The skies above the Korean Peninsula recently witnessed an extraordinary ballet of advanced stealth technology as U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors engaged in a rare aerial matchup with South Korean F-35A Lightning IIs.

This remarkable encounter has reignited the perennial debate within aviation circles: Which fifth-generation fighter jet holds supremacy, the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II?

The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft stand out as the most sophisticated fighter jets globally.

Exclusive to the U.S. Air Force, the F-22 Raptor operates, whereas various variants of the F-35 Lightning II are utilized across 18 nations.

The two aircraft serve distinct purposes. The F-22 functions as an air superiority fighter aircraft crafted to dominate the skies by eliminating enemy aircraft and paving the path for friendly assets.

On the other hand, the F-35 operates as a multirole fighter jet capable of coordinating and guiding allied air, ground, and naval units, in addition to engaging targets both in the air and on the ground.

Recently, in the southern region of the Korean Peninsula, two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors engaged with two South Korean F-35A Lightning IIs.

As per the Korean Air Force’s report, the stealth aircraft engaged in dogfights, alternating between offensive and defensive tactics.

The F-22, theoretically better equipped for close-range combats, was anticipated to hold the upper hand against its more contemporary counterpart.

Former Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh had previously delineated the distinct roles of these aircraft, asserting, “The F-35 was never designed to be the next dog fighting machine. It was designed to be the multipurpose, data-integration platform that could do all kinds of things in the air-to-ground arena.”

Despite being rooted in different design philosophies, the F-22 and F-35 share similar levels of stealth, with an advantage going to the Raptor due to its lower radar cross-section.

Regarding armaments, the F-35 boasts an impressive array of munitions, including the capability to perform nuclear strikes and air-to-ground attacks – roles that the F-22 does not naturally assume.

However, the Raptor compensates with its own lethal payload. The F-22 has the capacity to accommodate six LAU-142/A launchers for beyond-line-of-sight missiles.

Each of the other two weapons bays is equipped with a LAU-141/A launcher for firing short and medium-range Sidewinders and AMRAAMs, granting the Raptor a competitive edge in dogfights.

Additionally, the aircraft can also conduct ground strikes utilizing precision-guided and unguided bombs.

Relevant articles:
– F-22 Raptor vs. F-35 Lightning II: The Ultimate Fighter Jet Battle, The National Interest
– F-35 Pilot Compares F-22 Raptor With F-35; Explains What Makes Lightning-II Aircraft Truly ‘Unbeatable’, EurAsian Times
– F-35 Vs F-22: Comparing & Contrasting The Iconic Lockheed Martin Fighter Jets, Simple Flying
– F-22 Raptor vs. F-35 Lightning II Is the Ultimate Stealth Fight (And It Just Happened), The National Interest