Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor remains the world's most dominant dedicated air superiority fighter. Its combination of very-low-observable stealth, supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburner), high agility, and integrated avionics gives it an unmatched first-look, first-shot, first-kill capability in beyond-visual-range combat. Although production ended in 2011 and its fleet is relatively small and exclusive to the U.S. Air Force, ongoing modernization programs ensure its sensors and weapons remain potent.

Its primary limitation is its lack of a dedicated multi-role design, but for establishing air dominance, no other operational aircraft surpasses the Raptor.