Which is better, the F-22 or the Su-57?

Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor was designed in the 1990s with one clear priority: not being detected. Its shape, radar-absorbent materials and weapons hidden in internal bays give it a minimal radar cross-section. Its two Pratt & Whitney F119 engines with two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles allow it to supercruise, sustained supersonic flight without afterburner.

Sukhoi's Su-57 first flew in 2010 and accepted a different trade-off: frontal stealth is good, but round nozzles and some manufacturing details reduce it compared to the Raptor. In exchange it offers three-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles, exceptional agility at low speed and a sensor network (main radar, L-band side-looking radars and an optronic system) designed to detect stealth aircraft.

The United States built 195 F-22s, of which about 187 remained operational, and production ended in 2011. The aircraft has flown real missions over Syria and in the Pacific and has a well-established maintenance chain. Russia began series deliveries of the Su-57 in 2020; public figures speak of a few dozen aircraft, most with provisional AL-41F1 engines, while the definitive AL-51F1 engine is being incorporated gradually. The Su-57 has launched cruise missiles over Ukraine, but without exposing itself to dense air defenses.

In beyond-visual-range combat, the combination of the AN/APG-77 radar, reduced radar cross-section and AIM-120 missiles favors the F-22, which would detect and fire first. In close combat the Su-57 would have arguments, although reaching that situation would already be a failure for both. With the information available, the Raptor remains the benchmark; the unknown with the Su-57 is how many will end up flying in their full configuration.