From 19FortyFive.com: Is the F-22 the best fighter plane in the world? It is one of the only fifth-generation stealth warplanes, the others including the F-35, the Russian Su-57, and China’s J-20. I’m going to give the F-22 the distinction of being the best overall fighter plane, with the F-35 coming in at a close second. Let’s take a look at what makes the F-22 so great.
For starters, the F-22 combines stealth with great speed and maneuverability – performance factors that pilots love. The F-22 is an air superiority fighter, while the F-35 is intended for multi-role missions. So if what we want is straight-up flying ability and air dominance, the F-22 wins. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, and high-speed aerodynamics means it can best enemy air defenses and deliver its weapons. It is lethal.
If speed is what you need, the F-22 does not disappoint. It can hit Mach-2.2, versus Mach-1.6 for the F-35. The Su-57 needs full afterburner to reach Mach-2.2, while the J-20 can speed along at Mach-2.0. Powering the F-22’s speed are its two thrust-vectoring engines – Pratt & Whitney F119s.
