{"slug":"f35-vs-f22","title":"F-35 Lightning II vs F-22 Raptor","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22","faqCount":5,"faqs":[{"question":"Why is the F-22 so much more expensive than the F-35?","answer":"The F-22's $361M acquisition cost reflects its development in the 1990s-2000s with cutting-edge air-superiority technology, limited production (187 aircraft total), and stealth optimized primarily for frontal aspects against advanced air threats. The F-35's lower unit cost benefits from larger intended production runs (3,000+ planned), multi-role design spreading development across multiple mission sets, and later manufacturing optimization. F-22's per-unit cost also includes classified technology integration unavailable for export."},{"question":"Which fighter would win in a dogfight?","answer":"The F-22 has significant advantages in close-range combat due to Mach 2.25 speed (vs Mach 1.6), supercruise capability for sustained energy advantage, and superior radar range (200+ nm vs 150+ nm). However, modern air combat rarely reaches dogfight range; the F-35's sensor fusion and networked advantages could detect and engage targets beyond visual range before a dogfight occurs. In a pure 1v1 subsonic dogfight, the F-22's 9g maneuverability and supercruise provide decisive advantage."},{"question":"Can allied countries buy the F-22?","answer":"No. The F-22 is restricted to U.S. use only under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) due to classified stealth and weapons technology. Congress banned foreign sales in 1998. By contrast, the F-35 was specifically designed as an international program with 19 allied nations operating or committed to operate it, including the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea, enabling real-time coalition data sharing."},{"question":"Why does the F-35 have lower operational readiness if it's newer?","answer":"The F-35's 56% readiness rate (vs F-22's 72% in 2023) reflects growing operational complexity with sensor fusion systems, longer repair cycles for advanced avionics, and distributed logistics across 19 nations. The F-22, though older, has mature supply chains and simpler mission systems focused solely on air superiority. F-35 readiness is improving as logistics mature; it was 44% in 2019, showing a 12-point gain."},{"question":"What role does each aircraft serve in modern warfare?","answer":"The F-22 provides contested-airspace dominance, ensuring air superiority before other assets deploy. The F-35 provides multi-role flexibility—performing combat air patrols, close air support, electronic attack, and naval strike—while networking intelligence across coalition forces. Modern doctrine typically uses F-22s to establish air superiority, then deploys F-35s for diverse mission execution. The U.S. operates both to fill complementary roles."}],"faqPageSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#faq","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"F-35 Lightning II vs F-22 Raptor — FAQ","description":"Frequently asked questions about F-35 Lightning II vs F-22 Raptor","dateModified":"2026-06-23T02:34:01.492Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#article"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#faq-speakable","cssSelector":[".faq-answer"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#q1","name":"Why is the F-22 so much more expensive than the F-35?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#a1","text":"The F-22's $361M acquisition cost reflects its development in the 1990s-2000s with cutting-edge air-superiority technology, limited production (187 aircraft total), and stealth optimized primarily for frontal aspects against advanced air threats. The F-35's lower unit cost benefits from larger intended production runs (3,000+ planned), multi-role design spreading development across multiple mission sets, and later manufacturing optimization. F-22's per-unit cost also includes classified technology integration unavailable for export.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#q2","name":"Which fighter would win in a dogfight?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#a2","text":"The F-22 has significant advantages in close-range combat due to Mach 2.25 speed (vs Mach 1.6), supercruise capability for sustained energy advantage, and superior radar range (200+ nm vs 150+ nm). However, modern air combat rarely reaches dogfight range; the F-35's sensor fusion and networked advantages could detect and engage targets beyond visual range before a dogfight occurs. In a pure 1v1 subsonic dogfight, the F-22's 9g maneuverability and supercruise provide decisive advantage.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#q3","name":"Can allied countries buy the F-22?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#a3","text":"No. The F-22 is restricted to U.S. use only under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) due to classified stealth and weapons technology. Congress banned foreign sales in 1998. By contrast, the F-35 was specifically designed as an international program with 19 allied nations operating or committed to operate it, including the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea, enabling real-time coalition data sharing.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#q4","name":"Why does the F-35 have lower operational readiness if it's newer?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#a4","text":"The F-35's 56% readiness rate (vs F-22's 72% in 2023) reflects growing operational complexity with sensor fusion systems, longer repair cycles for advanced avionics, and distributed logistics across 19 nations. The F-22, though older, has mature supply chains and simpler mission systems focused solely on air superiority. F-35 readiness is improving as logistics mature; it was 44% in 2019, showing a 12-point gain.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#q5","name":"What role does each aircraft serve in modern warfare?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22#a5","text":"The F-22 provides contested-airspace dominance, ensuring air superiority before other assets deploy. The F-35 provides multi-role flexibility—performing combat air patrols, close air support, electronic attack, and naval strike—while networking intelligence across coalition forces. Modern doctrine typically uses F-22s to establish air superiority, then deploys F-35s for diverse mission execution. The U.S. operates both to fill complementary roles.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}}]}}