Compare systems, spec by spec

Eurofighter Typhoon

VS

Su-57

Neither jet has a clean edge on paper. The Su-57 pairs a lower-observability airframe with the long-ranged R-37M, giving it a plausible first-look, first-s…

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F-35A Lightning II

VS

Su-57

The F-35A wins on the things that are independently verifiable: an AN/APG-81 AESA radar and 360-degree Distributed Aperture System fused into one shared ta…

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F-22A Raptor

VS

Su-57

This is not a close call on paper. The F-22A remains the widely-regarded benchmark for air dominance: supercruise, thrust-vectoring AL-41F1-class agility o…

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F-22A Raptor

VS

F-35A Lightning II

These two American fifth-generation jets were built for different jobs, so "which wins" depends entirely on the mission. The F-22A is the faster, more mane…

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Eurofighter Typhoon

VS

Rafale F4

Both are mature, combat-proven European 4.5-generation fighters that share the Meteor missile, but they were optimized differently. The Typhoon leans towar…

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J-20

VS

Su-57

Both are non-Western fifth-generation fighters whose stealth and performance claims are harder to independently verify than their American or European coun…

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Leopard 2A7

VS

M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams

These are the two most widely fielded Western main battle tanks, and on paper they are close: both run a 120mm smoothbore gun, both carry a 42-round autolo…

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M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams

VS

T-90M

The Abrams and T-90M represent two very different design philosophies. The Abrams is heavier (66,800kg vs 48,000kg), crewed by four rather than three (no a…

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Patriot PAC-3

VS

S-400 Triumf

On paper the S-400's claimed 400km engagement range dwarfs the Patriot PAC-3's 60km, but that comparison is misleading: the two systems solve different pro…

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AIM-120D AMRAAM

VS

Meteor

The core difference between these two missiles is propulsion, not just range. The AIM-120D is rocket-powered, giving it high initial speed that decays over…

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S-400 Triumf

VS

THAAD

These two systems are not really built for the same fight. The S-400 is a broad, multi-layer surface-to-air umbrella, a family of interceptors (48N6, 9M96E…

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Bayraktar TB2

VS

MQ-9A Reaper

Both fly the same 27-hour endurance, an unusual coincidence that makes everything else about these drones a study in contrasts. The Bayraktar TB2 is the ch…

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Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer

VS

Type 055

On paper, China's Type 055 is the bigger ship: 12,000 tonnes standard displacement against the Arleigh Burke's 9,200, 180m long against 155.3m, and 112 ver…

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BM-30 Smerch

VS

M142 HIMARS

These are two different theories of rocket artillery. The Smerch is the heavier system, 43,700kg against HIMARS' 16,257kg, with double the tubes (12 agains…

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David's Sling

VS

S-350 Vityaz

David's Sling claims the longer reach of the two, a published 300km engagement range against the S-350's 120km, though the S-350 counters with a higher alt…

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Iron Dome

VS

Pantsir-S1

These are built for different jobs at different price points, so a direct number-for-number comparison needs care. Iron Dome is a pure missile interceptor,…

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AK-47

VS

M4A1

These two rifles embody opposite design philosophies born of opposite requirements. The AK-47's 7.62x39mm cartridge and long-stroke gas piston trade precis…

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M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams

VS

T-14 Armata

On raw numbers, Russia's T-14 Armata beats the Abrams almost across the board: faster (80 km/h against 67), longer-ranged (500km against 426), better power…

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