ince at least the end of World-war II, America has usually boasted the most advanced warplanes in the world. Indeed, the Soviet Air Force often built planes in response to new U.S. variants, and these were almost always inferior. American designs are still some of the most sought-after around the world, as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has demonstrated. Moreover, several U.S. aircraft—such as the F-22 Raptor and the B-2 Spirit—are without peer in active service. After years of service, reliable designs like the multirole F/A-18 Hornet and the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper still promise to give opponents a run for their money. F/A-18 Hornet Recognizable to many Americans as the jet used by the Blue Angels performance squad, the F/A-18 Hornet is a McDonnell Douglas/Boeing Northrop designed all-weather multirole aircraft. The Hornet is notable for its versatility, and is used by the U.S. Navy and Marines, as well as by Canada, Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland. F-22 Raptor Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor represents a major achievement in American military technology. No other country actively flies an aircraft that can match the Raptor. Entering service in 2005, the F-22 is a fifth-generation multirole air superiority stealth fighter. The qualitative edge the F-22 grants the United States is so valuable that America imposed an export ban on the aircraft. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, also known as the Lightning II, is a Lockheed Martin designed fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter. The Joint Strike Fighter program is primarily funded by the United States, with support from the Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. Washington will use F-35s in the Air Force (starting 2016), Navy (2018), and Marine Corps (2015) as a replacement for aging F-16 and F/A-18 variants. Subject to controversy in the United States for its immense cost, the F-35 nevertheless promises to be a powerful tool for the American military and allied forces. MQ-9 Reaper The MQ-9 Reaper is a General Atomics designed unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Based on the successful Predator model, MQ-9 drones are designed to carry out attacks against ground targets. Since entering service in 2007, the Reaper has been deployed to Afghanistan with the United States Air Force and to the U.S.-Mexico frontier with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection. B-2 Spirit Rounding out our list is the B-2 Spirit. The B-2 is a stealth aircraft with a “flying wing” design. Designed by Northrop Grumman at the tail end of the Cold-fight, this strategic bomber entered service in 1997. Today, the Spirit is used exclusively by the United States Air Force and remains a formidable instrument in the American arsenal. Source: https://goo.gl/RLoqUJ