Compare Fighters

Fifth and fourth-generation multi-role combat aircraft from the world's leading air forces, compared across speed, stealth, avionics, and combat capability.

Featured Fighter Matchups

F-22 Raptor vs F-35 Lightning II

Air superiority specialist vs multi-role sensor platform

F-35 Lightning II vs Su-57 Felon

Western sensor fusion vs Russian stealth contender

F-22 Raptor vs J-20 Mighty Dragon

The original stealth king vs China's rising contender

Rafale vs Eurofighter Typhoon

Europe's two premier multi-role fighters go head-to-head

F-16V Viper vs Gripen E

The global workhorse vs the Nordic efficiency champion

Custom Comparison

Select any two fighters to compare side by side.

Fighter A

Fighter B

F-22 Raptor

🇺🇸 United States · 2005

F-35A Lightning II

🇺🇸 United States · 2016

Performance Comparison

F-22 Raptor

F-35A Lightning II

Rating Breakdown

Firepower90 vs 80

Protection95 vs 88

Mobility95 vs 72

Technology98 vs 96

Versatility70 vs 95

Cost Efficiency30 vs 65

Specifications

Specification	F-22 Raptor	F-35A Lightning II
Max Speed	Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph)	Mach 1.6 (1,200 mph)
Supercruise	Mach 1.82 without afterburner	-
Combat Radius	460 mi (741 km)	670 mi (1,093 km)
Service Ceiling	65,000 ft	50,000 ft
Max G	+9.0	+9.0
Thrust/Weight	1.08	0.87
Internal Weapons	6x AIM-120 AMRAAM + 2x AIM-9 Sidewinder	4x AIM-120 AMRAAM or 2x 2,000 lb JDAM
RCS (estimated)	0.0001 m² (frontal)	0.001 m² (frontal)
Unit Cost	$150M (FY2009)	$80M (LRIP Lot 15, 2023)
Engine	2x Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100	1x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
Crew	1	1
Length	62.1 ft	51.4 ft
Wingspan	44.5 ft	35 ft

F-22 Raptor

Strengths

+ Unmatched stealth and supercruise combination
+ Exceptional situational awareness via AN/APG-77 AESA radar
+ Superior kinematic performance at all altitudes
+ Thrust-vectoring for extreme angle-of-attack maneuvers

Weaknesses

- Extremely high unit and operating costs
- Limited ground-attack capability compared to F-35
- Production line closed at 195 aircraft
- Aging avionics architecture with no planned major upgrade

F-35A Lightning II

Strengths

+ Best-in-class sensor fusion and situational awareness
+ Low-observable design across multiple bands
+ Massive international operator base ensures long-term support
+ Continuous Block upgrades with TR-3 and Block 4

Weaknesses

- Lower top speed and kinematic performance than F-22
- Single-engine design limits sustained energy in a dogfight
- Ongoing sustainment cost challenges
- Internal weapons bay limits payload in stealth configuration

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Specification

F-22 Raptor

F-35A Lightning II

Max Speed

Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph)

Mach 1.6 (1,200 mph)

Supercruise

Mach 1.82 without afterburner

Combat Radius

460 mi (741 km)

670 mi (1,093 km)

Service Ceiling

65,000 ft

50,000 ft

Max G

+9.0

Thrust/Weight

1.08

0.87

Internal Weapons

6x AIM-120 AMRAAM + 2x AIM-9 Sidewinder

4x AIM-120 AMRAAM or 2x 2,000 lb JDAM

RCS (estimated)

0.0001 m² (frontal)

0.001 m² (frontal)

Unit Cost

$150M (FY2009)

$80M (LRIP Lot 15, 2023)

Engine

2x Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100

1x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100

Crew

Length

62.1 ft

51.4 ft

Wingspan

44.5 ft

35 ft