{"slug":"f35-vs-f22)","question":"F-35 Lightning II vs F-22 Raptor","answer":"The F-22 is a superior air-to-air fighter with better speed and maneuverability, while the F-35 is a versatile multi-role platform designed for ground attack, naval operations, and coalition warfare across three variants. The F-22 excels in air dominance while the F-35 prioritizes mission flexibility and affordability.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose the F-22 if you need absolute air superiority with superior speed, maneuverability, and long-range combat range—it remains the world's most dominant air-to-air fighter. Choose the F-35 if you need a versatile, affordable platform that operates across multiple domains, integrates with allied forces, and performs strike, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare missions alongside traditional combat roles.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Primary Mission Focus","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Air superiority and air-to-air combat","entityBValue":"Multi-role (air-to-air, air-to-ground, electronic warfare)"},{"label":"Maximum Speed","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Mach 2.25 (1,190 knots)","entityBValue":"Mach 1.6+ (880 knots)"},{"label":"Combat Radius","winner":"a","entityAValue":"760 nautical miles","entityBValue":"717 nautical miles"},{"label":"Unit Cost (2024 USD)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"$150 million per aircraft","entityBValue":"$84-130 million per aircraft"},{"label":"International Availability","winner":"b","entityAValue":"US-only (export ban)","entityBValue":"35+ allied nations approved"}],"winner":{"slug":"f-35-lightning-ii","name":"F-35 Lightning II"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"F-22 Raptor","slug":"f-22-raptor","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/f-22-raptor","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/f-22-raptor"},{"name":"F-35 Lightning II","slug":"f-35-lightning-ii","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/f-35-lightning-ii","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/f-35-lightning-ii"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Which fighter would win in a dogfight between F-22 and F-35?","answer":"The F-22 would have a significant advantage in a close-range dogfight due to its superior turn rate (60°/second vs F-35's 50°/second), higher speed (Mach 2.25 vs 1.6), and better sustained energy. However, in a BVR (beyond visual range) scenario with F-35's superior sensors and networking, the F-35 pilot would likely have tactical advantages through information dominance before engaging. Real-world combat would depend on scenario, pilot training, and tactical doctrine."},{"question":"Why is the F-35 used by so many more countries than the F-22?","answer":"The F-22 has an export ban enforced by US law to protect advanced stealth technology, limiting it to USAF and USMC only. The F-35 was explicitly designed as an international program from inception with 35+ allied nations participating in development and approved for procurement. Additionally, the F-35's multi-role capability, lower cost, and three variants (carrier, STOVL, conventional) make it adaptable to different military needs, while the F-22 focuses solely on air superiority."},{"question":"What is the cost difference and what does it mean?","answer":"The F-22 costs approximately $150 million per unit with $44,000/hour operating costs, while F-35 averages $107 million with $25,000/hour operating costs. This 43% unit cost difference means a country can afford 2-3 F-35s for every F-22. For USAF, this translates to 187 F-22s versus projections of 2,456 F-35s, providing broader coverage and redundancy, though sacrificing the air superiority specialization of the Raptor."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)), The F-22 is a superior air-to-air fighter with better speed and maneuverability, while the F-35 is a versatile multi-role platform designed for ground attack, naval operations, and coalition warfare a","dateModified":"2026-07-08T14:12:21.244Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/f35-vs-f22)","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/f35-vs-f22)","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/f35-vs-f22)","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"F-35 Lightning II vs F-22 Raptor","reviewBody":"The F-22 is a superior air-to-air fighter with better speed and maneuverability, while the F-35 is a versatile multi-role platform designed for ground attack, naval operations, and coalition warfare across three variants. The F-22 excels in air dominance while the F-35 prioritizes mission flexibility and affordability.","datePublished":"2026-07-08T14:12:21.186Z","dateModified":"2026-07-08T14:12:21.244Z","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/f35-vs-f22)","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)","name":"F-35 Lightning II vs F-22 Raptor","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}