America's Elite Fighter Jets - a Comparison

For nearly three decades, America's elite fighter jets have been the Navy's F/A-18 Hornet and the Air Force's F-15 Eagle, A-10 Thunderbolt Warthog, and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Allied countries such as Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands have incorporated one or all of these aircraft into their fleets to take advantage of effective and efficient technology. America has been developing two state-of-the-art fighter aircraft that combine the abilities of the F-15, A-10, and F-16 to complement the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and dominate the battlefield. These aircraft are the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The F-22 Raptor was originally developed as an air-dominance fighter to replace the F-15 Eagle. The F-22 features a lethal combination of stealth technology, supermaneuverability, and supercruise technology, and the most sophisticated avionics and weapons system.

The F-35 JSF is primarily a multi-role fighter optimized for air-to-ground, or strike, missions. The F-35 is being developed as an eventual replacement for the A-10 Warthog, the AV-8 Harrier, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The F-35 features vertical takeoff and landing capability, advanced avionics, and weapons system combined with strike weaponry.

Both the F-22 and F-35 are single-seat aircraft, so they must incorporate avionics systems that are very pilot-friendly. The two aircraft have been compared based on the application for the aircraft that will be most affordable and versatile. TheAvionics and Weapons Systems and Mechanics and Flight-Control Surfaces compare each aircraft under warfare conditions, and Combat Radius and Effeciency compares the aircraft in terms of maximum applicable range. The F-22 Raptor will be ready for delivery by 2013, and the F-35 JSF will be ready for delivery by 2016.

Avionics and Weapons Systems

Fighter and strike aircraft are only as effective as the means by which they reach their target, deliver their weapons, and safely egress the battle area.

F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor utilizes fly-by-wire avionics with advanced heads-up display as well as integrated navigation and electronic warfare systems (INEWS). It also has four fixed underwing hardpoints, each capable of carrying 5,000 pounds in external fuel tanks or weapons. The F-22 has a central internal bay with 6 hardpoints and 2 side internal bays with 1 hardpoint each carrying air-intercept (AIM)-9 Sidewinder missiles and generally carries a configuration of 10 AIM-120C missiles and 2 600-gallon fuel tanks or 6 AIM-120C, 2 Global Positioning System-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) 100#, and 2 600-gallon fuel tanks. The F-22 also carries an internal 20MM M61 Gatling gun holding 480 rounds.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter utilizes traditional fly-by-wire avionics with advanced heads-up display (HUD) as well as Northrup Grumman advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) multi-function radar, Snader/Litton Amecon electronic countermeasures equipment, Lockheed Martin electro-optical targeting system, Northrup Grumman distributed aperture infrared sensor (DAIRS) thermal imaging system, and Vision Systems International advanced helmet-mounted display(www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/jsf/htm). It also has four fixed underwing hardpoints, each capable of carrying 5,000 pounds in external fuel tanks or weapons. The F-35 integrates an internal bay with two hardpoints for bombs or missiles. The weapons selection has not yet been proposed for the F-35, but being a strike fighter, the JSF will generally carry a configuration of AIM-9 missiles, AIM-120C missiles, and JDAM 100# along with 600-gallon fuel tanks. The F-35 will generally carry an internal 20MM M61 Gatling gun holding 480 rounds.

Mechanics and Flight-Control Surfaces

F-22 Raptor

The Raptor is equipped with twin Pratt and Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning engines, each producing 35,000 pounds of thrust and capable of Mach 1.8. A new feature of this engine gives the F-22 supercruise capability, which allows the jet to achieve sustained supersonic flight up to Mach 1.5, without using its afterburners(www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/F-22.htm). This results in the Raptor getting to the battle much quicker, without the rapid fuel consumption associated with the afterburners. A thrust-vectoring upgrade to the afterburner nozzles allows the Raptor what is called supermaneuverability, which is heavily-increased turn radius and flight performance. Since the F-22 is equipped with twin engines, it can also take a direct hit in either engine, and still return to its home base. The Raptor also makes use of traditional stealth technology so that it can reach its target undetected by radar.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

The Joint Strike Fighter is equipped with one Pratt and Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning engine producing 35,000 pounds of thrust and capable of Mach 1.8, or alternately with the General Electric F120 afterburning engine. A special feature of this engine for the JSF allows it to vector its thrust downward so that it can land and take off vertically (STOVL). The single-engine design of the F-35 is based on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and makes for a smaller jet, presenting less of a target to ground forces.

Combat Radius and Efficiency

A jet's ability to depart, strike a distant target, and return to base without refueling can make the difference between a successful mission or an unsuccessful one.

F-22 Raptor

The F-22, utilizing supercruise technology, boasts a combat radius of between 650 and 800 nautical miles. The Raptor is an extremely expensive fighter at a unit flyaway cost of $102 million; however, it utilizes the most sophisticated technology ever developed.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

The F-35, utilizing single-engine design, also has a combat radius of over 600 nautical miles. The JSF is a comparitively affordable fighter at a unit flyaway cost of between $28 million and $38 million, depending on the variant. It also utilizes the most sophisticated technology.

The F-35 is a much more affordable aircraft and utilizes avionics and weapons systems that are similar to the F-22. For the title of most effective and affordable new front-line fighter aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is recommended.