5th Generation Fighter Jet Comparison: F-22 Raptor VS F-35 Lightning II

        Development of two fighters in parallel with complementary roles, one heavyweight and more costly and the other light and relatively cheap, is far from unprecedented. The F-22 as an elite heavy fighter built to engage the most advanced enemy combat aircraft is a direct successor to the F-15C Eagle and F-4E Phantom from the respective fourth and third generations, while the F-35 follows on from the F-16 Falcon and the F-5E Tiger II in fulfilling the role of a low cost and versatile light fighter capable of fulfilling any number of roles on the battlefield but specialised in none of them. 

        The heavy air superiority fighters have been far more restricted in their exports compared to their lighter counterparts, with the F-22 banned from export entirely while lighter aircraft have been built in much larger numbers, widely exported to all manner of U.S. allies and non aligned states, and in the fourth and fifth generations also acquired in much larger numbers by the U.S. Military itself.

Video Credit: Out Of Your Mind

           The F35 Lightning II is a Lockheed Martin aircraft, first introduced in 2015. The F-22 Raptor, on the other hand, was first introduced in 2005 by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

        Most of the airframe and weapon system for F-22 was developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, while Boeing Defense, Space & Security contributed to the development of wings and integration of avionics and training systems.