In the realm of modern air warfare, the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II are considered the two most iconic representatives of fifth-generation stealth capability currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, each with specific strengths and operating roles: the single-seat, twin-engine F-22 Raptor fighter, made by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, stands alone in air dominance. Unrivaled in speed, maneuverability, and stealth, it is a dogfighting monster.
By contrast, the F-35 Lightning II is a multirole, versatile platform developed by Lockheed Martin with major partners including Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, and Pratt & Whitney. It packs advanced data systems and various munitions capabilities, henceforth representing an essential asset in contemporary integrated combat. As former Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh explained, the F-35 “was never designed to be the next dog fighting machine. It was designed to be the multipurpose, data-integration platform that could do all kinds of things in the air-to-ground arena.”
With its Pratt & Whitney F119 engines, the F-22 Raptor reaches MACH 2.2, making it unbeatable in air-to-air combat due to better thrust vectoring. In turn, the F-35 features one Pratt & Whitney F-135 engine, having a speed of MACH 1.6, but with a decreased cost for maintenance and facilitating easier software updates. Timely software updates in the F-35 elevate operational efficiency due to the “computer in the air.”.
While the F-22 very much is an air superiority platform, in terms of armament, the F-35 obviously can do so much more. According to Military Watch Magazine, the F-35 is internally capable of carrying medium-size or heavy air-to-ground munitions for nuclear strikes, anti-shipping, anti-radiation, and standoff air-to-ground missions. The F-22, though an air superiority platform, can conduct ground strikes with precision-guided and unguided bombs.
Another critical factor involves stealth capability. While somewhat similar in levels of stealthiness, the F-22 has a low radar cross-section compared to the F-35. As such, the Raptor is significantly more elusive to enemy radar.
David Berke, a retired Marine Corps Officer and combat veteran, put it best by explaining that the F-35 is the “quarterback in the sky,” flying with drones, and sending stand-off missiles. That, he says, makes it the most prolific fifth-generation aircraft in the world not because of its stealth per se but because of its ability to carry a great deal of information. As Berke explains, what differentiates the F-35 from other aircraft is its gathering, fusion, and distribution of information to other aircraft and ground systems.
The latter especially gets an edge through export and operational flexibility. The three variants for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps mean that the aircraft can cater to the varied needs of not just multiple service branches but also of international allies. Conversely, the F-22 has a ban from foreign military sales that narrows its circle of presence.
The bottom line is that both the F-22 and the F-35 are indispensable elements in the U.S. military arsenal, each shining in various combat situations. The F-22 would be the first choice for any air-to-air combat or dogfighting situation against high-caliber opponent fighter jets such as the J-20. By contrast, the F-35 is more suitable for contemporary integrated combat due to its multi-role function and advanced data integration. Which one is used would, of course, depend on the nature of the operation.