PUBLISHED on August 14, 2025, 12:06 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary – In a hypothetical showdown between the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35, the outcome depends entirely on the engagement.
-The Typhoon, a 4.5-generation “swing-role” fighter, holds a distinct advantage in a close-range dogfight due to its superior speed and maneuverability.
U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightening II with Eglin Air Force Base, Florida flies off the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker with MacDill Air Force Base, Florida on December 16, 2021. The F-35 is the U.S. Air Force’s fifth-generation fighter and will replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the A-10 Thunderbolt II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)
-However, the F-35’s trump card is its advanced stealth and sensor fusion, allowing it to detect and engage adversaries from beyond visual range.
-In most realistic combat scenarios, the F-35 would see the Typhoon first, giving it a decisive “first shot, first kill” advantage before a dogfight could even begin.
Who Wins Between the Eurofighter and the F-35?
In a simulated air-to-air battle, the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 have shown that they can both perform well against each other, with advantages depending on the specific scenario and engagement parameters.
The F-35’s stealth and advanced sensor capabilities give it a significant advantage in beyond-visual-range engagements, while the Eurofighter’s superior maneuverability and speed are advantageous in a close-quarters dogfight.
We’ll examine the strengths and weaknesses of each in a “what if” scenario, where the two aircraft face off in combat.
Eurofighter Typhoon, An Extremely Capable 4th-Generation Fighter
The Eurofighter Typhoon is billed as the world’s most advanced swing-role combat aircraft. The Typhoon is produced by four European nations: the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and their leading aerospace and defence companies: Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo.
This partnership allows equal access to shared manufacturing, development, and the creation of long-lasting political and industrial relations—a genuine European collaboration.
Meet The Eurofighter Typhoon
The Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole fighter. While it is not a stealth fighter, its surface is covered by only 15 percent metal; composite materials cover the remainder. This composition delivers good stealth protection from radar systems.
The engine, the EJ200, built by Rolls-Royce, is powerful, pushing the aircraft to Mach 2, and is very reliable, not requiring unscheduled maintenance for 1,200 flying hours. It is very agile and maneuverable.
The Typhoon’s E-Scan sensor array is wide, with a field of regard that is some 50 percent wider than traditional fixed plate systems.
The Multifunctional Digital Information Distribution system (MIDS) allows the aircraft to securely exchange real-time data between a wide variety of users, including air forces and, where appropriate, land and naval forces. It is high-speed, high-capacity, secure, and jam-resistant while able to share and receive information from other users in their network.
The Typhoon’s Armaments
The Eurofighter is armed with several air-to-air missiles, notably the Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) system, which is a long-range weapon. The IRIS-T is a supreme short-range, incredibly maneuverable, all-aspect air-to-air missile. Equipped with an innovative infrared seeker and thrust-vector control.
It is also equipped with the ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile), a British missile manufactured by MBDA, primarily used by the Royal Air Force and other air forces, and the AMRAAM missile.
The Typhoon carries a variety of air-to-surface weapons. Taurus KEPD 350 missiles, Storm Shadow missiles, and the Brimstone II missiles. It also carries the Mauser BK-27 autocannon (27mm).
Air-to-surface guided bombs include Paveway II (GBU-10) 2,000 lb bomb, Paveway II (GBU-16) 1,000 lb bomb, Paveway II (GBU-48) 1,000 lb bomb, Paveway IV, and the Joint Direct Attack Munition (GBU-54).
The F-35 Stealth Joint Strike Fighter
The Lockheed Martin F-35 is not the pure dogfighter that the Typhoon is, as it lacks comparable speed and agility.
However, its ability to avoid detection and targeting allows it to bring weapons to bear against threats that can’t see it. The F-35 is agile enough to hold its own against many enemy fighters, but not at the same level as the Eurofighter.
The F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is powered by a single, powerful Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. This engine is a crucial component, providing the thrust and performance needed for the F-35’s advanced capabilities. The F135 is a turbofan engine, and it is the most powerful fighter jet engine currently in service. It pushes the F-35 to Mach 1.6 (1,200 mph).
The F-35 Lightning II’s calling card is being a mobile sensor platform that can assess the effectiveness of an entire fleet—a whole military front—by sharing data and coordinating information such that the situational awareness of every warfighter present is increased exponentially.
Advanced sensor fusion automatically analyzes data from sensors embedded throughout the aircraft and merges it into relevant information for pilots. This gives F-35 pilots an integrated, intuitive view of their surroundings that greatly enhances survivability, effectiveness, and interoperability.
The F-35’s advanced AN/APG-81 AESA radar is the most capable in the world. Long-range active and passive air-to-air and air-to-ground modes support a full range of missions.
F-35 Weapons
The F-35 Lightning II carries weapons in internal weapons bays. Air-to-air: Up to 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. An upgrade to 6 missiles is planned.
Air-to-ground: Can carry GBU-31 JDAMs, GBU-32 JDAMs, GBU-12 Paveway II bombs, and GBU-54/B Laser JDAMs.
Other: GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs), and AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOWs). The F-35A weapons include an internally mounted 25mm GAU-22/A cannon with 182 rounds.
When it is operating in “Beast Mode,” the F-35’s external pylons allow for a significantly larger weapons load, including bombs, missiles, and fuel tanks.
The F-35 can carry up to 22,000 pounds of ordnance externally, including GBU-49 small glide munitions, AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, and various other bombs. In “beast mode,” the F-35 can carry a mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, such as 2 AMRAAMs, 2 Sidewinders, and 6 2,000-pound JDAMs.
Air-To-Air Combat: Who Wins, The Typhoon Or The F-35?
While the two aircraft are on the same side as allied aircraft and can complement each other, however, in a notional air-to-air battle, the Eurofighter is a highly capable dogfighter with superior maneuverability. If it were able to close with an F-35, then it would be able to take down an F-35 more times than not.
However, the F-35’s stealth, combined with the most advanced sensor suite of any fighter in history, redefines interoperability and allied deterrence, giving the global fleet of F-35s a considerable advantage over anyone.
Similar to comparisons against the F-22 and US fourth-generation fighters, training exercises involving the Typhoon and F-35 have demonstrated complementary strengths.
In the vast majority of these types of battles, the outcome of a fight depends on pilot skill and the specific tactical situation. But overall, the Typhoon would be detected by the F-35 long before it was detected by the Typhoon.
Eurofigher Typhoon: A Story in Photos
An Italian Air Force F-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon flies a routine presence patrol mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 6, 2025. Close collaboration with partner nations improves interoperability, ensuring rapid crisis response and sustained operations to protect vital mutual interests in the AOR.
German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Image of two RAF Typhoon FGR Mk 4 aircraft, seen here during a routine mission over the Middle East as part of Operation Shader.
A UK Typhoon flies above the Baltics on 25 May 2022. Image Credit: NATO.
Eurofighter Typhoon. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
Military Matters
The F-22 Raptor Just Keeps Getting Better
Gary
August 14, 2025 at 5:41 pm
Will there ever be a scenario in the future where the F-35 will go up against the Typhoon? I don’t see any chance for Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and other unfriendly nations acquiring either of them.
Of course, Trump might still declare war against Europe for not bowing down to his demands or not following his path to fascism.