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Question : Why does the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter look so much like the F-22 Raptor?   Answer : I worked on both the F-22 and F-35 programs while at the Pentagon. There are a couple of reasons for the resemblance. First is a “family” connection, they are both built by Lockheed-Martin, the F-22 in Marietta, GA and the F-35 in Ft Worth, TX. But the real reason the aircraft look so similar is because of stealth. Most of the stealth of an aircraft comes from its shape, and both designs build on the same stealth research. Look at the wings, the vertical tails and the horizontal stabilizers on both jets. They are all at the same sweep angle for stealth reasons. The nose shapes are also similar for the same reason. Finally, many of the same engineers worked on both designs, and when they found something that worked on the F-22, they transferred that knowledge and experience to the newer F-35 program. Hope these answers help! Lt Col (ret) Mike Carter F-16 Pilot   Was this answer useful to you? Back

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