What's the point of the f-22 if we are building the f-35?

Question

the f-22 should be rolling off of the production line any time now, but i heard that the f-35, which is similar but even more high-tech than the f-22, will be sold in 2008.

f-22: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-22-19990601-f-0000l-001.jpg
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/f22/images/F-22_DVD-1114-1_375x300.jpg

f-35: http://science.compulenta.ru/upload/iblock/c87/f35_270.jpg
http://www.avions-militaires.net/images/photos/photo2/f35.jpg

Answer 1

Answer to that is actually very simple:

F-22 is meant to replace the F-15 as the air superiority fighter

F-35 is a much smaller plane meant to replace the F-16 / F/A-18, and the VTOL version meant to replace the AV-8 Harrier.

Answer 2

The F-22 is an Air Superiority Fighter, while the F-35 is primarily for strike. For the F-35 to be combat effective, clear domination of the skies are required and thats what the Raptor is there for.

I have to disagree with several of the other posts. While destruction of the aircrafts on ground is possible, its not always practical as combat alert situation will keep airborne defenders and the new Sukhois are armed for massacre of the mud movers if they ever pounce on the Lightnings without fighter support. Radar technology is evolving much faster than stealthy airframes and RAM coatings, so going in to a theater with Sukhois and MiGs doing CAP relying on "stealth" alone need to be thought over again.

I guess the Tomahawks could do the parked aircraft destruction better.

While its nice to hear that the mighty US is wary of the growing Indian AF, I'd like to point out that we havent invaded any country in the last 10,000 years and we dont have offensive doctrines. The new Sukhois are just as replacements for the geriatric MiG-21/23s. And as someone had said earlier, we dont have the Su-32 bomber, which is the offensive Flanker variant.

As for the "defeat" of the F-15s by the Su-30 MK (It's Su-30 MK, not even the MKI), please consider it as a farce. The F-15s had severe limitations including no BVR weapons and the IAF aircrafts outnumbered them significantly.

So the answer is the F-35 is not really capable of delivering its attack without some support from the Raptor. You will need both to balance the combat.

Answer 3

Well this retired AF mud-mover completely agrees with you. The history of the F-22 was to be a replacement for the F15. In other words an air superiority fighter to defeat the Soviet forces in Central Europe. The development took so long that one can make an argument, that the usefulness of this weapon is limited.
Since WW2, it's been known that the best way to defeat an enemy's air force is to destroy it on the ground -where aircraft spend the majority of their time. The evolution of tactics and weapons in the West has led to the use of radar-evading strike aircraft and cruise missiles to attack enemy air defenses (something not thought of in the early 1980s when the F22 was under development). The bottom line is the F22 is optimized for air-air, despite the AF's lame attempt to redesignate it "F/A-22".
The F35 is a strike fighter replacement for the F16, and F117 (possible the A10 as well). Given the current conflict we're in, the F35 is the aircraft we really need.

Answer 4

The F-22 is an air-to-air fighter, which is built to counter the SU-32 and newer aircraft, which the two most populous nations in the world are buying. Our F-15's are completely outclassed by these newer aircraft.

The F-35 is an air-to-mud platform. It's design to drop bombs in the next war. It replaces the F-16 which is getting old and is vulnerable to all of the newer SAM's.

To say we don't need either of these is to stick your head in the sand and deny that we have adversaries. Remember that WWII in the pacific was about control of the oil resources. China and India's use of petrochemicals are each growing faster then the rest of the world together. This is a real problem. The best way to prevent this next war is to be ready to fight it.

Answer 5

Unless there have been some real improvements since the last time I spoke with some old buddies, the F-35 is a dog. They've finally gotten most of the wrinkles out of the Raptor, and it seems to be a good plane, now. Perhaps they had some good luck with the 35, too, since last I heard.

Answer 6

the F-22 had way to many set backs, It had to be almost totally rebuilt because of weight issues,
Funding was tied up for a long time, In fact it still is, it was announced not long ago that the F-117 Stealth fighter is being 100% retired this year and all that money will be going to the F-22 as well.

see air and space magazine nov 06 issue explains it all,

Answer 7

I agree with John. Several months ago I read about an air combat exercise we held between the US's F-15s and with India and their SU-35s (I believe it was 35s but maybe 32s). India won.

Answer 8

F22 should be rolling off the production line soon? They've been making them for a while now. There are several squadrons already flying them.

Answer 9

they can sell f22 to other countries

Answer 10

stop spamming everyone with "Linkin Park Forever"