{"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":"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."},{"question":"Is the F-22 still relevant in modern warfare?","answer":"Yes, the F-22 remains the world's most formidable air-to-air fighter with no peer competitors. Its Mach 2.25 speed, superior maneuverability, and proven combat record in Middle Eastern operations make it essential for contested airspace scenarios. However, modern warfare emphasizes multi-domain integration where the F-35's ground attack, electronic warfare, and sensor-to-shooter networking provide strategic value. Most air forces require both platform types for complementary capabilities."},{"question":"Can F-35 variants operate together effectively?","answer":"Yes, the three F-35 variants (F-35A conventional, F-35B STOVL, F-35C carrier) share 80% commonality and operate on unified C2 networks with real-time sensor fusion. A carrier strike group can integrate F-35Cs with F-35Bs from amphibious ships, and land-based F-35As can coordinate through the same Link 16 datalink. This inter-variant compatibility is a major advantage of the F-35 ecosystem that enables flexible task organization unavailable with single-variant aircraft."}],"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":"2026-07-08T14:12:21.244Z","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","cssSelector":["#faq",".faq-item"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which fighter would win in a dogfight between F-22 and F-35?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why is the F-35 used by so many more countries than the F-22?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the cost difference and what does it mean?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is the F-22 still relevant in modern warfare?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, the F-22 remains the world's most formidable air-to-air fighter with no peer competitors. Its Mach 2.25 speed, superior maneuverability, and proven combat record in Middle Eastern operations make it essential for contested airspace scenarios. However, modern warfare emphasizes multi-domain integration where the F-35's ground attack, electronic warfare, and sensor-to-shooter networking provide strategic value. Most air forces require both platform types for complementary capabilities.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can F-35 variants operate together effectively?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, the three F-35 variants (F-35A conventional, F-35B STOVL, F-35C carrier) share 80% commonality and operate on unified C2 networks with real-time sensor fusion. A carrier strike group can integrate F-35Cs with F-35Bs from amphibious ships, and land-based F-35As can coordinate through the same Link 16 datalink. This inter-variant compatibility is a major advantage of the F-35 ecosystem that enables flexible task organization unavailable with single-variant aircraft.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/f35-vs-f22)"}}]}}