Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II vs Dassault Aviation Rafale F4
Full specs: Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Dassault Aviation Rafale F4
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 are both fighter aircraft, compared here on public specifications. The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 leads on range (3,700 vs 2,200 km).
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Full data
Full spec sheet
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (km/h) | 1,960 km/h ✓ | 1,912 km/h |
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 1.6 Mach | 1.8 Mach ✓ |
| Range (km) | 2,200 km | 3,700 km ✓ |
| Combat radius (km) | 1,240 km | 1,850 km ✓ |
| Service ceiling (m) | 15,240 m ✓ | 15,235 m |
| Rate of climb (m/s) | N/A | 305 m/s |
| Thrust-to-weight | 0.87 | 0.99 ✓ |
| Firepower | ||
| Hardpoints | 10 | 14 ✓ |
| Weapons payload (kg) | 8,160 kg | 9,500 kg ✓ |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 15.67 m | 15.27 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 13,290 kg | 10,600 kg |
| Combat weight (kg) | 22,470 kg | 24,500 kg |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Propulsion | ||
| Thrust (kN) | 191 kN ✓ | 75 kN |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | $82,500,000 ✓ | $115,000,000 |
| Units built | 1,100 ✓ | 280 |
| Operator countries | 20 ✓ | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and Dassault Aviation Rafale F4? +
The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is the fastest of the 2 compared here, at 1,960 km/h.
Which has the longer range? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the longest range at 3,700 km.
Which carries the larger weapons payload? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 carries the largest weapons payload at 9,500 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.
Which has the higher max speed (mach)? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the higher max speed (mach) at 1.8 Mach.
Which has the higher combat radius? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the higher combat radius at 1,850 km.
Is the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II better than the Dassault Aviation Rafale F4? +
On the public specs we track, the Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 leads on 5 of 6 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
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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