{"slug":"f-22-vs-f-35","question":"F-22 vs F-35","answer":"The F-22 Raptor is a dedicated air superiority fighter optimized for speed and dogfighting, while the F-35 Lightning II is a multi-role stealth fighter designed for versatility across air, land, and naval operations. The F-22 excels in pure fighter performance, whereas the F-35 offers greater flexibility and international compatibility.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"The F-22 remains unmatched in air-to-air combat and speed, making it the world's premier air superiority fighter. The F-35 provides superior versatility, affordability, and interoperability, making it better suited for modern multi-domain operations and coalition warfare. The choice depends on strategic priorities: pure air dominance versus operational flexibility.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Primary Role","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Air Superiority Fighter","entityBValue":"Multi-Role Combat Fighter"},{"label":"Maximum Speed","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Mach 2.25","entityBValue":"Mach 1.6"},{"label":"Operational Flexibility","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Limited to air combat","entityBValue":"Air, ground, naval operations"},{"label":"Production Status","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Limited production (195 built)","entityBValue":"Ongoing production (1000+ built)"},{"label":"International Availability","winner":"b","entityAValue":"US only","entityBValue":"NATO allies and partners"}],"winner":{"slug":"f-35","name":"F-35"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"F-22","slug":"f-22","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/f-22","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/f-22"},{"name":"F-35","slug":"f-35","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/f-35","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/f-35"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Why is the F-22 so much faster than the F-35?","answer":"The F-22 was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter with maximum speed as a key requirement. It features more powerful engines relative to its weight and is optimized for high-speed performance. The F-35, designed as a multi-role fighter, prioritizes other capabilities like payload capacity and sensor fusion, resulting in lower maximum speed."},{"question":"Can the F-35 replace the F-22?","answer":"No. While the F-35 is more versatile and affordable, it cannot match the F-22's air-to-air combat performance and speed. The US military maintains both aircraft for different missions: F-22 for air superiority and F-35 for multi-domain operations. They are complementary, not interchangeable."},{"question":"Why is the F-22 so expensive?","answer":"The F-22 costs more per unit ($350M vs $130M) due to limited production numbers (only 195 built), advanced technology development costs spread across fewer airframes, and specialized manufacturing requirements. The F-35's lower unit cost benefits from higher production volumes across multiple nations."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f-22-vs-f-35","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f-22-vs-f-35), The F-22 Raptor is a dedicated air superiority fighter optimized for speed and dogfighting, while the F-35 Lightning II is a multi-role stealth fighter designed for versatility across air, land, and n","dateModified":"2026-05-28T08:00:37.570Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/f-22-vs-f-35","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/f-22-vs-f-35","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/f-22-vs-f-35","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f-22-vs-f-35#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f-22-vs-f-35","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"F-22 vs F-35","reviewBody":"The F-22 Raptor is a dedicated air superiority fighter optimized for speed and dogfighting, while the F-35 Lightning II is a multi-role stealth fighter designed for versatility across air, land, and naval operations. The F-22 excels in pure fighter performance, whereas the F-35 offers greater flexibility and international compatibility.","datePublished":"2026-05-28T08:00:37.569Z","dateModified":"2026-05-28T08:00:37.570Z","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5,"alternateName":"High Confidence"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net"},"itemReviewed":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f-22-vs-f-35","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f-22-vs-f-35","name":"F-22 vs F-35","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}