F22 Raptor at Airshow

[Mike Abberton]

The STOVL version is to replace Marine Harriers (and I suppose RAF/RN Harriers as well) for forward defense. There is also a planned carrier variant that is closer to the Air Force version of the F-35 (i.e. no STOVL but a little heavier internal weight to handle carrier landings). I suspect that the UK might eventually order the carrier variant for their new conventional carriers, in addition to some STOVL versions.

Regarding capability compared to the F-22, the F-35 will not be as good a pure fighter plane, but should be a superior attack plane. I can't remember for sure, but I don't think it has the F-22's supercruise ability (supersonic speed without afterburners) or the thrust vectoring capability. I think the pure stealth aspects are close to, but not quite as good as, the F-22, particularly since they will be much more likely than an F-22 to have external ordinance. The electronics, though, should be pretty close to an F-22, and we have a lot more good, high-precision stand-off weapons now.