16.net - The ultimate F-16, F-35 and F-22 reference (2023)

FAQs

Is the F-22 better than the F-35? ›

The F-22 Raptor is the most powerful air superiority fighter in the world, while the F-35 is probably the most advanced multi-role fighter right now. That means that the Raptor is more effective in air-to-air combats (faster and could operate at higher altitude).

The F-35 has far greater speed and manoeuvrability capabilities compared to the F-16. Its advanced avionics system allows pilots to locate and identify threats, helping them act fast and precisely in combat situations.

The F-22 and the F-35 are the world's finest fifth-generation fighter jets with stealth capabilities, whereas the F-16 is one of the lightest and most maneuverable single-engine combat aircraft.

Speed & Range. Surprisingly, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is faster than the F-35. The F-16 reaches max speeds of Mach 2 while the more recent F-35 Lightning II is less impressive at Mach 1.6.

F-35 Lightning II

The F-35 strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships and powers economic growth. As the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter jet in the world, the F-35 gives pilots the critical advantage against any adversary, enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.

He added that while the MiG-29 has "superior nose-pointing capabilities" when flying at less than 200 knots, F-16s "excel" in such capabilities at speeds above 200 knots. "The turn rate on F-16 is significantly better," he said.

The Su-57 is literally thousands of times larger on radar than American jets like the F-35 and F-22. Any holes or gaps in the exterior shell of a stealth aircraft can dramatically increase its detectability.

F-16s have been used by the United States in Afghanistan since 2001. One USAF F-16 fighter was lost during the operations in Afghanistan: on 3 April 2013 a USAF F-16 crashed near Bagram Airfield in eastern Afghanistan's Parwan province killing its pilot.

Below 200 knots, the MiG-29 has incredible nose-pointing capability down to below 100 knots. The F-16, however, enjoys an advantage in the 200 knot-plus regime. At higher speeds, we can power above them to go to the vertical. And our turn rate is significantly better.

What makes the F-22 so special? ›

The F-22 engines produce more thrust than any current fighter engine. The combination of sleek aerodynamic design and increased thrust allows the F-22 to cruise at supersonic airspeeds (greater than 1.5 Mach) without using afterburner -- a characteristic known as supercruise.

The F-16 Block 70/72, also referred to as the F-16V, is the latest and most sought-after version of the fighter – although Ukraine would receive an older version if the transfer of NATO fighter jets were to be approved. It is a fourth-generation multirole aircraft, targeted primarily at export customers.

F-35: The Verdict. By all accounts, the F-15 is highly capable and extremely advanced aircraft. However, when you compare the fighter to the F-35 Lightning II, it's impossible to dismiss the tremendous avionics and stealth capabilities. The F-35 is harder to detect and competes with other 5th generation fighters.

The F-35 can only tolerate supersonic speeds at high altitudes for short bursts before it sustains lasting structural damage and the loss of stealth capabilities. During high speeds, the jet's stealth coating, which makes it invisible to radar, is known to bubble. There are currently no plans to correct the problem.

The F-35's aligned edges, reduced engine signature, internal carriage of weapons and fuel and embedded sensors all contribute to its unique stealth performance. With stealth designed in from day one, the F-35 has an unmatched ability to evade enemy detection and enter contested airspace.

The F-15 is a legend. The F-15 Eagle and its variants are some of the most capable jet fighters ever. McDonnell Douglas created and produced it primarily as an air superiority tactical fighter.

The United States of America maintains the strongest Air Force in the world by an impressive margin. As of late 2021, the United States Air Force (USAF) is composed of 5217 active aircraft, making it the largest, the most technologically advanced, and the most powerful air fleet in the world.

With the MiG-25 having been practically retired, and the MiG-31 facing a speed limit of Mach 1.5 imposed by the latest modernizations, the F-15 is technically the fastest fighter jet in service in terms of currently deployed aircraft.

The F-22 Is Used By The U.S. Air Force, Not The Navy

Top Gun and its sequel are set in the Navy. However, the F-22 is used by the Air Force, an entirely separate institution. As such, it would have made no sense for Maverick to pilot an F-22 of the aircraft in Top Gun: Maverick.

F6F Hellcat

Hellcats were credited with 5,223 kills, more than any other Allied naval aircraft.

What is the hardest fighter jet to fly? ›

A second U-2 pilot normally "chases" each landing in a high-performance vehicle, assisting the pilot by providing radio inputs for altitude and runway alignment. These characteristics combine to earn the U-2 a widely accepted title as the most difficult aircraft in the world to fly.

Why does Ukraine want them so much? The F-16 has both offensive and defensive capabilities. In the short term, Ukrainian officials say, F-16s and other advanced Western fighter jets are needed to enhance air defenses, since frequent barrages of Russian missiles are exhausting Kyiv's existing ground-launched systems.

Six MiG-29s were shot down during the NATO intervention in the Kosovo War, three by USAF F-15s, one by a USAF F-16, and one by a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16. However, one aircraft, according to its pilot, was hit by friendly fire from the ground. Another four were destroyed on the ground.

The F-15 is considered to have a higher durability and stronger air-to-air combat capabilities than the F-16 due to its heavy armor and upgraded avionics systems.

The Su-57's higher operational altitude and superior flight performance all around will further disadvantage the F-14, leading to an entirely one sided engagement.

A very advanced Russian Very High Frequency (VHF) Band Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) radar, claimed to be capable of detecting even low-observable targets like F-35 stealth aircraft, seems to have been destroyed in Ukraine.

However sophisticated these aircraft are, they may still be vulnerable to air defenses in part because they lack stealth. One of the things that springs to mind is Russia's fleet of Su-57s, their fifth generation stealth fighter jets intended to rival the F-35.

The Chinese surveillance balloon that an F-22 shot down on February 4 showed up amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, the latter of which has been operating a global network of such balloons across five continents, the Pentagon said.

After $67 billion and more than 20 years, the F-22 finally won a dogfight against an unarmed, nearly immobile opponent. When it officially entered military service in 2005, the U.S. Air Force hailed the F-22 Raptor as an "exponential leap in warfighting capabilities."

The pilot survived. May 2, 2005 – 2 F/A-18 Hornets of VMFA-323 are shot down by Iraqi/Al-Qaeda Insurgents over south-central Iraq. Both pilots killed. November 27, 2006- An F-16 Fighting Falcon was shot down by Al-Qaeda/Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah while on a low-altitude ground-strafing run.

What is the Russian equivalent of the F-16? ›

Like the F-16, the Sukhoi Su-35 is a multi-role fighter. A twin-engine, single-seat aircraft, it is described as "Russia's signature heavy fighter bomber" by the RAND Corporation think tank. While the F-16 can reach Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound, Russian sources say the Su-35 has a maximum speed of Mach 2.25.

In comparison to the F-22 Raptor, the Su-57's 3D thrust vectoring control capability is thought to be superior. The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft and the first operational stealth aircraft for the Russian armed forces.

As a fourth-generation jet, entering service with the Soviet Union in the early 1980s, it was designed to be able to compete with the US F-16 and F-15 fighters of the same era.

The Air Force proposed retiring the training F-22s in its fiscal year 2024 budget request because they no longer accurately represent the frontline Block 35, which is the combat-coded and -configured version of the fighter.

Richard Dunleavy, the man responsible for outlining the Navy's requirements for a new fighter, was quoted as saying that he didn't see any way the F-22 could be incorporated into an affordable plan for Naval aviation. As a result, the NATF-22 concept was dropped in early 1991.

The F-22, introduced in 2005, was meant to replace F-15 Eagles, but onlt 187 of them were built. The F-22s that were built are highly capable — good enough in fact that one can take on five F-15s.

The F-18 has some advantages in combat that the F-16 cannot match. It has the ability to take off from aircraft carriers, allowing a more tactical insert into the battle-space. In addition, the F-18 has a longer combat radius of 400 to 500 nautical miles, as opposed to the F-16's combat radius of 296 nautical miles.

One of the most versatile aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the mainstay of the Air Force aerial combat fleet. With over 1,000 F-16s in service, the platform has been adapted to complete a number of missions, including air-to-air fighting, ground attack and electronic warfare.

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter is going out of production in 2025, after 26 years. The Super Hornet was designed as a bigger, beefier Hornet. Super Hornets in service today will be replaced by the F-35 and the Navy's upcoming sixth-generation fighter.

Yes, lots of them. Most 4th-gen aircraft out there are a threat to an F-22 if the conditions are right. Rafales, Eurofighter Typhoons, J-20s, and Su-35s are just a few of the planes that could potentially shoot down an F-22. And let's not forget the S-400 air defense system.

Would F-22 beat F-35 in dogfight? ›

The F-35 includes a host of electronic warfare and sensor systems that give it additional capabilities compared to the F-22, such as the ability to counter anti-aircraft systems and provide better surveillance and target acquisition. This can give the F-35 a decisive advantage in highly aggressive environments.

25 July 1980: F-15A, 76-0013, of the 525th TFS, 36th TFW, USAF, crashed near Spangdahlem, West Germany. 21 January 1981: F-15B, 77-0164, of the 57th FWW, USAF, destroyed in a mid-air collision with an F-5E. Both crew killed as well as F-5E crew.

Thanks to a compromised ability to render their fuel tanks inert, F-35A Lighting IIs can't fly within 25 miles of a thunderstorm or other atmospheric electrical activity.

The F-35 has been troubled by "problems with its stealth coating, sustained supersonic flight, helmet-mounted display, excessive vibration from its cannon, and even vulnerability to being hit by lightning," Business Insider reports.

The F-35A is also the only one of the three Joint Strike Fighter iterations to carry an onboard 25mm GAU-22/A four-barrel Gatling gun, making it best suited for the close-quarters dogfights these exercises were meant to replicate.

The mistake we make when comparing stealth jets

The United States still maintains the largest stealth fleets in the world, with more than 450 F-35s, around 150 F-22s, and 19 B-2 Spritis in active service.

The F-35B has special modifications that allow it to take off and land vertically like a helicopter.

For starters, the United States is often considered supreme in terms of producing highly sophisticated aircraft, like fighter jets. The F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-18 Super Hornet, and F-22 Raptor are just a few examples of top fighters.

The F-22 cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft. A combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, situational awareness, and weapons provides first-kill opportunity against threats.

The F-22 is stealthier overall by about one order of magnitude in RCS. The F-35 is quite close to the F-22 in head-on RCS (within about a factor of 2), but variably less stealthy in other aspects. EDIT: The USAF Brass have admitted that the F-35 is stealthier overall than the F-22.

Have F-22 ever seen combat? ›

After $67 billion and more than 20 years, the F-22 finally won a dogfight against an unarmed, nearly immobile opponent. When it officially entered military service in 2005, the U.S. Air Force hailed the F-22 Raptor as an "exponential leap in warfighting capabilities."

Another key difference between the two aircraft is their cost. The F-22 Raptor is significantly more expensive than the F-35 Lightning II, with a unit cost of approximately $150 million compared to the F-35's unit cost of approximately $89 million.

F-35: The Verdict. By all accounts, the F-15 is highly capable and extremely advanced aircraft. However, when you compare the fighter to the F-35 Lightning II, it's impossible to dismiss the tremendous avionics and stealth capabilities. The F-35 is harder to detect and competes with other 5th generation fighters.

The U.S. Air Force can't use its F-22 Block 20 jets in conflict—because it would require too much effort and cost too much to get the aircraft ready for battle, a top service official said. “They will never be a part of the combat force.

The Su-57 is literally thousands of times larger on radar than American jets like the F-35 and F-22. Any holes or gaps in the exterior shell of a stealth aircraft can dramatically increase its detectability.

This disparity results in a massive range difference, as the J-20 is listed as having a range nearly 3,000 km farther than the F-22. The spec sheet says the J-20 can travel to ranges of 5,926km, a range which puts Taiwan well within reach of mainland China, whereas the F-22 is slated as having a range of 2,963km.

The Su-57 is capable of reaching speeds of over Mach 2 (at altitude) and Mach 1.3 (in super-cruise). Meanwhile, the F-35 only reaches max speeds of Mach 1.6 (1,119 mph). Therefore, the Su-57 has the capability of striking first and then escaping before the F-35 can catch up.

The United States of America maintains the strongest Air Force in the world by an impressive margin. As of late 2021, the United States Air Force (USAF) is composed of 5217 active aircraft, making it the largest, the most technologically advanced, and the most powerful air fleet in the world.

The F-22, introduced in 2005, was meant to replace F-15 Eagles, but onlt 187 of them were built. The F-22s that were built are highly capable — good enough in fact that one can take on five F-15s.

F6F Hellcat

Hellcats were credited with 5,223 kills, more than any other Allied naval aircraft.

What will replace the F-35? ›

The F/A-XX is expected to be the manned fighter component and centerpiece of the Navy's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) family of systems. Although identically named and sharing some technology developments, this program is distinct from the U.S. Air Force's NGAD sixth-generation fighter program.

The United States still maintains the largest stealth fleets in the world, with more than 450 F-35s, around 150 F-22s, and 19 B-2 Spritis in active service.

The Air Force currently has 185 F-22 Raptors. One of the little known facts about the F-22, however, is that just 123 jets are in the primary mission aircraft inventory, meaning they are actually capable of combat.