As the world's first fifth-generation stealth fighter to enter service, the U.S. F-22 "Raptor" was once hailed as the pinnacle of air combat technology. However, with the rise of China's J-20, the F-22 has been comprehensively surpassed by the J-20 in multiple key performance indicators. An American think tank once bluntly remarked: "The F-22 is like a raptor in a cage over the Pacific, seeing its prey but unable to reach the battlefield."

The fatal flaw of the F-22: aerodynamic layout and structural weight. The F-22 adopts a traditional "fixed vertical tail + conventional layout," equipped with two large vertical stabilizers and horizontal stabilizers. This design not only increases radar cross-section, weakening the stealth performance, but also significantly increases flight resistance. The two vertical stabilizers of the F-22 are not swept or fully movable, limiting its supersonic maneuverability. In addition, the horizontal stabilizers generate negative lift, further weakening the aircraft's lift performance.

In contrast, the J-20 uses an advanced canard layout, where the canards generate positive lift, significantly improving the lift coefficient. The J-20's aerodynamic design optimizes supersonic cruise performance, reduces air resistance, thus lowering fuel consumption. This layout not only enhances maneuverability but also offers a significant advantage in stealth performance.

The F-22's empty weight exceeds 19 tons, partly due to its extensive use of titanium alloy to withstand 9G load, as well as the high density of early stealth coating materials. This design causes the F-22 to be far behind the J-20 in weight control. The J-20 achieves a balance between weight and stealth performance through more modern composite materials and stealth coating technology, allowing it to maintain a heavy fighter body while having superior operational efficiency.

Although the F-22 is equipped with two powerful F-119 engines with superior thrust, its maximum range is only 1,800 kilometers, with an operational radius of approximately 850 kilometers, far lower than the J-20's 4,000-kilometer range and 1,500-2,000-kilometer operational radius. This "short-legged" characteristic makes the F-22 struggle in wide-area operations such as the Western Pacific, making it difficult to cover key strategic areas. The F-22 was originally designed for the European theater, requiring a lower operational radius (800 kilometers was sufficient), without considering the wide-area operational needs of the Asia-Pacific region.

By contrast, the J-20, with its optimized aerodynamic layout and lightweight design, can cover most of the Western Pacific without aerial refueling, providing the Chinese Air Force with strong strategic deployment capabilities.

Although the F-22 is a heavy fighter, it lacks advantages in payload capacity and power generation. Its internal weapons bay design limits its carrying capacity, and the retention of the cannon further occupies space.

In terms of power generation, the F-22's electrical system is already outdated, unable to support high-power electronic equipment, leading to its significant disadvantage in situational awareness and electronic warfare capabilities compared to the J-20. The J-20 is equipped with advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and electronic warfare systems, which, supported by ample power generation, can achieve "detecting the enemy first and firing first" in complex electromagnetic environments.

The F-22's radar system is based on 1990s technology, using gallium arsenide, which is two generations behind the modern AESA radar of the J-20. The J-20's radar has stronger anti-jamming capabilities and a longer detection range. Combined with its advanced data link and network-centric warfare capabilities, the J-20 holds an absolute advantage in information situation awareness. Restricted by platform design, the F-22 cannot easily upgrade to next-generation electronic equipment, further widening the gap with the J-20.

An American think tank's "raptor in a cage" evaluation was spot-on: the F-22's operational effectiveness in the Asia-Pacific region is constrained by multiple factors including range, payload, and information warfare capabilities. Facing the J-20's long-range and powerful firepower, the F-22 has little chance of fighting back in the Western Pacific. Especially in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, the J-20 can establish a broad interception line relying on its operational radius and firepower advantage, effectively deterring U.S. strategic assets.

The F-22 "Raptor" was once a symbol of air combat technology, but its outdated aerodynamic layout, excessively heavy structural design, and outdated design philosophy have made it feel overwhelmed when facing the J-20. The J-20, with its optimized aerodynamic performance, long-range, powerful firepower, and advanced electronic systems, not only compensates for the shortcomings of the F-22 but also surpasses it in multiple areas. The biggest weakness of the F-22 is not just in situational awareness, but rather the platform limitations of a heavy fighter. This gap is not just technical but also a strategic concept difference, marking that China's stealth fighter has already taken the lead in the sub-space air combat scenario.



Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7538300060530917942/

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