F-22 Raptor vs J-20 Mighty Dragon
The original stealth king vs China's rising contender
F-22 Raptor
United States · 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 articleJ-20 Mighty Dragon
China · In service 2017
China's first stealth fighter, the J-20 is a large, twin-engine canard-delta design optimized for long-range interception and strike. Over 200 have been produced, making it the second most-numerous fifth-generation fighter after the F-35.
Read full articleThe Matchup
The F-22 defined fifth-generation air combat. The J-20 represents China's answer, optimized for long-range interception in the Pacific. How does the mature Raptor compare to the rapidly evolving Mighty Dragon?
Performance Radar
Rating Breakdown
Specifications
| Specification | F-22 Raptor | J-20 Mighty Dragon |
|---|---|---|
| Max Speed | Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph) | Mach 2.0+ (estimated) |
| Supercruise | Mach 1.82 without afterburner | - |
| Combat Radius | 460 mi (741 km) | 690 mi (1,100 km, estimated) |
| Service Ceiling | 65,000 ft | 65,000 ft (estimated) |
| Max G | +9.0 | +9.0 (estimated) |
| Thrust/Weight | 1.08 | 0.89 (estimated, with WS-15) |
| Internal Weapons | 6x AIM-120 AMRAAM + 2x AIM-9 Sidewinder | 4x PL-15 + 2x PL-10 AAMs |
| RCS (estimated) | 0.0001 m² (frontal) | 0.01–0.05 m² (Western estimates) |
| Unit Cost | $150M (FY2009) | $100–120M (estimated) |
| Engine | 2x Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 | 2x WS-10C (WS-15 in development) |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Length | 62.1 ft | 67.3 ft |
| Wingspan | 44.5 ft | 44.9 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
J-20 Mighty Dragon
Strengths
- + Large internal weapons bays for long-range PL-15 missiles
- + High production rate with growing fleet numbers
- + Long range suited for Pacific theater operations
- + Canard-delta configuration offers good low-speed handling
Weaknesses
- - Engine situation uncertain; WS-15 not yet in full production
- - Limited combat experience and unknown real-world RCS
- - Canard design may compromise stealth from certain aspects
- - Fewer external hardpoints than Western counterparts
Verdict
The F-22 likely retains advantages in stealth, kinematic performance, and pilot training, but the J-20's growing numbers and long-range PL-15 missiles make it a serious threat in Pacific theater scenarios.