Both the F-22 and J-20 were introduced to be at the stealthiest aircraft for their respective countries. Since the introduction of the J-20 in 2017, people have begun to wonder which is the superior aircraft!
Despite both aircraft being designed roughly a decade apart from one another, both the F-22 and J-20 are considered to be among the best fighter jets currently in the sky.
F-22 vs J-20: What is Stealth?
In recent years, the concept of stealth has gotten a bit of a bad rep. This is due to a number of different reasons, but its mostly down to a misconception as to what stealth actually is!
Partly due to recent aviation-themed movies, people have got certain beliefs as to what stealth actually is. And they’re usually not correct.
Stealth has been around since the 1960’s, with the introduction of the Blackbird family (SR-71, A-12, YF-12 and D-21). However, how it is done has come along a lot in the past 60 years.
Originally, it was fast speeds, high altitudes, being made out of radar absorbing materials, and being painted in radar absorbing paint that did the trick. But radar manufacturers have gotten wise to this.
Due to this, aircraft manufacturers have had to devise newer ways to make their aircraft stealthier. Sadly, much of this is classified, and something we won’t know until fifth generation aircraft (such as the J-20, F-22 and F-35) are retired.
What we do know is that both the F-22 and J-20 (as well as other stealth aircraft like the F-35) are made from radar absorbing materials. These are materials that have particular properties that absorb radar waves.
On top of this, both the F-22 and J-20 are designed in such a way that their fuselages actually reflect radar waves away from the source.
With previous aircraft, the radar waves hit and return back to the radar station. However, with stealth aircraft, the radar waves hit, and get reflected downwards or sideways rather than to the radar station.
F-22 vs J-20: The Basics
Before we can truly compare the F-22 and J-20 to one another, we first need to understand the basics of both aircraft. Not only when they built, but also why and what purpose they’d eventually fulfill.
F-22 Raptor
In the 1980’s, both the F-15 and F-16 had recently entered service with the USAF. However, the USAF had no replacement aircraft, so the USAF began to search for an aircraft that could replace both aircraft’s roles.
Fears compounded when the Soviets released both their Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter jets. Fears abounded that both aircraft were superior to the Su-27 and MiG-29, which ultimately proved to be false.
Regardless, the USAF launched the Advanced Tactical Fighter program to procure an air superiority fighter that could replace the F-15 and F-16.
As a part of the program, the USAF reached out to all of the US’s major aircraft manufacturers in September 1985. By May 1986, Northrop and Lockheed’s designs were chosen to be manufactured into prototypes.
This culminated in the Lockheed YF-22 and Northrop YF-23 prototypes.
The USAF would test both aircraft rigorously over the course of the late 1980’s. However, in late April 1991, the USAF announced that despite the YF-23 being stealthier, the YF-22 would make for a better aircraft for the USAF.
Lockheed and Boeing would produce the F-22 together, playing on each other’s strengths.
The F-22 would first fly on September 7 1997, after modifications were made, the YF-22 would enter service with the USAF on December 15 2005. Here, the USAF would designate the F-22 as the F-22 Raptor.
J-20 Mighty Dragon
In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. In 1991, the Soviet Union fell. These two acts ended the decades-long stalemate that was the Cold War. With this, China arose to become a viable threat to the position of the world’s de facto superpower.
China’s industrial output rivalled, and often outclassed, those in the West. But China’s military was still lacking. Most of its weapons, aircraft and ships were either Soviet-era, or were derived from Soviet gear.
Over the course of the 1990’s, China would design and build a number of replacement aircraft, such as its infamous J-10 fighter. During this time, China would also begin considering replacements for aircraft like the J-10.
During this time, China had closely studied the X-29 and Su-47 Berkut programs. When these were axed in favor of stealth aircraft like the F-22 and Su-47. China too would begin looking into its own stealth aircraft.
To do this, China would task the Chengdu subsidiary of CAC to develop this, which it would do through the top secret J-XX program. Eventually, this would reveal the J-20, which was nicknamed 威龙 (or “Mighty Dragon” in English).
Chengdu would reveal the J-20 in 2016, after performing a number secret test flights, beginning in January 2011. The J-20 has been in production since 2009, and has been in service since March 2017.
F-22 vs J-20: Specs
Due mostly to how new both the F-22 and J-20 are, neither Lockheed nor Chengdu have developed multiple variants of their respective aircraft. As such, there is only one variant of each aircraft you can compare!
This is the F-22A, currently in service with the USAF, for the F-22. For the J-20, this is the standard J-20, currently in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (otherwise known as the Chinese Air Force).
Although, in July 2020, Chinese state media did announce a new variant of the J-20, the J-20B, but this has not been built as of the time of writing.
| Specifications | F-22A Raptor | J-20 Mighty Dragon |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m) | 14 ft 7 in (4.45 m) |
| Wingspan | 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m) | 44 ft 2 in (13.5 m) |
| Length | 62 ft 1 in (18.92 m) | 66 ft 10 in (20.4 m) |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2.25 (2,778 km/h; 1,726 mph; 1,500 kn) | Mach 2 (2,470 km/h; 1,535 mph; 1,333 kn) |
| Aspect Ratio | 2.36 | 2.53 |
| Range | 1,600 nmi (1,800 mi, 3,000 km) | 3,200 nmi (3,600 mi 6,000 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 65,000 ft (20,000 m) | 66,000 ft (20,100 m) |
| MTOW | 83,500 lb (38,000 kg) | 80,000 lb (36,300 kg) |
| G Limits | +9.0/−3.0 | +9.0/−3.0 |
| Armament | M61A2 cannon; 2x AIM-9; 6x AIM-120; 2x GBU-32; 2x AIM-120 | PL-10; PL-12; PL-15; PL-21; LS-6 Precision-guided bomb |
F-22 vs J-20: Costs
After looking at the F-22 and J-20’s specs, it may be tempting to declare a winner. However, as with everything else in life, the real effectiveness of both aircraft comes down to money.
F-22 Raptor
In 2009, Lockheed Martin were offering the F-22A Raptor to the USAF for $150 million per aircraft. Today, this $150 million would be worth roughly $182 million.
However, even if you were a high ranking officer in a US-allied air force, legally acquiring the F-22 would be impossible. In 2006, Congress passed a bill banning the exportation of the F-22 for reasons of national security.
Instead, Lockheed offer the still very stealthy, but comparably inferior F-35 to US allies (pending congressional approval).
According to Forbes, the F-22 is one of the most expensive aircraft to operate currently used by the USAF. The F-22 costs roughly $33,000 per hour to operate, including fuel, wages and maintenance.
As of the time of writing, nobody has attempted to buy an inoperable F-22 for private reasons (to fly it as a warbird, as is fairly common). This is mostly due to the fact that the USAF probably won’t do this for another decade or two.
Assuming that you were physically and legally able to, chance are that you wouldn’t be able to buy a working F-22. Instead, it would likely be nothing more than a museum display, and even then, you’d be pushing it!
J-20 Mighty Dragon
On the other hand, as of the time of writing, there is no set price for a brand new J-20. The Chinese military and Chengdu itself are rather tight-lipped as to how much a J-20 actually costs.
This leads Western military analysts to speculate how much a new J-20 actually costs, most varying greatly.
On the low end, Western military analysts speculate that a brand new J-20 costs around $30 million. On the high end, Western military analysts speculate that a brand new J-20 costs $120 million.
Due to China’s secrecy, some analysts believe that China has built the J-20 like the Russians have built the Su-57. To simply overwhelm the F-22 by sheer numbers rather than actual superiority.
Others believe that Chengdu has built the J-20 like the Americans have built the F-22. To be the best aircraft in the skies. This is to be designed by the best engineers, and built on the best production lines!
By the same token, we don’t actually know how much the J-20 costs to operate. Likewise, this hasn’t stopped Western militaries from estimating. These estimates range from $20,000 to $45,000 per hour to operate.
There is a high likelihood that both of these factors are intertwined. Generally speaking, if it costs more to buy, it costs more to operate and vice versa.
F-22 vs J-20: Operations
Despite both aircraft being so new, both the F-22 and J-20 have seen quite eventful service lives.
F-22 Raptor
The F-22 entered service with the USAF on December 15 2005. Here, the first major use of the F-22 was in June 2006, during Alaska’s famed Exercise Northern Edge at Elmendorf Air Force Base.
Here, the USAF would test its first 12 F-22s against 108 USAF F-15s and F-16s. The F-22 would down all of its adversaries in record time, all whilst suffering no casualties.
In February 2007, the F-22 would be deployed from Hickam AFB in Hawaii to Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan. This was partly due to the threat of both Russia and China, as well as the threat of North Korea.
Since then, the F-22 has been deployed on numerous occasions back to Kadena AFB. This has similarly been for the aforementioned reasons, as well as the threat of Iran, usually with it straying into US-allied airspace.
In 2017, the F-22 was deployed to Afghanistan. This was the first combat deployment of the F-22. Here, the F-22 would serve alongside the B-52 in a light bomber capacity, bombing Taliban-controlled Afghan opium fields.
Due in part to Lockheed Martin having only produced less than 200 copies of the F-22, the F-22 is relatively rare. As such, it is a common display at airshows, usually in the US, but also in allied countries such as the UK (at airshows like RIAT).
J-20 Mighty Dragon
Chengdu began testing the J-20 in January 2011. The Chinese military would begin testing the J-20 in 2015.
The J-20 made its first public appearance during the Zhuhai Airshow (also known as Airshow China) in 2016. This appearance was heralded by China’s state media, as the dawn of a new era for China.
The J-20 would officially enter service in March 2017, following the delivery of several J-20s to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Officially, training on the J-20 wouldn’t begin until September that same year.
Here, the J-20 would become the first non-American-made fifth generation aircraft to enter service in the world, and the first fifth generation aircraft in Asia!
Many of the J-20’s initial pilots have been some of China’s best J-10 pilots (roughly akin to the F-16, Rafale and Typhoon). The original batch of J-20 pilots are now fully trained, and based at Wuhu Air Base, in Anhui.
In recent years, the J-20 has been present at several of China’s major military parades. This is usually done as a show of power, rather than as anything else.
According to defense analysts, the J-20 will also be delivered to the Chinese Navy. Here, it is expected to be deployed on China’s newly commissioned Shandong aircraft carrier or another Type 002 currently under production.
F-22 vs J-20: Opinions
As usual, I had the good fortune of interviewing a number people in number of different aviation-related groups about their opinions on the matter of “F-22 vs J-20?”
Pilots
Sadly, China does not allow its pilots to talk to the press that often. When they do, questions and answers are preset, with the answers from the Chinese pilots being particularly vague, and nigh-on unusable.
On top of this, J-20 pilots refuse to comment on their aircraft for reasons of national security. Luckily, I was able to interview a Chinese pilot who’d flown alongside the J-20.
He claimed that the J-20 was superior to his J-10 and was likely far superior to anything the West could throw at it, including the F-22 and F-35, after having previously encountering the former in a J-10.
I was also able to interview several F-22 pilots. For some, they were convinced that if the F-22 ever went up against the J-20, the F-22 would lose. Others, were more skeptical, believing that the USAF should be compiling more data.
Avgeeks
As per usual, I was able to interview a number of avgeeks in both the East and the West. Usually, there is a very clear-cut East-West divide in these types of articles, but for this one, not so much.
It seemed as though it was only the Chinese avgeeks who seemed to like the J-20. Just about everyone else, regardless of whether you were in France, the US or Russia, seemed to prefer the F-22 over the J-20.
We can speculate that this is due to the state-run media in China, which often runs stories on how good the J-20 is. This, in turn, gives many Chinese, the belief that the J-20 is the superior aircraft, whether right or wrong.
On the other hand, the J-20 is unproven, whilst the F-22 is not. The rest of the world has had over one and a half decades to see the F-22 prove itself time and time again. The J-20 hasn’t.
Public
We were fortunate enough to go to several places and interview members of the general public as to their views on both aircraft, both in the US, and in the UK.
Naturally, due mostly to the sample, the overwhelming majority of people we interviewed seemed to prefer the F-22. Although, I must say that many people told me they’d never heard of the J-20!
For many of them, the F-22 was the more familiar aircraft. Since the introduction of the costly and vehemently disliked F-35, the F-22 has gotten a good reputation in the West, often at the F-35’s expense.
So when it’s compared with an aircraft that nobody knows that much about, the well known F-22 seems superior. This is even after they’ve read a little about the J-20!
Me
Usually when I write an aircraft comparison article, I say something like: “Prior to writing this article, I had never really given it much thought, but over the course of writing this article, I’ve begun to prefer X aircraft over X aircraft”.
However, I can’t say that the same is true with this article. I genuinely have no idea. Prior to writing this article, I really liked the F-22, but I’ve also found myself liking the J-20 too, which is strange, because we know nothing about it!
Personally, I have seen the F-22 countless times at airshows. It is by far one of my favorite military aircraft, and my favorite of the 21st Century for sure.
But I’ve also found myself liking the J-20. The fact that we know nothing about it probably gives it that air of mystery that captivates me. Perhaps the Chinese are so secretive because it’s so bad, or maybe because it’s so good!
Sadly, we probably won’t know until/if these aircraft ever go up against one another…
Summary
All in all, the F-22 and the J-20 are about the same size, with there F-22 being only marginally larger. This makes the J-20 slightly lighter than the F-22, although only by 3,500 kg (1,700 lb).
The F-22 is the much faster aircraft, being roughly 300 km/h faster than the J-20. However, the F-22 sacrifices range for speed, with the J-20 having roughly double the range the F-22 does.
Lockheed Martin designed the F-22 to be stealthier than any aircraft before or after it. As such, it has a much smaller aspect ratio than the J-20, making it stealthier.
The F-22 is similarly superior in terms of armament, being able to carry more weaponry than the J-20 can. However, the J-20 can travel at a higher altitude, if even if only by 1,000 feet.
Both aircraft are matched, however, when it comes to aerobatics, as both aircraft have the exact same g limits.
However, as of the time of writing, there are a lot more F-22s than there are J-20s. To date, there are roughly 200 F-22s, but only 50 J-20s currently in service. Although, it’s likely that there will be more J-20s built in the coming months and years.
F-22 vs J-20: Which is the best stealth aircraft? Tell me in the comments!