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The longest-range military aircraft are likely all transports, tankers, and similar aircraft. To avoid a list of just those aircraft, this list will provide a long-range aircraft by type. This list will exclude UAVs, some of which are very high-endurance, as well as VIP transport aircraft like the US Air Force’s VC-25 “Air Force One” aircraft. Listing is also by ferry range, which is when the aircraft is carrying no extra cargo or munitions and carrying as much internal fuel as possible.
In the real world of military aircraft combat operations, actual ranges are always much less than advertised ferry ranges. Additionally, as this list emphasizes advertised ferry ranges, this can result in some distortion. For example, aircraft in one country may be calculating range with greater fuel reserves than those in another country, creating an inconsistency in the data. Here are some aircraft that boast the longest advertised ferry ranges in their respective categories.
5
Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback/Su-35 Flanker
Around 4,300 nautical miles
This list sheepishly crowns the Su-34 and, more broadly, the Su-35 and other Flanker variants as the longest ferry range fighter jets (including fighter-bombers). These are typically described as having a range of around 4,300 nautical miles (8,000 kilometers) when carrying three 3,000-liter external drop tanks and no munitions or other payloads. Without drop tanks, this falls to around 2,400 nautical miles.
The family of fighter jets running up to the Flanker family is the US F-15 family, with a cited range of around 2,400 nautical miles (4,500 kilometers) with external drop tanks. That said, the US Air Force says the F-15E Strike Eagle has a “3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks.” Separately, the Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragon is estimated to have an exceptional range with internal fuel, though this is highly uncertain.
The Russian Su-35 benefits from a very large internal fuel capacity, the ability to carry multiple large drop tanks, no major stealth constraints, and a design for long-range interception over the vast distances of Russia. That said, Russian numbers are often overly optimistic compared with Western numbers, so caution is needed. Additionally, Western fighter jets benefit from large tanker fleets; Russian fighter jets do not.
4
Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady
Around 6,090 nautical miles
The Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady enters the list as the longest-ranging ‘spy plane’ in service. It has the longest advertised ferry range of any in-service manned high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, boasting a range of around 6,060 nautical miles (11,265 kilometers). The US Air Force lists the U-2 “Range: more than 7,000 miles (6,090 nautical miles).” The modern RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-end spy drone with a much longer 12,300 nautical mile ferry range, but it doesn’t make the list as only manned aircraft are counted.
The stated U-2 range is for the later U-2S variant, which is powered by a General Electric F118-101 engine. The aircraft can achieve an endurance of around 14 hours (sometimes listed as long as 34 hours) and emphasizes endurance over speed. By contrast, the SR-71 Blackbird was fast but only had a range of around 3,200 nautical miles. The U-2 almost wins the manned spy plane category by default, as there are no other known comparable manned spy planes in service. Other aircraft, like the Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint, can be considered spy planes, but they are also very different.
Part of the reason why the U-2S manages such high endurance is that it cruises at an altitude of around 70,000 feet, where the air is much thinner and drag is lower. The Air Force has been trying to retire its Dragon Ladies for years, and it appears their retirement is finally coming. That said, as of early 2026, the type remains in service. They have managed to survive in US Air Force service thanks to their comparatively low cost of operation and their high endurance. The Dragon Lady is next to useless in a high-end conflict as it is extremely vulnerable (the Soviets first downed it in 1960), but in peacetime and for patrolling the southern border, it remains useful.
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3
B-52 Stratofortress/Tu-95 Bear
Around 8,100 nautical miles
The United States Air Force Stratofortress and Russian Tu-95 Bear are both listed here as various online ferry estimates for these two old strategic bombers overlap in range. The B-52H is variously given a range of 7,500 to over 8,600 nautical miles, while the Tu-95MS is often said to have a range of around 8,100 nautical miles. The B-52H’s mid-point of 8,100 nautical miles is listed above.
These old bombers both appear to have a range greater than their supersonic B-1B Lancer, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 counterparts, and the stealthy B-2 Spirit. Still, there may not be the current ferry range ambiguity between the B-52 and Tu-95 much longer. In 2025, a number of Tu-95s were destroyed on the ground, with the remaining aging airframes having to work harder to make up the loss. It is unclear how much longer Russia will be able to keep its dwindling fleet of aging and tired strategic bombers in service.
At the same time, the USAF B-52Hs have plenty of flight hours left in them, and they are to be upgraded to the B-52J variant. This will equip them with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines that are expected to be around 30% more fuel efficient. These engines are expected to give BUFF a ferry range in excess of 9,000 nautical miles, with the first entering service around 2033.
2
Antonov An-124 Ruslan
Around 8,480 nautical miles
The Ukrainian and Russian An-124 Ruslan is advertised as having the greatest ferry range of the world’s military transports when carrying no payload. It is advertised as having a ferry range of around 8,480 nautical miles or 15,700 kilometers, putting it ahead of the C-5M Super Galaxy and its 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 kilometers) ferry range. The official USAF fact sheet describes the C-5M as having a range of 4,800 nautical miles, but that is while carrying a 40-tonne payload and is not ferry range.
The US’s other strategic airlifter, the C-17 Globemaster III, has a ferry range of around 6,230 nautical miles, while China’s Xian Y-20 and Russian Il-76 are estimated to have a range of around 5,400 nautical miles. That said, the Y-20 is sometimes cited as considerably less, at around 4,200 nautical miles. The European strategic/tactical turboprop A400M Atlas can ferry around 4,800 nautical miles. The A400M can also be configured as a tanker, and so it may be able to extend its own range with extra tanks.
While the An-124 wins on this list based on its advertised internal fuel ferry range, that doesn’t mean it can actually ferry farther than the C-17, C-5M, or A400M. While the latter aircraft are capable of in-air refueling, the An-124 is not. This means that the C-5M, etc. have de facto unlimited range with in-air refueling. Russia operates a minimal number of Il-78 tankers, and that fleet is mostly concerned with refueling its strategic bombers during patrols.
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1
Airbus A330MRTT
Around 8,700 nautical miles
The A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) likely has the longest advertised range of any manned military aircraft today. It is the European answer to the US Air Force KC-46 Pegasus, which is based on the Boeing 767. At one point in time, the A330 MRTT was selected by the US Air Force as its next-generation tanker over the Boeing 767, although this was overturned after lengthy legal and other issues. The A330 MRTT is the most popular tanker on the export market today, while the demand of the USAF makes the KC-46 more numerous. Airbus is also developing the A330 MRTT+ based on the A330neo (A330-800). This will be powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 and will offer up to 8% lower fuel burn, and other improvements.
The lower fuel burn isn’t significant because air forces want to reduce fuel expenses like commercial airlines, but because it increases the aircraft’s range. Airbus advertises the A330 MRTT as having a range of up to 8,700 nautical miles (16,000 kilometers). It is able to deliver up to 154,000 lbs of fuel during an hour-long loitering mission over a distance of 1,250 nautical miles. By comparison, the much older quad-engined KC-135 has a much shorter range and is typically used for shorter missions than the KC-46. KC-46s can operate strategically and have self-defense capabilities, making them able to operate closer to contested airspace.
Boeing says, “The KC-46A delivers more fuel at all ranges and from shorter runways than the KC-135 aircraft it’s replacing — while utilizing less ramp space than competing tankers.” The KC-46A comes with a range of around 6,400 nautical miles or around 12,000 kilometers. The KC-46 and A330MRTT can have unlimited range if they are refueled in flight. Both aircraft are designed to refuel other aircraft and to be refueled themselves.
