F-22 vs F-35: Which Stealth Fighter Is Better? Specs Compared

Short answer: In the F-22 vs F-35 comparison, the F-22 Raptor is the faster, more maneuverable jet, built first to win control of the air, while the F-35 Lightning II is a multirole stealth fighter built to strike ground targets and collect and share sensor data. The F-22 has two engines, a Mach 2-class top speed and can supercruise above Mach 1.5. The F-35A has one engine and a top speed of Mach 1.6. The U.S. operates fewer than 200 F-22s but more than 800 F-35s, and plans about 1,700 more F-35s.

Last updated: October 27, 2026

F-22 vs F-35: the core difference

Both jets are American fifth-generation stealth fighters led by Lockheed Martin (the F-22 with Boeing), but they were designed for different jobs.

The U.S. Air Force F-22 fact sheet lists its primary function as “air dominance, multi-role fighter.” Its design combines “stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics.” The F-35A fact sheet calls the F-35A a “9g capable multirole fighter” whose sensor package is designed “to gather, fuse and distribute more information than any fighter in history.”

In short, the F-22 is the specialist air-to-air fighter. The F-35 is the do-everything jet meant to replace several older types across three services and many allied air forces.

Specs side by side

Figures below come from the Air Force fact sheets. The F-22 sheet is current as of August 2022, and the F-35A sheet as of April 2014.

Feature	F-22A Raptor	F-35A Lightning II
Primary role	Air dominance, multi-role	Multirole
Engines	Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100, with thrust vectoring	One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
Thrust	35,000-lb class per engine	43,000 lb
Top speed	Mach 2 class; supercruise above Mach 1.5	Mach 1.6 (about 1,200 mph)
Range	1,850+ miles ferry range with two external tanks	1,350+ miles on internal fuel
Ceiling	Above 50,000 ft	Above 50,000 ft
Length / wingspan	62 ft 1 in / 44 ft 6 in	51 ft / 35 ft
Max takeoff weight	83,500 lb	70,000-lb class
Air-to-air load	6 AIM-120 + 2 AIM-9, all internal	Varies by mission
Payload	Two 1,000-lb JDAMs + 2 AIM-120 + 2 AIM-9 (air-to-ground)	18,000 lb, internal and external
Gun	M61A2 20mm, 480 rounds	Not listed on fact sheet
Unit cost (fact sheet)	$143 million	Not listed on fact sheet
Entered service	Initial operating capability December 2005	Development approved October 2001
U.S. fleet	183 (Air Force, August 2022)	800+ (all services, GAO 2026)

Speed, supercruise and maneuverability

The F-22’s biggest edge is performance. The Air Force says its engines “produce more thrust than any current fighter engine” and let it cruise faster than Mach 1.5 without afterburner, which the service calls supercruise. Other fighters must burn fuel-hungry afterburners to fly supersonic. The fact sheet credits thrust vectoring and “high thrust-to-weight ratio” for its agility.

The F-35A’s single engine is more powerful than either of the F-22’s engines on its own, at 43,000 pounds of thrust, but it pushes a single-engine jet with a lower top speed.

Sensors and stealth

Both jets are stealthy, carrying weapons internally to keep a low radar signature. The F-35’s main advance is sensor fusion. The Air Force lists:

the Distributed Aperture System, which gives “situational awareness in a sphere around the aircraft”
the Electro-Optical Targeting System for long-range detection and precision targeting
a helmet-mounted display that puts targeting data on the pilot’s visor
secure data links that share information with other aircraft, ships and ground forces

The F-22 has its own “sophisticated sensor suite” that lets the pilot “track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected,” according to the Air Force. Its strength is first-shot air combat. The F-35’s strength is seeing a wide battlespace and passing that picture to others.

Missions and weapons

The F-22 was built around air-to-air combat but can strike ground targets with two 1,000-pound GBU-32 bombs. The Air Force fact sheet says future upgrades will add up to eight small diameter bombs.

The F-35 comes in three versions, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO): the F-35A for conventional runways, the F-35B for short takeoff and vertical landing, and the F-35C for aircraft carriers. It is replacing the Air Force’s F-16, the Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18C/D Hornet, and other types. Nine countries were involved in its development, per the Air Force.

Fleet size, cost and readiness

This is where the two programs differ most.

F-22: The Air Force lists a total force of 183 Raptors and a unit cost of $143 million.

F-35: GAO’s June 2026 report calls the F-35 the Defense Department’s “most costly weapon system.” It estimates lifetime U.S. sustainment costs at $1.6 trillion through 2088, as of 2024. The Pentagon operates more than 800 U.S. F-35s and plans to buy about 1,700 more by the mid-2040s. GAO also found that readiness has fallen:

F-35 fleet readiness (GAO)	FY2021	FY2025
Mission capable rate	67%	44%
Full mission capable rate	38%	25%
U.S. fleet size	About 450	More than 800

The program office’s “Global Support Solution Reset” calls for about $13.7 billion more than planned through FY2031, aiming for an 80% mission capable rate and a 65% full mission capable rate by 2030. On the production side, see our report on the Pentagon and Lockheed’s 10-year F-35 framework.

Which is better, F-22 or F-35?

It depends on the mission. For pure air superiority, the Air Force’s own description of the F-22 is unusually blunt: “The F-22 cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft.” For strike missions, data sharing and sheer numbers, the F-35 is the backbone of U.S. and allied air power.

China’s J-20 stealth fighter is its closest counterpart, and the Navy’s next carrier jet, the F/A-XX, is meant to follow them.

Peter’s World’s view

Analysis: Peter’s World’s assessment, based on the sources above.

The F-22 vs F-35 question is really a question about quantity. A small, unmatched F-22 fleet cannot be replaced one-for-one, and the F-35 is the jet the U.S. and its allies will have in large numbers for decades. GAO’s readiness figures show that the F-35’s numbers count only if the aircraft are flyable, so its sustainment fix matters as much as any performance gap with the F-22.

Frequently asked questions

Which is faster, the F-22 or the F-35?

The F-22, as the speed row in the comparison table shows. It can also hold supersonic speed without afterburners.

Is the F-22 better than the F-35 in a dogfight?

The F-22 was designed for air-to-air combat, with two engines, thrust vectoring and a high thrust-to-weight ratio, and the Air Force says it can outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. The F-35 relies more on sensors and detecting threats first.

Why did the U.S. build the F-35 if it had the F-22?

The F-35 was designed as an affordable multirole jet to replace many older aircraft, including F-16s, A-10s, Harriers and Hornets, across three services and partner nations. The F-22 is a specialized air-dominance fighter.

How many F-22s are there?

The Air Force fact sheet lists a total force of 183 F-22s as of August 2022.

How much does an F-22 cost compared with an F-35?

The Air Force lists the F-22’s unit cost at $143 million. For the F-35, GAO focuses on lifetime sustainment, estimated at $1.6 trillion for the U.S. fleet.

Can the F-35 supercruise?

The Air Force fact sheet does not list supercruise for the F-35A. Its listed top speed is Mach 1.6.

This article was written by Peter with AI assistance and checked against the sources linked. See our AI use disclosure.

F-22 vs F-35: Speed, Stealth, Cost and Fleet Size Compared