The F-22 and F-35A serve different mission priorities. Public speed and engine figures help explain their designs, but do not determine which aircraft would win a fight.
Use the right variant and question
This page compares the F-22A with the conventional-takeoff F-35A. It does not substitute the F-35B’s short-takeoff/vertical-landing configuration or the carrier-based F-35C. The U.S. Air Force describes the F-22 as an air-superiority aircraft with additional attack capability; the F-35A is a multirole fighter.
| Public fact-sheet item | F-22 | F-35A |
|---|---|---|
| Speed wording | Mach 2 class | Mach 1.6 |
| Engines | Two F119 engines | One F135 engine |
| Role emphasis | Air superiority; additional attack capability | Multirole operations |
| Comparison limit | These public specifications do not predict the outcome of combat. | |
Why some sources list Mach 2.25 for the F-22
The general USAF fact sheet uses “Mach 2 class,” while the Air Force Academy’s 2016 aircraft summary lists Mach 2.25. The encyclopedia retains that more specific published value. The difference in wording should be visible, rather than presented as a newly measured record or used to infer a precise operational advantage.
What speed does not measure
Maximum speed does not summarize sensor performance, weapons, fuel state, training, support aircraft or mission planning. A useful comparison starts with a particular mission. It also distinguishes maximum dash speed from supercruise and does not mix ferry range with combat radius. Public figures may use different fuel and payload conditions.
Stealth is reduced detectability, not invisibility. Precise radar cross-section rankings without radar frequency, viewing angle, configuration and traceable measurements cannot establish a winner.
Sources and next step
Open the two aircraft in the comparison tool · Read how stealth works
- USAF — F-22 Raptor fact sheet
- USAF — F-35A Lightning II fact sheet
- U.S. Air Force Academy — 2016 F-22A aircraft summary
Source scope checked September 28, 2026. The linked public fact sheets have their own publication/update dates; this check does not make them 2026 performance tests.