The Fastest US Navy Fighter Jets Can Hit Speeds Over Mach 1.5

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24/7 Wall St. Insights:

• The U.S. Navy, as a standalone, operates one of the largest air forces in the world
• The F.A-18 Super Hornet can hit speeds over Mach 1.5 and is one of the most widely flown aircraft in the Navy
• The F-35C Lightning II is the first stealth fighter designed specifically for carrier operations
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The U.S. Navy has always been at the forefront of military aviation. As a standalone military, the U.S. Navy actually operates one of the largest and most advanced air forces in the world. Along with this, the Navy has some of the fastest jets on the planet.

One of the most impressive feats of any modern fighter jet is hitting speeds over Mach 1.5. Speeds like this offer a severe tactical advantage in combat and other operational roles.

One of the standout aircraft of the U.S. Navy is the F/A-18 Super Hornet, which is a carrier-based strike fighter jet. It is one of the most widely used aircraft by the Navy with over 400 of these jets in active service. These can also hit speeds up to Mach 1.8, making the Super Hornet one of the fastest jets in the Navy's fleet. ( The newest aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy's fleet. )

Also, the Super Hornet is highly versatile in terms of its armament as a strike fighter. It can equip a wide array of missiles, joint direct attack munitions, and more. As such, the Super Hornet typically performs precision strike missions but it can easily move to fleet defense.

Another powerhouse in the Navy's lineup is the F-35C Lightning II, the first stealth fighter designed specifically for carrier operations. Capable of reaching speeds just under Mach 2, the Lightning II is one of the newest jets to enter the service, circa 2016. ( Nearly 900 of this stealth fighter jet take to the skies worldwide. )

These aircraft, and others like them, are some of the fastest in the U.S. Navy's fleet, and 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the Navy's aerial arsenal.

To identify the fastest aircraft flown by the U.S. Navy, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website, and ranked the aircraft according to top speed. Additionally, we’ve included supplemental information on the type of aircraft, how many are in active service, and armament. We have excluded all trainer aircraft.

Here is a look at the fastest aircraft in the U.S. Navy: Why Are We Covering This?

24/7 would like our readers to understand where their tax dollars are being spent. The Navy received $202.6 billion in government funding in 2024, second only to the Air Force at $216.1. billion. In fiscal year 2025, the Navy has requested $16.6 billion of its funding to purchase 75 aircraft and helicopters, which is actually slightly less than in 2024.

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