F-16 Vs F-22: Why The Faster Jet Isn't Always The Better One

Looking at speed capabilities, the F-22 Raptor is definitely superior to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Look at the fastest NATO fighter jets and you'll find that the former has a top speed of Mach 2.25, while the latter can only manage Mach 2.0. More than that, the Raptor is a stealth fighter, with a radar cross-section (RCS) of just 0.0001 square meters (smaller than an insect, which has an RCS of 0.001). By comparison, the F-16 has an RCS of 5 square meters, making it much more easily detectable.

However, being faster and stealthier doesn't automatically make a jet better than its peers. That's because the F-22 Raptor was primarily designed as an air dominance fighter, meaning it was intended to mix it up against the best fighters the world has to offer and keep American skies safe. The Raptor also has some air-to-ground capabilities, but it's fairly limited as it can only carry two 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) internally. While it can increase its bomb payload through external weapon racks, that would compromise its stealth capabilities, significantly reducing its advantage.

Meanwhile, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role aircraft, allowing it to accomplish various tasks, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Sure, it might not have the stealth and speed of its successor, but it can serve as a bomb and missile truck with its massive payload of two 2,000-pound bombs, two AIM-9 missiles, two AIM-120 missiles, and two 2,400-pound external fuel tanks. If these two jets go head-to-head, the F-22 can easily best the F-16, but when it comes to operational versatility, the latter has a greater advantage over the stealthy fighter.

Aside from mission profiles and versatility, one other thing that makes a fighter jet "better" for a nation's air force is cost. Because the F-22 Raptor is technically advanced and uses cutting-edge technology, it's also insanely expensive. Each Raptor costs $185.7 million, making it one of the priciest fighters in the world. Aside from that, it's also pricey to maintain, costing roughly $85,000 per flight hour.

Whereas the F-16 Fighting Falcon is much more affordable, with prices ranging from $25 to $30 million for base variants, while those that feature cutting-edge add-ons can go for as high as $70 million a piece. Because of this, you can get two of the latest, most expensive F-16 versions for every F-22 Raptor, plus change. More importantly, F-16s are far cheaper to operate, with the jet costing just $27,000 per flight hour to maintain. So, not only can you get more fighter jets, but you can fly for far longer with the same budget.

In an ideal world, you'd want to have a fleet of both the F-22 and F-16 for different operations and specific missions. But if you're a cash-strapped country with a significant external threat, you're better off purchasing a larger fleet of F-16 fighter jets that can do everything. After all, even though the F-16 is less expensive than the F-22, it has a proven track record and is still actively engaged in modern war zones today, like the frontlines of Ukraine.