The Deadliest Post-WWII U.S. Aircraft, Ranked by Confirmed Kills

"The Jet Age began in the wake of World War 2, when technology made a massive leap and more fighter aircraft began incorporating jet engines to their design. Aerial combat evolved in kind. While there were less dog fights and engagements overall, the military doctrine of air superiority reigned supreme. Better tech and design gave way to many of the iconic fighter aircraft we know today. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a look at some of the most lethal aircraft of the Jet Age."

"To determine the post-WW2 aircraft with the most confirmed kills or aerial victories used by the U.S. Military, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of aircraft from Military Factory (among other sources), an online database of small arms, aircraft, and other military assets. We ranked these fighter jets according to their confirmed kills. We included supplementary information regarding the type of aircraft, top speed, year entered service, and armament."

"Understanding air superiority, as it relates to how it's earned or measured, comes down to more than tallying aircraft shot down. It's about persistent control of the airspace in terms of denying the enemy freedom of action through attrition and by disrupting their radar, logistics, and more. Kill counts are a solid metric for tallying the score. Militaries with finite resources are less willing to risk it, if they know their aircraft will be shot down repeatedly."

The Jet Age began after World War II as jet engines transformed fighter design and reduced traditional dogfights while elevating the importance of air superiority. A ranking of post-WW2 U.S. military aircraft by confirmed kills used catalogs such as Military Factory and additional sources to attribute aerial victories. The ranking includes aircraft type, top speed, service entry year, and armament, noting where data is limited or unavailable. Kill counts serve as a measurable indicator of combat effectiveness, while air superiority also depends on persistent control of airspace through attrition, radar disruption, and logistics denial.

Read at 24/7 Wall St.