The F-22 Raptor Facts: 30 Things to Know

The F-22 and F-35 Compliment One Another in Combat

F-22 Raptors from the 94th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and F-35A Lightning IIs from the 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, fly in formation after completing an integration training mission over the Eglin Training Range, Florida, Nov. 5, 2014. The purpose of the training was to improve integrated employment of fifth-generation assets and tactics. The F-35s and F-22s flew offensive counter air, defensive counter air and interdiction missions, maximizing effects by employing fifth-generation capabilities together.

The F-22 and the F-35 are both used in today’s military landscape, but the F-35 probably gets a little more action than the Raptor. Why would that be? Well, the F-22 was designed for specific scenarios, engaging in combat with nations with advanced weapons and keeping our men in the skies safe. The F-22 has other capabilities but they weren’t necessarily optimized for that purpose, and with the F-22 being the expensive piece of equipment that it is, it was important to have another capable vehicle to carry out other missions and serve as a counterpoint to the F-22. That’s where the F-35 comes into play. The F-35 is tougher and better designed for air to ground combat as well as a number of other uses. It can take care of itself when it needs to, and it can work in tandem with the Raptor. Furthermore, the F-22 was built only for the US Air Force while the F-35 can be produced for our NATO Allies.