by Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
(Washington DC)
How would you rank the US F-22, F-35, F-15 and F/A-18 vs Russia’s top Su-27, Su-35 & Su-57 fighter jets? Air war — Which Force is Better? Why?
1. F-22 ….. 2. F-35 3……. Su-35 ……..4 Su-27 …….5 Su-57 …..6. F-15 …..7. F/A-18
What do you think of this ranking? Let’s examine
Russian failure in Ukraine
While many perhaps marvel in great surprise at Russia’s apparent failures in Ukraine, including an inability to achieve air superiority. The long-term protracted “stand-off” between Russia and Ukraine has highlighted an extensive list of Russian military problems and deficits, leading some to wonder if the Russian military has largely been a “paper tiger.”
However, dismissing Russia’s fighter jets might be an entirely misplaced inclination, despite the fact that they have yet to prevail against Ukraine. The reasons for this may seem mysterious, given its overwhelming advantage in terms of fighter jets. Global Firepower.com says Russia has as many at 773 fighter jet, a massive number compared to Ukriaine’s 69. The impact of arriving F-16s may impact this equation, yet it remains to be seen.
Clearly fighter pilot training, air war resolve and tactical ability likely account for massive and under-recognized variables when it comes to which fighter would prevail in an air war, yet the Russian fighter jets themselves are extremely capable and concerning in a variety of key respects. It would be a mistake to dismissing the Russian Air Force, despite its performance thus far in Ukraine. Pentagon leaders have said Russia has been “risk-averse” when it comes to fully deploying its air power, and there are likely many intangibles such as morale, air war adeptness and the effectiveness of critical technologies such as sensors, computing and air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.
Why should be take Russia’s fighter jet threat seriously? A quick examination of some of their platforms suggests they could very well prove problematic for major adversaries in some ways. The Su-27, and its unfolding legacy of variants such as the Su-30 and high-tech Su-35, are seriously capable airplanes with extremely competitive stealth and speed. While much is likely unknown regarding pilot proficiency and the quality of the aircraft’s sensors, computing and weapons capability, yet when it comes to sheer specs, the Russian fighter jets appear extremely threatening. So .. how many of them are there?
How do the top Russian Fighter Jet Threats Compared to the US F-22, F-35 & F-18
In terms of sheer numbers and available information regarding computing, sensing, wargaming performance and platform specs, Russia might seem challenged to compete with US and the fast-growing force of European 5th-generation aircraft. The US already flies hundreds of F-35s and F-22s are proven in combat and wargames as well … but how many advanced, maintained and upgraded 4th & 5th-Gen fighters does Russia have? Regardless, just how threatening are the ones they have? The prowess of the Su-27, for example, is said to have inspired the F-22.
The Pentagon is unlikely to dismiss Russia’s air threat anytime soon.
F-22 the World’s Best?
The F-22s air supremacy can be observed through its pure speed, vectoring ability, stealth and thrust to weight ratio. All fighter jets are listed with specs indicating a maximum speed which is achieved at altitude and often at 50-percent fuel capacity. While its top speed of 2.25 Mach is quite similar to the Russian Su-27 and Su-35, listed at speeds of Mach 2.35 and 2.25 respectively, the F-22 appears to have distinct advantages over these 4th-gen Russian aircraft in terms of stealth and ever-critical thrust-to-weight ratio.
Looking across available specs showing top speed and thrust-to-weight ratio of top Russian, US and Chinese fighter jets, it seems the F-22 is equivalent to or faster than any top fighter jet in the world, yet its singular superior attribute seems to be its thrust-to-weight ratio. When combined with top speed, the F-22s highest-in-the-world 1.25 thrust to weight ratio would explain its vectoring and dog-fighting superiority. Interestingly, the 4th-generation F-15 is also listed with a comparable, best-in-the world 1.26 thrust-to-weight ratio nearly identical to the F-22. World Defense has the F-22’s Thrust-to-Weight ratio even higher at 1.37 when the aircraft uses “round nozzles.”
Many of the specific reasons why the F-22 Raptor is so revered as a pre-eminent global air-dominance platform may simply not be available for security reasons, yet its dogfighting capabilities, speed, vectoring and stealth have been cited and referred to by observers, Pentagon leaders, weapons analysts and leading experts for many year.
Why is the F-22 regarded as superior?
First used in combat against ISIS in 2014, the F-22 has shown its dogfighting prowess in many wargames throughout the years and received a large measure of performance enhancing upgrades. The stealth coating has been preserved and reinforced, and a sweeping 3.2b software upgrade in recent years has massively improved its weapons performance. The range, security and guidance systems of the AIM-9X and AIM-120D have been greatly improved across the fleet to better position the aircraft against 5th-generation adversaries. Enhancements include the “hardening” of weapons targeting guidance systems, precision, flight path trajectory and range. Additional enhancements such as upgraded AESA radar, new sensor possibilities and improvements to two-way communication between F-22 and F-35s and 4th-generation aircraft.
Speed & Thrust to Weight Ratio
Therefore, the F-22s combination of stealth, speed and thrust-to-weight-ratio seems unmatched across the entire range of advanced fighter jets operated by great power nations. The Russian Su-27 and Su-35 appear to be the closest to the F-22 when it comes to thrust-to-weight ratio, as they are listed at 1.07 and 1.13 respectively. The US F/A-18 and F-35 are both listed as having a thrust to weight ratio less than 1.
Defined simply as the amount of power or thrust the plane has versus its weight at the time of the dogfight, “thrust-to-weight” ratio greatly impacts an aircraft’s ability to maneuver, vector and seek advantage in an air-to-air engagement. While some of these slight distinctions in speed and thrust-to-weight ratio are likely of great consequence when it comes to high-speed air-to-air combat, there are other critical variables necessary to win a dogfight such as pilot training, skill and experience.
“Once the fight begins, the outcome is determined by a pilot’s experience in the air, his tactics and the airplane itself. Training and confidence can do wonders even if the pilot is flying an airplane that is roughly equal or even inferior to the enemy’s fighter. Pilots who control the merge generally get off the first shots before the enemy has time to react,” an essay from Military History Now states.
The conceptual framework for dogfight air-to-air combat victory was famously articulated years ago by
former Air Force fighter pilot Col. John Boyd, who pioneered the term OODA Loop, for Observation, Orientation, Decision, Action. The idea, as express by Boyd, was that whichever pilot and aircraft were able to complete the OODA Loop process, and determining positioning for rapid first attack, would “be inside of” an enemy’s decision cycle and prevail in air-to-air combat.
Given this, an ability for a fighter-jet to vector and maneuver into position more quickly and dynamically is clearly fundamental to which aircraft can get into position to launch the first lethal strike. Yet another critical element to dogfighting, a variable also heavily impacted by thrust-to-weight ratio, is also an aircraft’s ability to “accelerate” and “thrust” out of the way of an incoming enemy missile. The F-22 would appear to have an advantage in this area as well.
By contrast, the US F/A-18 and F-35 are listed at Mach 1.8 and Mach 1.6. While not comparable in terms of top speed, the F-35 is of course known as an advanced multi-role fighter with superior drone-like sensing, targeting range and fidelity, computing and EW, among other things. The Chinese 4th-generation J-11 is also quite fast as well, listed with a top speed of 2.25, similar to the US F-22 and Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-35 aircraft.
Interestingly, while flying as non-stealthy 4th-generation aircraft, the US Air Force’s F-15 shows the fastest speed among the group at Mach 2.5 at altitude. The Navy’s F-14 Tomcat, now retired, is quite similar at Mach 2.34, indicating that several less stealthy US aircraft can certainly compete with the Russian Su-27 and Su-35 in terms of pure speed. Russia’s 5th-gen Su-57 and China’s 5th-gen J-20 are both slated to reach top speeds of Mach 2, somewhat slower than the top speed of an F-22.
F-22 vs Russian Su-35
All all-out air war between the F-22 and Russian Su-35 would be an interesting and complex match-up for many key reasons, as both planes are very similar when it comes to performance parameters in critical areas such as thrust-to-weight ratio and speed. This means an ability to vector, quickly maneuver and “get-into-position” to attack might be comparable to some extent, as the upgraded Su-35 is a modern variant of the extremely fast Russian Su-27.
However, even if both aircraft were similar in some vital categories, the F-22 is 5th generation and the advanced Su-35 is considered 4th-generation ++++++. How stealthy is the Su-35? Its configuration bears some resemblance to the F-22, and it does look somewhat stealthy, raising the question as to whether the Su-35 could truly challenge the F-22.
Piloting and experience would of course be critical when it comes to a determination about which aircraft might prevail, yet stealth and other technical attributes are a huge part of the equation. The Su-35s maximum speed is listed at Mach 2.25 and the aircraft is reported to have a 1.13 thrust-to-weight ratio. The F-22 is listed as having an identical speed with the Su-35 at Mach 2.25, yet the Raptor has a slightly superior thrust-to-weight-ratio of 1.25.
Yet another measurement from World Defense lists both the Su-35 and F-22 has having the highest and most competitive thrust-to-weight ratios in the world. The Su-35 is listed on the site as having an thrust-to-weight ration of 1.30, and the F-22 is cited at slightly higher at 1.37 with round nozzles. Given these similarities, it seems pilot abilities would factor significantly, yet there are other key parameters likely to impact an outcome such as stealth properties, sensing and weapons guidance and precision. Is the F-22 stealthier as a 5th-generation aircraft? Have software driven weapons upgrades to the F-22 given it an advantage over the Su-35?
Russian Su-35 — 4th-Generation ++++++++
The Russian Su-35 could almost be viewed as a quasi-stealthy hybrid mix of advanced fourth-generation fighter jet technology and the early boundaries of what is called the 5th-generation.
Its blended wing-body configuration and horizontal fuselage make it look stealthier than an F-18 Super Hornet with an almost F-22-like rounded wing-body and dual engine.
The Russian Su-35 configuration looks stealthy enough to have potentially inspired designs for the emerging Russian Su-57, a 5th-generation stealth aircraft.
Su-35: Explained
The Russian 4th-generation Su-35 aircraft came to life as a result of years of upgrades to the Su-27 air defense fighter. With high speeds of Mach 2.25, the Su-35 looks well-positioned to dogfight and vector in the air as an air-to-air supremacy fighter, yet it would seem unlikely that the aircraft would rival an F-22.
However, the configuration of the Su-35 appears to the observer’s eye to contain similarities to the F-22 and some of the listed weapons specs are comparable. Available specs on the two aircraft suggest they are comparable in terms of speed, as both the F-22 and Su-35 are listed as capable of flying Mach 2.25 at altitude. Also, while this may not be verifiable to a certain extent, a Russian-language newspaper called Hoboctn BNK claims the Su-35 has an F-22-like “supercruise” ability to maintain Mach-speeds without needing an afterburner.
The F-22 is well known for its supercruise as this extends dwell time and lethality while lengthening attack missions without needing an aerial refueler. This ability can massively improve survivability, should an F-22 be locked in a dogfight and need to sustain maneuvers.
The most surprising point of Su-35 vs F-22 comparison, however, can be seen in thrust-to-weight ratio. A data chart published in the Russia Defence Forum says the Su-35 has a higher thrust-to-weight ratio when compared to an F-22. The Su-35 tops the chart with a 1.30 thrust-to-weight ratio, whereas the F-22 is listed as 1.18 or as high as 1.37 with round nozzles, according to the chart from the source.
While both the F-22 and the Su-35 can take off vertically and accelerate, does the Su-35 outperform an F-22 in terms of pure thrust, acceleration, and thrust at a high rate of climb? At the very least the two aircraft may be comparable, a significant observation given that the F-22 is widely referred to as the world’s best air-dominance fighter jet.
The real difference between the two aircraft then, it would seem, might pertain to their respective ability to vector and maneuver at high speeds in an air engagement.
Also, the question of which plane might prevail in a dogfight becomes less relevant if one of the fighters has superior sensing, radar, targeting, and weapons guidance, areas that are most likely to determine the real margin of difference.
The Su-35 operates with a passive electronically scanned array reportedly able to track multiple targets at ranges out to 250 miles and generate renderings of the ground below using Synthetic Aperture Radar.
The aircraft has a measure of computer automation with a fly-by-wire system and is also quite lethal as an air-to-ground and air-to-surface weapon, as available specs say the Su-35 can fly and attack with an Oniks anti-ship cruise missile as well as a large suit
e of air-to-air weapons and air-to-ground weapons.
YF-23 vs. F-22: Which Was Truly Better?
Upon reflection, some might wonder why the “stealthier” option was not chosen among the two competing finalists, which were the Northrop Grumman YF-23 and the Lockheed Martin F-22.
Of course, the F-22 was chosen after prototypes of each were built and the Air Force conducted multiple assessments.
Although potentially stealthier than the F-22 according to some observers, and better with thrust-to-weight ratio calculations, the YF-23 prototypes now sit in museums.
A look at the specs of each, compiled by Bill Sweetman in 1991, “YF-22 and YF-23 Advanced Tactical Fighters” shows that indeed the YF-23 does have a superior thrust-to-weight ratio listed quite high at 1.36. The F-22’s ratio, however, is much lower at 1.08, according to data compiled. Simply put, the thrust-to-weight ratio relates to acceleration, meaning the “bursts” with which it can take off and maneuver in flight as needed.
The thrust-to-weight ratio would seem to determine the ability to which a fighter jet can “thrust” into position, avoid incoming fire, and surge to lethal contact with an enemy. Both the YF-23 and YF-22 are listed as achieving similar speeds of Mach 2.25, however, the F-22 shows superior supercruise speed at Mach 1.8, compared with the YF-23’s 1.6. The speed at supercruise would prove extremely critical as it enables more dwell time over targets and an ability to maneuver for longer periods of time without afterburner.
The Match Up
Several articles on the two aircraft claim that, despite the thrust-to-weight ratio difference, the F-22 was more agile and maneuverable. It would be interesting to take a close look at data from the tests, however, the F-22 has been highlighted for its agility and air-to-air maneuverability. These F-22 traits may well have been a large factor in why the F-22 was ultimately chosen.
However, despite the claims by some that the YF-23 is stealthier, a close look at the airframes certainly invites questions regarding stealth. The extent of heat signature thermal management, radar absorbent coating materials, internal weapons bay and hard-points configuration, and an internally buried engine might prove difficult to discern.
Perhaps the stealthier aircraft was only truly determined through detailed testing and assessments. At the same time, looking at the airframes suggests that the F-22 is stealthier. The F-22 has a more blended horizontal wing-body fuselage, whereas the dual-engine exhaust on the YF-23 looks more angular and jagged with two protruding or elevated engine exhaust streams.
While the F-22 was selected by the U.S. Air Force, future aviation analysts may question the decision. There will forever be speculation on which aircraft actually performed better, as the decision likely included extensive assessments of many variables, yet the F-22 has come to be regarded by observers and proponents as the most dominant air supremacy platform ever to exist.
Kris Osborn is the Military Affairs Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
