WeaponSpecs

Highest-flying bombers

9 of the 9 bombers in the WeaponSpecs database publish a service ceiling figure. Ranked on the published number alone, highest first, with no weighting and no composite score. The 0 bombers with no published figure are not ranked, absent data is never treated as a low value.

5 of the 9 entries below (Russia, China) rest on manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, marked † in the table. Treat their position in this ranking as directional, not tested.
Highest-flying bombers, ranked by published service ceiling
# System Service ceiling Source
1 B-1B Lancer

United States flag Boeing

18,000 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

2 B-21 Raider

United States flag Northrop Grumman

15,240 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

3 B-2 Spirit

United States flag Northrop Grumman

15,200 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

4 B-52H Stratofortress

United States flag Boeing

15,000 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

5 Tu-160

Russia flag Tupolev

15,000 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

6 Tu-22M3

Russia flag Tupolev

13,300 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

7 H-6K

China flag Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC)

13,100 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

8 Tu-95MS

Russia flag Tupolev

12,000 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

9 Su-24M

Russia flag Sukhoi

11,000 m reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

Compiled from public manufacturer, defense-ministry and reference sources. Published defense figures are approximations and are often stated under different conditions, so treat this ordering as directional rather than a tested result. A board is only generated where at least 5 systems in the class publish the figure. How we compile specs →

Other bombers rankings

Service ceiling in other classes