Jet Fighter Specs

Engine

• While all jet fighters use jet engines to produce the forward thrust required for flight, the number and type of propulsion system depends on the airplane. Messerschmitt Me 262s drew power from a pair of turbojet engines, capable of producing 1,984 pounds of thrust. A Vietnam-era fighter such as the F-100 Super Sabre featured a single Pratt &Whitney turbojet with afterburner that yielded 17,000 pounds of thrust. Modern fighters, such as the U.S. Navy's F-22 Raptor rely on twin afterburning turbofans which crank out a combined 70,000 pounds of thrust.

Dimensions

• A jet fighter's measurements include height, length, wingspan and empty weight. Each of these specs varies by the airplane in question. For example, the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin, considered as one of the world's smallest fighter jets, has a length of just under 15 feet, a wingspan of just over 21 feet, a height of 99 inches and an unloaded weight of 3,740 pounds. The F-16 Fighting Falcon, by contrast, stretches over 49 feet in length with a height of 16 feet, a wingspan of just under 33 feet and an empty weight of 19,700 pounds.

Range

• A jet fighter's range includes two specs, the "ferry range" or maximum travel distance, and the combat radius. This latter spec denotes the range at which a fighter can engage in operations and still have enough fuel for the return flight. For example, the F-22 Raptor can fly 2,000 miles but has a combat radius of only 471 miles. A MiG-25 Foxbat has a much more limited range of 1,390 miles and a small combat radius of 186 miles. This smaller range indicates the MiG-25's role as an "interceptor" plane designed to engage other aircraft, while the F-22 is a "multi-purpose" fighter capable of multiple combat roles.

Flight

• A jet fighter's ceiling indicates the maximum altitude at which it can continue level flight. Early fighters, such as the ME 262, could not fly higher than 37,730 feet. The F-22 peaks at 50,000 feet. Jet fighters also have a maximum speed rating. The ME 262 could achieve a top speed of 541 mph while the modern F-22 can hit a maximum speed of just under 1,600 mph. A Russian-built MiG-25 Foxbat is the world's fastest jet fighter, with a top speed of 2,115 mph, signifying its specific combat role. The rate of climb of a jet fighter denotes its maximum vertical acceleration in changing altitudes. An F-22 climbs at a rate of 9,000 feet per minute, a feat dwarfed by the MiG-25, which changes altitudes at 40,950 feet per minute.

Payload

• A jet fighter's payload indicates the maximum amount of weight it can carry in fuel and armaments. Interceptor fighters that fly at high speeds over short distances cannot achieve those speeds if weighed down, so they have lower payloads. The MiG-25 only carries a maximum 4,000 pounds with a fuel weight of 32,895 pounds. An F-22 burns less fuel and plays multiple combat roles and carries a smaller fuel weight of 18,000 pounds but a much greater payload capable of 83,500 pounds worth of munitions. Armaments depend on the jet and its combat role, and can include machine guns, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles and bombs.