F-22 Raptor Vs. Chengdu J-20: Which Has Superior Stealth? (2024)

The latest generation of air superiority fighters aims to gain an edge over the enemy not through overwhelming firepower but rather through speed and stealth. Two primary stealth-configured supersonic air superiority fighters are in service today, both of which boast unique specifications, advanced features, and, most importantly, radar-evading technology.

The first of these fighters is the impressive American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, a supersonic, all-weather stealth fighter that first entered service with the United States Air Force in 2005. In total, only 195 Raptors were ever built, and the production line was shut down in 2011, with the Department of Defense choosing to prioritize the multirole F-35 Lightning II.

Among the few air superiority fighters in the sky that have the potential to compete with the Raptor, the Chengdu J-20, which is in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force, is among the most dynamic. The aircraft's upgraded stealth technologies make it a formidable enemy. In this article, we will examine the Chengdu J-20's stealth and operational capabilities in more detail.

F-22 stealth overview

Before comparing the stealth technologies available onboard each aircraft, it is important to take a deeper look at the development and backstory of each aircraft. As the F-22 came first chronologically, it is an ideal starting point, and it is important to note that the J-20 and the F-22 are both nearly identical in design.

Photo: Mike Mareen | Shutterstock

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While the F-22 was originally designed to completely replace the Air Force's former primary air superiority all-purpose fighter, the F-15, the aircraft was never produced in such large numbers. However, the technological advances undertaken by the aircraft have allowed it to become among the most capable and lethal fighters to ever enter the skies.

The aircraft's incredible radar-evading capabilities are the primary feature that makes the F-22 Raptor such an unbelievably deadly fighter. The aircraft boasts a radar cross-section the size of a marble when operating at maximum stealth, making the aircraft nearly invisible to even the most advanced military radars, according to the United States Air Force.

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

The aircraft's advanced avionics and weapons systems allow the aircraft to engage with targets far beyond visual range. The aircraft's impressive agility and unbeatable thrust-to-weight ratio exceeding 1:1 make the jet a formidable adversary. The plane offers an unrivaled combination of the following factors:

1. Stealth
2. Advanced technology
3. Maneuverability
4. Power

The aircraft's stealth does have one key weakness, however, one which all aircraft operating in a stealth configuration will encounter. When opening its bay doors to fire weapons, the aircraft's radar cross-section increases drastically, which could reveal its position to an enemy. By this time, it could be all too late for any fighter trying to outrun or outmaneuver the Raptor.

J-20 stealth overview

The J-20, which is China's most advanced air superiority stealth fighter, combines several techniques and design decisions intended to minimize the plane's radar cross-section. The aircraft's airframe maintains a few key differences from the F-22 Raptor, including double nose canards.

The aircraft, however, shares several similarities with its American counterpart, including a nose radar dome and electroconductive co*ckpit canopy designed to reduce the plane's signature. Supersonic inlets drastically obscure the engines from radar, and features, including internal weapon bays and radar-absorbent coatings, were utilized to diminish visibility.

The aircraft also features serrated engine nozzles and several components designed with lighter metals and radar-absorbent materials. The aircraft also features a removable radar reflector, which further helps to conceal the plane's visibility from enemy radar.

Military analysts have routinely acknowledged that the J-20's stealth capabilities push beyond those of the Russian Su-57 fighter, according to Military Watch Magazine. In the presence of background radar clutter, as expected in a combat zone, the J-20's stealth can prove both effective and deadly.

A comparison

When holding the F-22 and the J-20 side-by-side, it can be extremely difficult to identify too many noticeable differences that could allow for a conclusive decision as to which offers superior stealth performance. Furthermore, the two jets have yet to come into conflict with each other, and perhaps a dogfight may be the only way to determine which aircraft maintains superior cloaking technologies.

There have been a couple of times when the J-20 Chengdu's stealth superiority has been called into question, most notably in May 2018 when an Indian Air Chief Marshal claimed that other fighters could spot the jet. In a press conference, Birender Singh Dhanoa claimed that Indian Su-30MKI fighters could detect a J-20 multiple kilometers away, according to The National Interest.

Photo: United States Air Force

Regarding stealth performance, the J-20's canards have also raised eyebrows from military analysts, who have traditionally maintained that such surfaces would increase an aircraft's radar cross signature. The F-22 does not have these control surfaces and is also set to undergo an $8 billion upgrade that will improve the aircraft's stealth performance.

Military analysts do not disagree, however, that the F-22 Raptor would have a significant leg up over its Chinese counterpart in a dogfight because it offers more air-to-air missiles and superior maneuverability. Additionally, the aircraft maintains an internal cannon for short-range engagements, something the J-20 lacks.