F-22 Raptor vs F-35 Lightning II
Air superiority specialist vs multi-role sensor platform
F-22 Raptor
United States 路 In service 2005
The F-22 Raptor is the world's first operational fifth-generation air superiority fighter. Combining stealth, supercruise, integrated avionics, and exceptional maneuverability, it remains the benchmark for air dominance nearly two decades after entering service.
Read full articleF-35A Lightning II
United States 路 In service 2016
The F-35A is the conventional-takeoff variant of the Joint Strike Fighter program, designed as an affordable fifth-generation multi-role fighter. Its sensor fusion, stealth, and networked warfare capabilities make it the backbone of allied air forces worldwide.
The Matchup
The F-22 was built to dominate the skies. The F-35 was built to dominate the battlespace. Both are fifth-generation stealth fighters, but they were designed for fundamentally different missions. Which one delivers more combat value in 2025?
Performance Radar
Rating Breakdown
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 m虏 (frontal) | 0.001 m虏 (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 |
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Verdict
The F-22 wins in pure air-to-air combat, but the F-35 is the more versatile and future-proof platform. The USAF needs both: the Raptor as the tip of the spear, and the Lightning II as the backbone of multi-domain operations.