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F-15EX Eagle II vs F-16 Fighting Falcon

RANKED BY PUBLISHED MAXIMUM SPEED (MACH) OF A CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL MANNED AIRCRAFT #1 VS #3 CHECKED 06 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

F-15EX Eagle II ranks #1 of 7 on Published maximum speed (Mach) of a currently operational manned aircraft (Mach 2.5); F-16 Fighting Falcon ranks #3 (Mach 2).

Rank 01 of 7 · leads

F-15EX Eagle II

Published maximum speed (Mach) of a currently operational manned aircraft

Mach 2.5

MakerBoeing

Date2021

Verified04 Sept 2026

Evidence

Boeing F-15EX product page specifications table: "Maximum Speed Mach 2.5". Ceiling 50,000 ft. In production and in USAF service. Same published Mach figure as the earlier F-15 Eagle family.

Rank 03 of 7

F-16 Fighting Falcon

Published maximum speed (Mach) of a currently operational manned aircraft

Mach 2

MakerLockheed Martin

Date1978

Verified04 Sept 2026

Evidence

USAF / Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon fact sheet: "Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude)". Still the published USAF figure for the operational C/D fleet.

Try another pair

More F-15EX Eagle II matchups

Source Boeing F-15EX product page; Saab Gripen E/F specs; USAF F-16 and F-35A fact sheets; Rosoboronexport Su-57E page; Dassault Rafale specs;… Last checked 06 Sept 2026

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