1. Blackbird
   Nightingale
2. Lark
   Pelican

Perhaps one of the most famous aircraft of the Cold War era, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird has flown higher and faster than most other aircraft in history. A reconnaissance aircraft, the Blackbird is capable of Mach 3 flight and up to 85,000 feet. An armed variant was in development with the role of interceptor in mind, but the project was canceled.

1. Vixen
   Delta Dart
2. Corsair
   Ostrich

In service from 1960 and into the 1980s, the Convair F-106 Delta Dart was an interceptor with the primary role of attacking enemy bombers. The Delta Dart was the last true interceptor to serve the United States.

1. Funny
   Fiesta
2. Fulcrum
   Concorde

Entering service in 1982, the Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig 29 Fulcrum is a fourth-generation fighter jet. Over the years, it has assumed several multirole capabilities. It is one of only a handful of aircraft in the world capable of performing the Pugachev Cobra maneuver.

1. Hercules
   Galaxy
2. Bone
   Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II first entered service in 2015. It is a multirole fighter primarily but can be used in ground attack missions. It has stealth capability.

1. Raven
   Brisfit
2. Boomerang
   Meteor

The first Allied jet fighter of World War II, the Gloster Meteor entered service in 1944. Although it served in Europe during the Allies' push into Germany, it was mainly used for ground attack purposes and never met up with any jet fighters from Germany.

1. Typhoon
   Pitbull
2. Hun
   Viking

The most modern fighter in service with a host of European air forces including the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe, the Eurofighter Typhoon was a joint development between a number of countries. This fifth-generation delta-wing multirole fighter first entered service in 2003.

1. Eagle Beak
   Claw
2. Gyrfalcon
   Beijing

A fifth-generation Chinese fighter, the Shenyang J-31 Falcon Hawk is expected to enter service in 2019. Currently, only two are known to exist and they are involved in flight testing. Its official published nickname is Gyrfalcon, and it has also been called the Falcon Hawk.

1. Condor
   Swift
2. Seagull
   Walrus

The Supermarine Swift, a fighter in service with the Royal Air Force first flew in 1948 but only entered service in 1954. With its swept-wing design, the Swift became the fastest aircraft in the world in 1953 when it reached 737.7 mph.

1. Flagon
   Castle
2. Spirit
   Mustang

The Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon is a twin-engined jet interceptor that served in the Soviet Union from 1965. Its primary task was intercepting both NATO and United States bombers should the need arise. The jet also received the name "Boeing Killer" after two commercial jets — including Korean Airlines flight 007 — were shot out of the sky by Su-15s for having flown into Soviet airspace.

1. Flying Fortress
   Skyhawk
2. Transall
   Expeditor

First introduced in 1956, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a carrier-based attack aircraft. It remained in operation with U.S. forces for close to 50 years, seeing extensive action in Vietnam. It also goes by several other nicknames, including the Scooter, Bantam Bomber, Heinemann's Hot Rod, Tinker Toy and Mighty Mite.

1. Thunderjet
   Chinook
2. Fighting Falcon
   Viking

The F-16 is a multirole aircraft first entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1978. It remains in service today with more than 4,500 having been built. It was built with a number of unique features, including a control stick to the side of the pilot and fly-by-wire capabilities. It is also known by another nickname, VIper.

1. Chickenstove
   Eagledrawer
2. Birdbunk
   Fishbed

The Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig -21 Fishbed is a fighter/interceptor that served in the Soviet Air Force, amongst others, from 1959. It is the most produced jet fighter in the world and still in service to this day. It also goes by the nickname of Fagot.

1. Banshee
   Skyraider
2. Bobcat
   Air Cobra

A carrier-based fighter, the McDonnell F2H Banshee served with both the US Navy and Marine Corps up until 1961 after it was introduced in 1948. Banshees saw extensive action during the Korean War. It was also known as the Banjo.

1. Komet
   Molot
2. Talon
   Blackhawk

One of the world's first jet fighters to see combat, the rocket-powered Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was introduced into the Luftwaffe in 1944. Together with the Me 262, the Komet proved a formidable opponent for Allied fighters and bombers but its introduction came too late to aid Germany. It was also known as the Schwalbe or Sturmvogel, meaning swallow and storm bird, respectively, in German.

1. Halo
   Hornet
2. Skymaster
   Halifax

A carrier-based multirole fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet first entered service in 1983 and serves in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It has a top speed of Mach 1.8 and has served in combat theatres around the world. Newer versions of the jet are also known as Rhino.

1. Hayabusa
   Globemaster
2. Fullback
   Zero

Although it first flew in 1990, the Sukhoi Su 34 Fullback has only entered service recently with the Russian Air Force. It is primarily used in a ground attack/strike role but can be used in a fighter role as well. It's NATO name is Fullback. It is also nicknamed Duckling or Duckbill because of its flat nosecone.

1. Canberra
   Packet
2. Phantom
   Flying Boxcar

With its distinctive bent wings, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom first entered service in 1960. Originally designed as a fighter-interceptor, it also went on to be a successful ground attack aircraft. The Phantom saw extensive service during the Vietnam War. It was also unofficially known as the Spectre.

1. Farmer
   Fruit Bat
2. Recruit
   Albatross

The Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-19 Farmer was a second-generation fighter introduced into service by the U.S.S.R. in 1955. Built under license in China, it was also heavily involved with the North Vietnamese Air Force during the Vietnam War. The Mig-19 was the first Soviet aircraft capable of supersonic speeds in level flight.

1. Tomcat
   Bad Dog
2. Squirrell
   Racoon

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat first entered service in 1974. Primarily a carrier-based swing-wing fighter, the Tomcat saw service until 2006. This much- loved plane was the star of the Hollywood blockbuster, "Top Gun." F-14s were also known as Bombcats during the intervention in Bosnia because of the laser-guided bombs that struck their targets.

1. Fencer
   Corsair
2. Cutlass
   Dagger

This swept-wing all-weather attack aircraft first entered Soviet service in 1974 and remains in service to this day. The Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer has seen action all over the world, including Afghanistan, in Africa and currently in Syria. Russian crews also nicknamed it Chemodan, which is Russian for suitcase.

1. Delfin
   Harrier
2. Spooky
   Skytrain

The first-ever vertical take-off and landing fighter, the BAE Harrier was a carrier-based fighter that served with the British Navy, British Air Force and the American Marine Corps. Thanks to its movable jet engine, it was particularly maneuverable and saw action during the Falklands War.

1. Shooting Star
   Super Sabre
2. Donkey
   Typhoon

Introduced in 1945, the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the United States' first entry into the jet age. It served at the beginning of the Korean War but was quickly outclassed by its opposition, the Mig-15, and was replaced by the F-86 Sabre. A variant, the T-33 Shooting Star was used at a training aircraft right until the 1980s. The prototype for the Lockheed P-80 was nicknamed Lulu-Belle.

1. Prowler
   Cutless
2. T-50
   Butcher Bird

Russia's latest fifth-generation fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57 remains in final testing and has not yet entered service. The Su-57 is the first Russian aircraft to make use of stealth design and will form the backbone of the Russian air force for years to come. The aircraft is also known as the T-50.

1. Iroquois
   Tornado
2. Tomcat
   Texan

The Panavia Tornado entered service with a host of European air forces in 1979. This swept-wing jet is a multirole aircraft and functions as a fighter-bomber, interceptor and reconnaissance platform. The British nicknamed it the Tonka.

1. Intruder
   Dragonfly
2. Spirit
   Flogger

Known as the Flogger, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 first entered service in 1967. It featured a swept-wing design and over 5,000 were built, serving as both fighter and fighter-bombers. NATO dubbed this jet Faithless.

1. Skymaster
   Bronco
2. Eagle
   Tracker

The backbone of U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons since 1976, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an all-weather air superiority fighter tasked with taking on counterparts in enemy air forces. Even with fifth-generation fighters coming online in the U.S. Air Force, the eagle will remain in production until 2022.

1. Crusader
   Foxhound
2. Rapier
   Stealthhawk

A replacement for the Mig-25 Foxbat, the Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig 31 Foxhound was a very similar looking aircraft and it also had two very powerful engines which gave it incredible performance. It came into service with the Soviet air force in 1981 and will remain in service with them until 2030.

1. Goblin
   Talon
2. Mix Master
   Stratotanker

Only two examples of the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin fighter were ever produced. The idea of this small aircraft was a parasite fighter, to be carried in the bomb bay of large bombers and released when they were intercepted by enemy fighters. The Goblin would then dock with the bomber on return. The project, however, was canceled.

1. Super Sabre
   Commando Solo
2. Hercules
   Tracer

The first American jet fighter capable of breaking the sound barrier while in level flight, the North American F-100 Super Sabre served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971. It was also known as the Hun, short for 100.

1. Buckeye:
   Cayuse
2. Firkin
   Fritz

The Sukhoi Su-47 Firkin was an experimental jet fighter designed in the 1990s. It is noted for its wings, which seem to be on backward! This made it very agile at low speeds. The project, however, was canceled, but technology and ideas from it were used in later generations of Russian aircraft. Its official nickname was Berkut (Golden Eagle).

1. Hawk
   Elf
2. Schwalbe
   Free Bird

The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe proved to be a fierce opponent for the Allies when introduced in 1944, although it had been in development since 1942. A dearth of experienced pilots, engine problems and a lack of fuel made it far less effective than it could have been.

1. Foxbat
   Fang
2. Freestyle
   Fulcrum

NATO code name Foxbat, the Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig 25 was used as both a fighter and reconnaissance aircraft by the U.S.S.R. It entered service in 1970 and is one of the fastest combat aircraft ever to see service. In India, it was nicknamed Garuda, after a mythical creature from Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

1. Delta Dagger
   Square
2. Circle
   Forger

An interceptor, the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger first entered service in the mid-1950s and served with the United States Air Force until 1976. This was the first delta wing aircraft in the U.S. Air Force capable of supersonic flight.

1. Mig Killer
   Sabre
2. Kiowa
   Sea King

The main U.S. fighter to serve in the Korean War, the North American F-86 Sabre was superior to the Mig-15 at the time. Over 9,000 were built during its operational history, the most of any jet belonging to NATO Air Forces.

1. Seal
   Narwhal
2. Fresco
   Flipper

Following the Mig-15, the Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig 17 Fresco was introduced into service in 1952. It was a similar design to that of the Mig-15 and saw action during the Vietnam War. It was built under license in both China and Poland.

1. Dakota
   Stratotanker
2. Delfin
   Voodoo

The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, introduced into service in the United States Air Force in 1957, was intended to be a long-range escort fighter. As with many modern designs, however, it eventually had a number of rolls with the USAF and the Canadian Air Force. It was also known as One-Oh-Wonder.

1. Lightning
   Thunderstreak
2. Trident
   Huskie

The English Electic Lightning first entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1954 and served for over 30 years. An interceptor, the Lightning was tasked with quickly reaching any aircraft threatening British airspace. It was a high-performance aircraft, capable of speeds of Mach 2.0. It was also nicknamed the Tub because of its wide cockpit.

1. Gnat
   Helldiver
2. Vampire
   Dauntless

A unique design, the De Havilland DH 115 Vampire entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1946, the second jet fighter to do so. Over 3,000 were produced with the last serving until 1979 with the Rhodesian Air Force.

1. Frogfoot
   Trader
2. Greyhound
   Skywarrior

The Sukhoi Su 25 Frogfoot first entered service in 1981 and primarily acts as a close support aircraft for Russian forces. It has seen action in numerous conflicts and currently is used in action in Syria.

1. Raptor
   Intruder
2. Peacemaker
   Starlifter

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation tactical fighter with stealth capabilities. Together with the F-35 Raptor, it will form the backbone of U.S. Air Force fighter forces in the decades to come. It first entered service in 2005. It is also nicknamed Lightning II.