Where the F-22 is brawn, the F-35 is brains—and the Air Force needs both.
The U.S. has two of the world’s four fifth-generation fighters, the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II. Owing to their similar names and appearances, the two planes have a tendency to be conflated—and the fact that both are produced by Lockheed Martin invites further confusion. But the two cutting-edge fighters are quite different in most respects. From speed to maneuverability to stealth to avionics, they were built for different missions—reflected in how the Air Force puts each aircraft to use.
The Two Planes Serve Very Different Roles
The most fundamental difference to understand between the F-22 and F-35 is that the former was built to be a dominant air superiority fighter, unmatched in air-to-air capabilities. The F-35 meanwhile was built to be a multirole fighter, a jack of all trades.
Simply put, the F-22 Raptor is the world’s best air superiority fighter. The F-22 was built to be super maneuverable, thanks to a variety of advanced features. The Raptor’s airframe was built with maneuverability in mind. With a large, blended wing-body and an all-moving tail surface, the F-22 has excellent lift and control, while its trapezoidal wing shape also lends itself to exceptional maneuverability. It also features thrust vectoring nozzles that can direct engine thrust either up or down by 20 degrees—allowing the F-22 to perform extreme pitch maneuvers even at low speeds. The F-22 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines, each offering 35,000 pounds of thrust with afterburners engaged. So, with an empty weight of just 43,340 pounds, the F-22 has a thrust-to-weight ratio well in excess of 1:1, allowing for its astonishing maneuverability.
The F-35 lacks most of these capabilities. It was built for air superiority missions rather than dogfighting, and consequently lacks the F-22’s extreme maneuverability. This is not to suggest that the F-35 cannot hold its own against other aircraft—but it is more useful in beyond-visual-range (BVR) situations, where its long-range sensors and stealth characteristics give it an advantage against comparable aircraft. Conversely, the ultra-maneuverable F-22 is the better option for WVR (within-visual-range) or dogfighting scenarios.
The F-35 Is a More Useful Plane Overall
Where the F-35 truly shines is with respect to sensor fusion, electronic warfare, and networking capabilities. The F-35 essentially functions as a “quarterback of the skies,” capable of increasing situational awareness not just for the pilot but for other allied forces in the battle space. The key to the F-35’s quarterbacking ability is the jet’s advanced sensor suite: an AN/APG-81 AESA Radar, which provides long-range tracking and targeting functions; Distributed Aperture Systems, which synthesizes the feeds from six infrared camera and offers the pilot 360-degree coverage (including view’s through the body of the aircraft); Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), which facilitates the targeting and guidance of the F-35’s munitions; and an AN/ASQ-239 Electronic Warfare Suite, which detects threats and provides electronic countermeasures. Once the U.S. Air Force’s “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” (CCA) program comes online, the F-35 will also be used to control a swarm of friendly drones, fulfilling various other uses.
In sum, the F-22 is a pure fighter, capable of dazzling aerial displays and raw performance. The F-35 is less athletic and ostensibly more humble, but outfitted with more sophisticated software and hardware than any jet in the world. Where the F-22 is brawn, the F-35 is brains—and the Air Force needs both.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the U.S. Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock / Jason Wells.
