Aircraft comparison
F-22 Raptor vs F-35 Lightning II
Two American fifth-generation fighters, built for different jobs. Compared on speed, weapons, sensors and numbers, using US Air Force figures.
Updated October 2026 · 2 minute read
Is the F-22 better than the F-35?
In air-to-air performance, yes. The F-22 Raptor is a Mach 2 class fighter that can cruise above Mach 1.5 without afterburner and has thrust-vectoring engines; the F-35A tops out at Mach 1.6. The F-35A is the broader aircraft: a multirole fighter built around sensor fusion, with more than 1,000 F-35s delivered against 187 F-22s built. The US Air Force flies both.
F-22 Raptor
Top speed · Supercruise · Thrust vectoring
F-35A Lightning II
Numbers delivered · International operators · Multirole design
F-22 vs F-35 specifications
Figures are for the F-35A, the conventional take-off and landing version flown by the US Air Force, and come from US Air Force fact sheets.
F-22 Raptor
F-35A Lightning II
Advantage
Role
F-22 Raptor
Air superiority
F-35A Lightning II
Multirole stealth
Advantage
Different by design
First flight
F-22 Raptor
1997
F-35A Lightning II
2006
Advantage
—
In service
F-22 Raptor
2005
F-35A Lightning II
2015
Advantage
—
Top speed
F-22 Raptor
Mach 2 class
F-35A Lightning II
Mach 1.6
Advantage
F-22
Supercruise
F-22 Raptor
Above Mach 1.5
F-35A Lightning II
None
Advantage
F-22
Service ceiling
F-22 Raptor
Above 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
F-35A Lightning II
Above 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
Advantage
Even
Combat radius
F-22 Raptor
850 km
F-35A Lightning II
1,241 km
Advantage
F-35
Engines
F-22 Raptor
2 × Pratt & Whitney F119
F-35A Lightning II
1 × Pratt & Whitney F135
Advantage
F-22
Thrust vectoring
F-22 Raptor
Yes, 2D
F-35A Lightning II
No
Advantage
F-22
Radar cross-section
F-22 Raptor
Smallest in service
F-35A Lightning II
Very low
Advantage
F-22
Sensor fusion
F-22 Raptor
First generation
F-35A Lightning II
Most advanced flying
Advantage
F-35
Air-to-ground
F-22 Raptor
Limited
F-35A Lightning II
Primary capability
Advantage
F-35
Carrier capable
F-22 Raptor
No
F-35A Lightning II
Yes (F-35C)
Advantage
F-35
Short take-off
F-22 Raptor
No
F-35A Lightning II
Yes (F-35B)
Advantage
F-35
Cost per unit
F-22 Raptor
$150 million
F-35A Lightning II
$110 million
Advantage
F-35
Number built
F-22 Raptor
187
F-35A Lightning II
1,000+ delivered
Advantage
F-35
Exportable
F-22 Raptor
No, banned by US law
F-35A Lightning II
Yes, 20 nations
Advantage
F-35
Combat record
F-22 Raptor
Syria, 2014 onward
F-35A Lightning II
Israel, 2018 onward
Advantage
Even
Speed and supercruise
The US Air Force gives the F-22's speed as "Mach two class with supercruise capability". Supercruise means cruising at supersonic speed without afterburner, and the F-22 does it at more than Mach 1.5. Its two F119 engines are in the 35,000-pound thrust class each and have two-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles.
The F-35A has one F135 engine of 43,000 pounds thrust and a top speed of Mach 1.6. The Air Force describes it as an agile, 9g-capable fighter. Both aircraft have a ceiling above 15 kilometres (50,000 feet).
Winner
Stealth and weapons
Both are stealth aircraft that can carry their weapons internally. For air-to-air missions the F-22 carries six AIM-120 AMRAAMs in its main bays and two AIM-9 Sidewinders in its side bays, plus a 20-millimetre cannon with 480 rounds. For ground attack it carries two 1,000-pound JDAMs internally.
The F-35A carries weapons both internally and externally. The Air Force's fact sheet says the munitions carried vary with the mission and does not list a fixed load.
Winner
Sensors and avionics
The Air Force says the F-22's sensor suite lets the pilot track, identify and shoot at air-to-air threats before being detected.
The F-35A is described in terms of sensor fusion. Its Distributed Aperture System gives the pilot awareness in a sphere around the aircraft, an internally mounted Electro-Optical Targeting System handles targeting, and the information is shown on the pilot's helmet visor.
Winner
Numbers and operators
Only 187 F-22s were built, and the US Air Force is the only operator. Its inventory stood at 183 as of August 2022. The type reached initial operating capability in December 2005.
The F-35 is a far larger programme. Lockheed Martin says more than 1,000 have been delivered and that twenty nations will operate the type. Nine countries were involved in its development. The Air Force declared the F-35A combat ready on 2 August 2016.
Winner
Why the US Air Force flies both
The F-22 is the air dominance fighter
The Air Force lists the F-22’s primary function as air dominance, with a multi-role capability. It first flew on 7 September 1997.
The F-35 replaces older types
The F-35 was designed to replace US Air Force F-16s and A-10s, US Navy F/A-18s and US Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s.
The F-22 came from a fly-off
The Advanced Tactical Fighter programme entered its demonstration phase in 1986. The YF-22 and YF-23 prototypes both flew in late 1990, and the YF-22 was selected.
Can a civilian fly either aircraft?
No. Both are frontline military aircraft, and Jetify does not offer flights in either.
Jetify's flights use ex-military jets instead. See the fighter jet flights page for the aircraft and locations currently listed.
F-22 vs F-35 questions
Which is better, the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II?
For air-to-air combat, the F-22 Raptor is better than the F-35 Lightning II. The US Air Force describes the F-22 as a Mach 2 class fighter that can supercruise above Mach 1.5 without afterburner, with thrust-vectoring engines. The F-35A is the broader aircraft: a multirole fighter built around sensor fusion. The US Air Force flies both.
Which is faster, the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II?
The F-22 Raptor is faster than the F-35 Lightning II. The US Air Force gives the F-22’s speed as Mach 2 class, and it can cruise above Mach 1.5 without afterburner. The F-35A has a top speed of Mach 1.6 and cannot supercruise.
How many F-22 Raptors were built?
A total of 187 F-22 Raptors were built, and the US Air Force had 183 in its inventory as of August 2022. F-22 production is closed. By comparison, more than 1,000 F-35s have been delivered, according to Lockheed Martin.
Can other countries buy the F-22 Raptor?
No, other countries cannot buy the F-22 Raptor. The US Air Force is its only operator, and US law bars its export. The F-35 Lightning II was designed for international use, and Lockheed Martin says twenty nations will operate it.
Do the F-22 and F-35 carry weapons internally?
Yes, the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II both carry their weapons internally. In air-to-air configuration the F-22 carries six AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two AIM-9 Sidewinders internally, plus a 20mm cannon. The F-35A can carry weapons internally and externally, and its load varies with the mission.
Can a civilian fly in an F-22 or F-35?
No, a civilian cannot fly in an F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II. Both are frontline military aircraft and neither is available for civilian flights. Jetify offers passenger flights in ex-military jets instead, such as the L-39 Albatros from Brno in the Czech Republic, from around £2,500, $3,300 or €2,900.
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