There were good long-range fighters in WW2 - and then came jets. We just about had the technology worked out for better jets and supersonics came along, the only way to get decent range in a supersonic being apparently through sheer size, cf Avro Arrow.
Today if you must have supersonic speed (there is a strong case for subsonic ground-pounders - if they'd done the A-6F Intruder II we'd be SLEPping the hell out of them and fitting them with AESA) your best bet is to arrange to carry a lot of external fuel. Today's range champs are the Rafale and Strike Eagle.
Last edited by LowObservable; 30th Apr 2013 at 23:26.