F-22 Raptor vs Su-47 "Berkut" Firkin

Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor and Sukhoi’s Su-47 Berkut occupy entirely different categories in military aviation. The F-22 is an operational fifth-generation air superiority fighter with 195 units built and nearly two decades of active service. The Su-47 remains a solitary experimental technology demonstrator, restricted to a single airframe used to validate aerodynamic concepts for future Russian platforms.

Development and Design

The Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program that birthed the F-22 prioritized very low observable (VLO) stealth and supercruise to penetrate contested Soviet airspace. Lockheed Martin integrated radar-absorbent materials and internal weapons bays to minimize radar cross-section. In contrast, Sukhoi designed the Su-47 around a forward-swept wing geometry—similar to the American X-29—to maximize high angle of attack capabilities and low-speed maneuverability. Where the F-22 relies on the AN/APG-77 AESA radar to detect and engage targets at range, the Su-47 was built to test aerodynamic instability and composite manufacturing, laying the groundwork for Russia’s Su-57 program.

Specifications and Performances

Comparing a production combat aircraft to a testbed yields stark contrasts in applied engineering. The F-22’s twin Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofans generate 31,752 kgf of thrust, pushing its 38,000 kg maximum takeoff weight to speeds of 2,414 km/h while maintaining supercruise capability. The Su-47 operates with lower listed thrust at 15,196 kgf from its AL-37FU engines, but reaches a marginally higher stated top speed of 2,500 km/h due to its highly swept aerodynamics and lighter 35,000 kg maximum takeoff weight. The Berkut's 61.87 m² wing area is heavily composed of composites to withstand the severe aerodynamic twisting forces inherent to forward-swept wings, contrasting with the Raptor’s larger 78.04 m² conventional planform designed for high-altitude persistence.

Deployment and usage

The F-22 achieved initial operational capability in 2005. It conducted its first combat missions during Operation Inherent Resolve in 2014, acting as a forward sensor node in Syrian airspace and executing precision strikes using its internal bays, which accommodate:

• Six AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two AIM-9 Sidewinders for air-to-air missions
• Two 1,000-pound GBU-32 JDAMs or eight GBU-39 SDBs for air-to-ground strikes

Its operational record is defined by airspace management and deterrence. The Su-47 has zero operational history. As a single-unit testbed, it never received military armament or saw combat deployment, serving exclusively as a research vehicle.

Conclusion

The F-22 holds an absolute edge in every tactical scenario. It is a fully integrated combat platform armed with beyond-visual-range munitions and characterized by proven VLO characteristics. The Su-47 is strictly an aerodynamic proof-of-concept. While Sukhoi’s forward-swept wing design validated low-speed maneuverability, modern air combat prioritizes stealth and sensor fusion over kinetic dogfighting. The F-22 dictates the modern air-to-air battlespace, whereas the Su-47 is a developmental footnote that never entered service.