It’s been confirmed that the Top Gun sequel is going into production – with Tom Cruise in the pilot’s seat.

The original 1986 film, directed by the late Tony Scott, starred Tom as young Naval aviator Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, who trains with US Navy Fighter pilots during the Cold War.

The long-awaited follow-up, which has been in the pipeline for five years, was confirmed by David Ellison of production company Skydance during a junket to promote Terminator: Genisys in Berlin.

Top Gun 2 will see Tom battle robotic drones to reflect the changing world of warfare.

David said: “There is an amazing role for Maverick in the movie and there is no Top Gun without Maverick, and it is going to be Maverick playing Maverick… As everyone knows with Tom, he is 100% going to want to be in those airplanes, shooting it practically.”

Here are the top reasons Tom is born for this role:

1. Tom Cruise looks great in a pair of aviator sunglasses

Tom Cruise in aviator sunglasses
Tom Cruise rocks his specs (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

2. Maverick’s motorcycle engine gets us all revved up

3. Tom is just naturally blessed with some top guns

Tom Cruise shows off his guns in this tight sweater
Tom Cruise shows off his guns in this tight sweater (Matt Sayles/AP)

4. Maverick’s aeroplane acrobatics have us on the edge of our seats

5. Cruise can croon just as good as he zooms

Remember when Maverick sings You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ to Charlie (Kelly McGillis) in the bar? Here’s a little refresher…

6. Because Top Gun is not just a romance movie – it’s a bromance movie

“You can be my wingman anytime.”

7. Tom Cruise really CAN fly a plane

Tom Cruise steps off his private jet
Tom Cruise is a jetsetter (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Tom Cruise has held his pilot’s license since 1994 and often flies his own jets, as well as liking to do as many of his own stunts as he can.

8. Those big blue eyes can do some Top Gun acting

As a Navy Fighter Pilot, Maverick spends much of the film wearing an oxygen mask that covers half his face. Luckily Tom’s baby blues can say so much all on their own.

Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise (Evan Agostini/Invision)

9. The action star is just bursting with energy

Remember that time he jumped up and down on Oprah’s sofa?

10. Nearly 30 years on and Tom still looks 35

Tom Cruise in February 2015
Tom Cruise has hung on to his youthful good looks (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

11. And at the end of the day, Tom Cruise just takes our breath away…