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F-35 Lightning II Fighter Jet vs Rafale Fighter Jet
General Information
|
Name
|
F-35 Lightning II
Dassault Rafale
|
|
Manufacturer
|
Lockheed Martin
Dassault Aviation
|
|
Country of Origin
|
United States
France
|
|
Type / Role
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Multirole Stealth Fighter
Multirole Fighter
|
|
Generation
|
5th
4.5th
|
|
Status
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In Service
Active Service
|
|
First Flight
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December 15, 2006
July 4, 1986
|
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Introduction / In Service Since
|
2015
2001
|
|
Number Built
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1,200+ (as of 2025)
240+
|
|
Operators
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USA, UK, Japan, Israel, Italy, Australia, and others
France, India, Egypt, Qatar, Greece, Indonesia
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Dimensions & Structure
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Length
|
51.2 ft (15.6 m)
15.27 m
|
|
Wingspan
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35 ft (10.7 m)
10.9 m
|
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Height
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14.4 ft (4.38 m)
5.3 m
|
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Wing Area
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460 sq ft (42.7 m²)
45.7 m²
|
|
Empty Weight
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29,300 lb (13,300 kg)
10,600 kg
|
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Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)
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70,000 lb (31,800 kg)
24,500 kg
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Internal Weapons Bay
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2 (up to 5,700 lb payload)
None
|
|
External Hardpoints
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6–10 (up to 18,000 lb total)
14
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Performance
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Maximum Speed
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Mach 1.6
Mach 1.8 (2,223 km/h)
|
|
Range
|
1,380 mi (2,220 km)
3,700 km
|
|
Combat Radius
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~670 mi (1,080 km)
1,000–1,850 km
|
|
Service Ceiling
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50,000 ft (15,240 m)
50,000 ft
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|
Rate of Climb
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45,000 ft/min
305 m/s
|
|
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio
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0.87
1.13
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G Limits
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+9
+9 / -3.6
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Powerplant
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Engine Type
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Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
Snecma M88-2 Turbofan
|
|
No. of Engines
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1
2
|
|
Thrust (each)
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43,000 lbf
16,500 lbf
|
|
Thrust Vectoring
|
Yes (on F-35B variant)
No
|
|
Fuel Capacity
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~18,500 lb internal
4,700 kg (internal)
|
Armament
|
Gun
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GAU-22/A 25mm cannon (F-35A)
GIAT 30mm cannon
|
|
Missiles (Air-to-Air)
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AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X
MICA, Meteor
|
|
Missiles (Air-to-Ground)
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AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM
SCALP-EG, AM39 Exocet
|
|
Bombs
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JDAM, Paveway II/III, SDB I/II
Paveway, AASM
|
|
Hardpoints
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6 external + 2 internal
14
|
|
Payload Capacity
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~18,000 lb
9,500 kg
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Avionics & Systems
|
Radar
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AN/APG-81 AESA
Thales RBE2 AESA
|
|
Radar Range
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~150+ km
200+ km
|
|
Electronic Warfare (EW) System
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AN/ASQ-239 suite
SPECTRA Suite
|
|
Targeting System
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EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System)
Thales Damocles / TALIOS Pod
|
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Helmet Display
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HMDS Gen III
Integrated HMD
|
|
Navigation
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GPS/INS with terrain-following
GPS/INS
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|
Autopilot / AI Assistance
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Advanced flight management
Semi-Automated
|
|
Communication
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MADL & Link 16 secure data links
Secure Datalink, SATCOM
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Stealth & Technology
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Radar Cross Section (RCS)
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~0.001 m²
~1 m²
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|
Stealth Features
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RAM coating, internal weapons bay, edge alignment
Radar-absorbent materials
|
|
Infrared Signature Reduction
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Yes
Yes
|
|
Sensor Fusion
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Full 360° data integration
Full
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Networking Capabilities
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Distributed data-sharing with allied units
NATO-compatible datalink
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Variants
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Special Export Versions
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F-35I (Israel), F-35A (Japan), etc.
Rafale EH/IH (India), Rafale EM/QM (Egypt/Qatar)
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Operational History
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Major Conflicts / Deployments
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Middle East operations (Iraq, Syria)
Libya, Mali, Iraq, Syria
|
|
Notable Operators
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USAF, USN, USMC, RAF, IDF
France, India, Egypt
|
|
Combat Proven?
|
Yes
Yes
|
|
Mission Types
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Air superiority, strike, SEAD, ISR
Air superiority, strike, reconnaissance, deterrence
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Cost & Program
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Unit Cost
|
$80–100 million (variant-dependent)
$85–115 million
|
|
Development Cost
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~$400 billion (program total)
~$45 billion
|
|
Program Name
|
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)
Rafale Program
|
|
Funding Countries
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USA, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, etc.
France
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Additional Information
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Upgrades Planned
|
Block 4, Tech Refresh 3
F4 & F5 standard upgrades
|
|
Future Replacement
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NGAD (2035+)
Next-Gen Fighter (FCAS)
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|
Export Restrictions
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U.S. FMS approval required
Minimal (case-by-case)
|
|
Notable Achievements
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Widest global fighter program in history
Combat-proven multirole success
|
|
Competitors
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Su-57, J-20, Tempest, KF-21
Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A-18E/F, Gripen E
|
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