Raptor vs Flanker

[Bombcat]

The fact that the Su-33 is navalized is a huge disadvantage. Inherent issues include corrosion, reduced working space for maintenance, and the current lack of any really effective Russian airborne early warning aircraft - helicopters and ships are all well and good, but at the ranges the Su-33 is capable of flying, the Flankers would be well outside of their supporting coverage.

The Su-33 also suffers from being long out of production - the fleet is essentially worn out, and if I recall correctly, may well be replaced by MiG-29K's in the fairly near future.
The J-15, China's development of the Su-33 design, offers somewhat more potential and might be a bit more likely to face the Raptor sometime in the next decade or two.

Unless everything we've been told about stealth is complete bunk, I have little doubt that the Raptor's low observable design and avionics superiority would carry the day in a BVR engagement. Within visual range, things get a bit tricky. The Raptor has a definite advantage in terms of agility against most if not all Flankers, but last I heard, lacks some of the high off boresight targeting equipment which is now standard on many American and Russian 4th gen fighters. I honestly have no idea how stealthy the F-22 is against IR sensors, and so once the missiles start flying it might be anybody's game - that's my ignorance talking as much as anything else. But as long as the F-22's have the ability to engage BVR, their advantage should be decisive.

Just in case someone is wondering, this is not an expert opinion. I like airplanes a lot, and study them often, but that's about it.

[Welshy]

This is until Meteor comes into service, I mean its even being considered by you Yanks METEOR FTW, did bits on Work Experience LOL

[halberdier25]

Last I heard, we're pretty content with our own AMRAAMs.

[Welshy]

The U.S. Navy may require a Meteor-class missile to replace the capability lost with the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix in 2004. A possible solution may be a ram-powered AMRAAM (ERAAM) carried by the F-18E/F Super Hornet.

From what has been discuss between myself and a defence analyist we came to the conclusion that due to the fact the USN need this sort of missile it will be either a modifyed Meteor or a Ramjet AMRAAM

[Justen Not Relevent]

I honestly have no idea how stealthy the F-22 is against IR sensors, and so once the missiles start flying it might be anybody's game - that's my ignorance talking as much as anything else. But as long as the F-22's have the ability to engage BVR, their advantage should be decisive.

I would assume its stealth against IR is moot once you get higher than cruising speed, so the question is whether or not Su-33s would be able to get close enough (probably not, as you said). In a brawl, it would likely be luck more than anything that would be the deciding factor. There are of course ways of diminishing a plane's IR signature (such as on the B-2) but I don't think that works so well on anything thats meant for air to air combat. Basically, IR missiles are the most effective weapon the Su 33 has against the F-22. Get on its tail and one could probably shoot it down... but F-22 still wins.

also on a personal note, the Su-27 is the best looking of the Flanker series. <3 241

[Dragon029]

On the note of IR stealth:

The Raptor is at 1:37

[Justen Not Relevent]

Cool... I still stand by my original statement though. While it might not have the same heat signature as an F 16, an IR guided missile could still take it out

The other thing to think about then I guess is countermeasures... no one really knows what the F 22 is packing