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4. Eurofighter Typhoon vs F-35 — Stealth, Speed, and Superiority Compared

Eurofighter Typhoon vs F-35 — Stealth, Speed, and Superiority Compared

	Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter Jet F-35 Lightning II Fighter Jet
Price
Our Rating	8.0 8.8
Manufacturer	Airbus Lockheed Martin
Category	Fighter Jets Fighter Jets

General Information

Name	Eurofighter Typhoon F-35 Lightning II
Manufacturer	Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo Lockheed Martin
Country of Origin	UK / Germany / Italy / Spain United States
Type / Role	Multirole Fighter Multirole Stealth Fighter
Generation	4.5th 5th
Status	Active Service In Service
First Flight	March 27, 1994 December 15, 2006
Introduction / In Service Since	2003 2015
Number Built	600+ 1,200+ (as of 2025)
Operators	UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Austria, Kuwait USA, UK, Japan, Israel, Italy, Australia, and others

Dimensions & Structure

Length	15.96 m (52.4 ft) 51.2 ft (15.6 m)
Wingspan	10.95 m (35.9 ft) 35 ft (10.7 m)
Height	5.28 m (17.3 ft) 14.4 ft (4.38 m)
Wing Area	51.2 m² 460 sq ft (42.7 m²)
Empty Weight	11,000 kg 29,300 lb (13,300 kg)
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)	23,500 kg 70,000 lb (31,800 kg)
Internal Weapons Bay	None 2 (up to 5,700 lb payload)
External Hardpoints	13 6–10 (up to 18,000 lb total)

Performance

Maximum Speed	Mach 2.0 (2,495 km/h) Mach 1.6
Range	2,900 km 1,380 mi (2,220 km)
Combat Radius	1,390 km ~670 mi (1,080 km)
Service Ceiling	55,000 ft 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
Rate of Climb	62,000 ft/min 45,000 ft/min
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio	1.15 0.87
G Limits	+9g +9

Powerplant

Engine Type	Eurojet EJ200 Turbofan Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
No. of Engines	2 1
Thrust (each)	20,000 lbf 43,000 lbf
Thrust Vectoring	Optional (prototype) Yes (on F-35B variant)
Fuel Capacity	~5,000 kg internal ~18,500 lb internal

Armament

Gun	1× 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon GAU-22/A 25mm cannon (F-35A)
Missiles (Air-to-Air)	AIM-120 AMRAAM, Meteor, IRIS-T AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X
Missiles (Air-to-Ground)	Brimstone, Storm Shadow AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM
Bombs	Paveway IV, JDAM JDAM, Paveway II/III, SDB I/II
Hardpoints	13 6 external + 2 internal
Payload Capacity	9,000 kg ~18,000 lb

Avionics & Systems

Radar	Captor-E AESA AN/APG-81 AESA
Radar Range	~160 km ~150+ km
Electronic Warfare (EW) System	DASS suite AN/ASQ-239 suite
Targeting System	Litening III pod EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System)
Helmet Display	Striker II HMDS Gen III
Navigation	INS/GPS GPS/INS with terrain-following
Autopilot / AI Assistance	Digital flight control Advanced flight management
Communication	Secure data link, MIDS MADL & Link 16 secure data links

Stealth & Technology

Radar Cross Section (RCS)	~1–2 m² ~0.001 m²
Stealth Features	Reduced radar signature materials RAM coating, internal weapons bay, edge alignment
Infrared Signature Reduction	Moderate Yes
Sensor Fusion	Advanced data integration Full 360° data integration
Networking Capabilities	NATO Link-16, future FCAS integration Distributed data-sharing with allied units

Variants

Special Export Versions

Kuwait, Qatar (enhanced avionics) F-35I (Israel), F-35A (Japan), etc.

Operational History

Major Conflicts / Deployments	Libya (2011), Baltic Air Policing Middle East operations (Iraq, Syria)
Notable Operators	RAF, Luftwaffe, Italian Air Force USAF, USN, USMC, RAF, IDF
Combat Proven?	Yes Yes
Mission Types	Air superiority, strike, reconnaissance Air superiority, strike, SEAD, ISR

Cost & Program

Unit Cost	~$95 million $80–100 million (variant-dependent)
Development Cost	~$45 billion total ~$400 billion (program total)
Program Name	Eurofighter Program Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)
Funding Countries	UK, Germany, Italy, Spain USA, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, etc.

Additional Information

Upgrades Planned	Radar and weapons modernization Block 4, Tech Refresh 3
Future Replacement	FCAS (Future Combat Air System) NGAD (2035+)
Export Restrictions	Limited by EU arms policy U.S. FMS approval required
Notable Achievements	Key NATO air defense asset Widest global fighter program in history
Competitors	F-16V, Rafale, Gripen E Su-57, J-20, Tempest, KF-21

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