential conflicts or gain in-air advantages. Understanding the operational capabilities of fighter jets provides insight into global military defense strategies. Also knowing these aircraft helps in threat assessment and the development of effective countermeasures.
42. AV-8B Harrier II
- Maximum rate of climb: 14,700 ft/min.
- Type: Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) strike aircraft
- Year introduced: 1985
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / BAe Systems
- Top speed: 665 mph
41. Panavia Tornado ECR
- Maximum rate of climb: 15,100 ft/min.
- Type: Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Aircraft
- Year introduced: 1990
- Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems / MBB
- Top speed: 1,491 mph
40. Panavia Tornado IDS
- Maximum rate of climb: 15,100 ft/min.
- Type: Low-level strike aircraft
- Year introduced: 1979
- Manufacturer: Panavia Aircraft GmbH / British Aviation Systems
- Top speed: 1,491 mph
39. Mirage III
- Maximum rate of climb: 16,400 ft/min.
- Type: Interceptor aircraft / Strike fighter
- Year introduced: 1961
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Top speed: 1,312 mph
38. Xian JH-7 (Flounder) / FBC-1 (Flying Leopard)
- Maximum rate of climb: 33,500 ft/min.
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Year introduced: 1992
- Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation
- Top speed: 1,118 mph
37. Shenyang J-8 / J-8 II (Finback)
- Maximum rate of climb: 39,370 ft/min.
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Year introduced: 1980
- Manufacturer: Aviation Industry Corporation of China
- Top speed: 1,453 mph
36. HAL Tejas LCA
- Maximum rate of climb: 40,000 ft/min.
- Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2015
- Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
- Top speed: 1,227 mph
35. Mig-31 (Foxhound)
- Maximum rate of climb: 41,000 ft/min.
- Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
- Year introduced: 1979
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Top speed: 1,864 mph
34. F-4 Phantom II
- Maximum rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min.
- Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1960
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
- Top speed: 1,473 mph
33. Mirage F1
- Maximum rate of climb: 41,931 ft/min.
- Type: Interceptor aircraft
- Year introduced: 1973
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Top speed: 1,453 mph
32. F/A-18 Super Hornet
- Maximum rate of climb: 44,890 ft/min.
- Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1999
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
- Top speed: 1,187 mph
31. Grumman F-14 Tomcat
- Maximum rate of climb: 45,000 ft/min.
- Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
- Year introduced: 1974
- Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
- Top speed: 1,544 mph
30. Sukhoi Su-17 / Su-20 / Su-22 (Fitter)
- Maximum rate of climb: 45,275 ft/min.
- Type: Strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1970
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi
- Top speed: 718 mph
29. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)
- Maximum rate of climb: 45,275 ft/min.
- Type: Twin-engine air superiority strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1996
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi Design Bureau
- Top speed: 1,317 mph
28. IAI Kfir (Lion Cub)
- Maximum rate of climb: 45,866 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role combat aircraft
- Year introduced: 1976
- Manufacturer: Israel Aircraft Industries
- Top speed: 1,516 mph
27. MiG-23 (Flogger)
- Maximum rate of climb: 47,245 ft/min.
- Type: Swing-wing fighter-interceptor aircraft
- Year introduced: 1970
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
- Top speed: 1,553 mph
26. Mitsubishi F-2
- Maximum rate of climb: 48,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2000
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi / Lockheed Martin
- Top speed: 1,553 mph
25. KAI KF-16 Fighting Falcon
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1991
- Manufacturer: Korean Aerospace Industries
- Top speed: 870 mph
24. F-16V (Viper)
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2017
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Hellenic Aerospace Industry
- Top speed: 917 mph
23. F/A-18 Hornet
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1983
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop
- Top speed: 1,190 mph
22. F-35 Lightning II
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2016
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAe Systems
- Top speed: 1,199 mph
21. F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1978
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
- Top speed: 1,317 mph
20. JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin)
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1997
- Manufacturer: Saab AB
- Top speed: 1,370 mph
19. F-CK-1 (Ching-Kuo)
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Lightweight multirole fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1994
- Manufacturer: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
- Top speed: 1,379 mph
18. Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker)
- Maximum rate of climb: 55,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role heavy combat fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2014
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
- Top speed: 1,491 mph
17. F-15E Strike Eagle
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1988
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
- Top speed: 1,653 mph
16. F-15 Eagle
- Maximum rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min.
- Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1976
- Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
- Top speed: 1,875 mph
15. Mirage 2000 (M2000)
- Maximum rate of climb: 56,000 ft/min.
- Type: Strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1979
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Top speed: 1,453 mph
14. MiG-21 (Fishbed)
- Maximum rate of climb: 58,000 ft/min.
- Type: Single-seat supersonic fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1959
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
- Top speed: 1,386 mph
13. PAC JF-17 Thunder
- Maximum rate of climb: 59,000 ft/min.
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2007
- Manufacturer: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
- Top speed: 1,218 mph
12. Chengdu J-10 (Vicious Dragon)
- Maximum rate of climb: 59,000 ft/min.
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Year introduced: 2005
- Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Top speed: 1,452 mph
11. Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)
- Maximum rate of climb: 59,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
- Year introduced: 1985
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Top speed: 1,553 mph
10. Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle)
- Maximum rate of climb: 60,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2017
- Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Top speed: 1,305 mph
9. Dassault Rafale
- Maximum rate of climb: 60,000 ft/min.
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Year introduced: 2001
- Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
- Top speed: 1,383 mph
8. Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D)
- Maximum rate of climb: 60,000 ft/min.
- Type: Carrier-based air defense fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1994
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB
- Top speed: 1,553 mph
7. Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000)
- Maximum rate of climb: 62,000 ft/min.
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
- Year introduced: 2003
- Manufacturer: BAe Systems / Eurofighter GmbH
- Top speed: 1,550 mph
6. F-22 Raptor
- Maximum rate of climb: 62,000 ft/min.
- Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2005
- Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin
- Top speed: 1,599 mph
5. Shenyang J-15 (Flying Shark)
- Maximum rate of climb: 64,000 ft/min.
- Type: Carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2013
- Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Top speed: 1,305 mph
4. Shenyang J-11 (Flanker B+)
- Maximum rate of climb: 64,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role air superiority fighter
- Year introduced: 1998
- Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
- Top speed: 1,553 mph
3. Sukhoi Su-57 (Felon)
- Maximum rate of climb: 64,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role stealth aircraft
- Year introduced: 2019
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Top speed: 1,616 mph
2. MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F)
- Maximum rate of climb: 65,000 ft/min.
- Type: Multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2020
- Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MIG
- Top speed: 1,491 mph
1. MiG-29 (Fulcrum)
- Maximum rate of climb: 65,000 ft/min.
- Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1984
- Manufacturer: Mikoyan OKB / United Aircraft Corporation
- Top speed: 1,519 mph
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