Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II vs AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20
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 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
Wins 4/11 |  AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20
Wins 7/11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (km/h) | 1,960 km/h | 2,100 km/h ✓ |
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 1.6 Mach | 2 Mach ✓ |
| Range (km) | 2,800 km | 3,400 km ✓ |
| Combat radius (km) | 1,240 km | 2,000 km ✓ |
| Service ceiling (m) | 15,240 m | 20,000 m ✓ |
| Thrust-to-weight | 0.87 | 1 ✓ |
| Firepower | ||
| Hardpoints | 10 ✓ | 6 |
| Weapons payload (kg) | 8,160 kg | 11,000 kg ✓ |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 15.67 m | 20.4 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 13,290 kg | 19,391 kg |
| Combat weight (kg) | 22,470 kg | 32,092 kg |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Propulsion | ||
| Thrust (kN) | 191 kN ✓ | 142 kN |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | $82,500,000 | — |
| Units built | 1,100 ✓ | 250 |
| Operator countries | 20 ✓ | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 is the fastest of the 2 compared here, at 2,100 km/h.
Which has the longer range? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 has the longest range at 3,400 km.
Which carries the larger weapons payload? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 carries the largest weapons payload at 11,000 kg.
Which is cheaper? +
The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II has the lower public unit-cost figure at 82,500,000 USD. Treat this as directional — defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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