For over 70 years, aviation companies have been pushing the boundaries to develop faster and more advanced supersonic aircraft. Achieving supersonic speeds – beyond 767 miles per hour – requires immense engineering capabilities that only a handful of companies have managed to develop.
From military manufacturers to commercial airline producers, supersonic flight has captivated both public and private enterprises. Companies have invested billions into producing aircraft that can fly at incredible speeds for purposes ranging from combat and reconnaissance to ultra-efficient travel.
Let‘s take a closer look at the 6 most influential companies that have achieved supersonic flight and paved the way for the future:
What Does "Supersonic" Mean?
Supersonic refers to speeds faster than the speed of sound, which is approximately 767 miles per hour (1,235 km/h) at sea level. Any object that moves through air produces sound waves that spread out at this speed, similar to the ripples caused by throwing a rock in water.
When an aircraft starts to approach the speed of sound, it experiences intense drag and turbulence. As it pushes through this "sound barrier," it produces a loud sonic boom. Once beyond this barrier, the aircraft enters the supersonic realm.
The first manned supersonic flight occurred in 1947 when Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 experimental rocket plane, reaching 700 mph (Mach 1.06). This opened up an entirely new era for aviation.
1. Boeing
As one of the largest global aerospace companies, Boeing has produced several supersonic military aircraft over the decades. A prime example is the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, an advanced multirole fighter flown by the U.S. Navy.
The Super Hornet can achieve speeds up to Mach 1.8 (1,400 mph) and serves as the Navy’s frontline carrier-based tactical aircraft. With upgraded engines, avionics, and sensor capabilities, it provides warfighting versatility across both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Over 500 Super Hornets have been produced to date.
Boeing is also exploring options to bring back supersonic passenger travel which hasn’t occurred since the Anglo-French Concorde was retired in 2003. Through startup investments, Boeing is supporting companies aiming to develop quieter supersonic planes for commercial use.
2. Dassault Aviation
Headquartered in France, Dassault Aviation has designed multiple supersonic-capable fighter jets since the 1950s. Their prominent Mirage series served as France’s chief interceptor aircraft for decades. The delta-winged Mirage 2000 is a multirole fighter able to exceed Mach 2 speeds (1,500 mph). Over 600 units have been exported to countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America since production began in 1982.
Dassault’s latest Rafale fighter also has supersonic cruise capacity and is the French Air Force and Navy’s primary jet. With advanced electronics, low radar visibility, and long-range strike capabilities, over 350 Rafales have been built for France as well as export customers like Egypt, Qatar and India.
3. General Dynamics
The renowned F-16 Fighting Falcon is a successful supersonic multirole fighter produced by American contractor General Dynamics. Over 4,600 F-16s have been manufactured since 1976, making it the most numerous fixed-wing aircraft in military history.
With superb maneuverability and combat agility, the lightweight F-16 can fly at speeds over Mach 2 (1,500 mph). Its initial concept emphasized a relatively inexpensive, high-performance daytime fighter. The F-16 has now evolved into the workhorse of the U.S and allied countries’ air forces. It’s popular amongst pilots, earning the nickname “Viper” in service.
Besides the F-16, General Dynamics has produced other famous supersonic-capable fighters like the F-111 Aardvark. After merging its aircraft division with Lockheed in 1993, General Dynamics left the aviation industry.
4. Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin owns the title for developing the fastest jet aircraft ever flown – the legendary SR-71 Blackbird. A product of Cold War technological prowess, the SR-71 remains unsurpassed six decades later as the pinnacle of supersonic performance.
The sleek, razor-edged Blackbird was a strategic long-range reconnaissance aircraft capable of sustaining speeds over Mach 3 for hours at a time. At 85,000 feet altitude, it flew three times the speed of sound for the U.S. Air Force from 1964 until retirement in 1998. No intercepting missiles could catch the SR-71 at full velocity.
Alongside the SR-71 program, Lockheed Martin has worked on advanced combat aircraft like the supersonic F-35 Lightning II built for global allies. They also recently unveiled initial designs for a quiet Mach 1.8 commercial airliner.
5. McDonnell Douglas
Before merging with Boeing in 1997, McDonnell Douglas stood as an immense presence in the defense and commercial aviation markets. The company developed several supersonic fighter jets adopted widely across the U.S. armed forces and abroad.
A standout includes the twin-engine F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. The ultra-maneuverable F-15 entered service in 1976 and soon became a benchmark for modern jet fighters. Capable of climbing 10,000 feet per minute and reaching Mach 2.5 speeds (1,900 mph), the F-15 remains the world’s most successful combat-proven defense aircraft with over 100 aerial victories and zero losses in dogfights.
At its peak popularity, McDonnell Douglas’ iconic F-15 has been flown by the U.S., Japan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia air forces. Other supersonic aircraft rolled out by the company before its Boeing merger include the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II.
6. Saab Group
Swedish defense corporation Saab produces the cutting-edge JAS 39 Gripen fighter currently serving Sweden and countries across Europe, Asia and South America. First flown in 1988, the light single-engine Gripen can sustain Mach 2 performance and was the first military aircraft to enter service with extensive software control systems.
What sets the Gripen apart is its extreme agility and networked capabilities balanced with affordability. New sensor and weapon options can be added to the Gripen without major modifications due to an open architecture design approach. Over 240 Gripens have been built as Sweden’s main combat jet and as an attractive alternative for nations with lower defense budgets.
Supersonic-capable fighter jets have remained elite performance aircraft predominantly operated by air forces and navies for specialist applications like interception, air superiority and bombing. However, the civilian market is now chasing faster commercial travel using recent technological improvements.
Companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin are actively working to develop quieter supersonic transports mainly for business and executive customers. Regulations currently prohibit supersonic flying over land due to noise pollution, but new engine types, noise-reducing airframe shapes and optimized flight profiles aim to overcome this.
By around 2030, the world’s air routes could reopen to faster-than-sound passenger jets – slashing lengthy journeys down to just a few hours. Business travel to Asia or Australia could conveniently occur within a day. Ultimately experiences like the legendary Concorde may soon return thanks to aviation leaders pursuing speed and luxury.
The desire for velocity continues propelling remarkable supersonic achievement six decades after Chuck Yeager first shattered the sound barrier. Companies have leveraged this breakthrough into specialized military aircraft serving strategic needs – now on the verge of something astounding for global air travel. The future remains wide open for pioneers pushing further into the supersonic frontier.
