The fastest fighter jet ever created was the NASA/USAF X-15. It was an experimental aircraft that resembled more of a rocket with wings but managed to reach a record 4,520mph. The fastest fighter jet in the world today is the MiG-25 Foxbat, with a top speed of 2,190mph, half the speed of the X-15.

The title of the fastest manned air-breathing aircraft ever made still belongs to the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird," which reached a top speed of Mach 3.3 (roughly 2,193 mph) in 1976. However, if we include experimental, unmanned, or rocket-powered vehicles, the record is much higher. The North American X-15, a rocket-powered aircraft flown in the 1960s, reached Mach 6.70 (4,520 mph). In the 2020s, the focus has shifted toward hypersonic technology. The NASA X-43A, an unmanned experimental scramjet, achieved Mach 9.6 (about 7,000 mph). In 2026, many look toward the rumored Lockheed Martin SR-72 "Son of Blackbird," which is designed to fly at speeds exceeding Mach 6. While the SR-71 remains the operational king of speed, the era of hypersonic flight is rapidly evolving, pushing the boundaries of materials science to survive the extreme kinetic heating that occurs when traveling at several times the speed of sound.