1 F-22 Raptor VS 100 WWII Japanese Zero Fighters?

Question

Who will win?

Answer 1

I would have to go with the Zero's.

The F-22 might knock down a couple with the AAMRAM's, and as soon as the first Zero was hit, they'd scatter like a swarm of demented bees.  No missile in existence will out turn a Zero.

With a pot full of fully altered (and let's assume skilled) Zero pilots, that F-22 is going to have a bugger of a time lining up for Winder lock or Vulcan shots.  They will turn inside the F-22 easily.

So the Raptor goes to the vertical.  All he can do is keep from getting hit.  I don't think he'd be able to smack any more A6M's.  

As I recall, the two 20mm's on the A6M wasn't half bad, and a Raptor (or any modern jet) is as vulnerable to cannon hits as a Zero is.

The F-22 can't knock them all down, he loses.

Answer 2

In a conventional close quarters dog fight, the Zero would be quite a match for the F-22. The Zero  would certainly have an advantage in the lower speed ranges and maneuverability. If the Zero can put his sights on the F-22 and squeeze off a few rounds, he can get the F22. In all other phases of flight, the F-22 would fare better.

Give both of them similar ammunition and guidance systems, I would bet they would be equally matched in a dog fight.

Answer 3

The zeros would be likely to emerge as winners,given that the Raptor couldn't pick 'em all off at long range with missiles.

Having fired the 12 amraams and four sidewinders carried by the F22 it's unlikely that the M61A2 20mm cannon could cope with the remainder.

A similar study was made by the RAF in the 60's,supposing English Electric Lightning fighters pitted against Spitfires.The conclusion

was that the prop fighters might well win because the modern jet would overshoot in a stern chase,also the Spitfires ability to turn more tightly would out maneuver the Lightning.

Answer 4

The Raptor.  

The only advantages the Zeros would have:

numbers:  The F22 would run out of missiles before getting them all.  

Small size:  They might be able to sort-of hide if they stayed close to the ground.  But not very well.  

The F22 can go something like 4 times as fast.  The Zeros cannot escape, and they cannot chase the F22.  

The F22 can undoubtedly take more punishment than a Zero.  The Zero was famous for being vulnerable, if it were actually hit.  (That was the hard part)

The only hope the Zeros would have would require:  

Multiple absolutely MIRACULOUS hits on the F22

AND

The F22 running out of ammunition before taking all of them out, and it might not do that.  

Seriously, best case for the Zeros, one or two of them don't get shot down.  (And the F22 pilot, now an ace 19 times over, goes home and says something like "You aren't gonna believe what just happened.")

This is kind of like asking "how many 5 year-olds do you think you could beat up?"  The answer, invariably, is "a lot."

Answer 5

F-22 shoots down a bunch of Zekes until it runs out of ammo and returns to base, likely without a scratch.

First, it'll kill a few off with however many missiles it can carry without the Zekes ever knowing what was shooting at them.

Then, it'll get in closer, but still farther then the Zekes can shoot back at it, and gun the rest until the ammo is gone...which won't be long since it only carries 480 rounds.

Answer 6

given the technology, the raptor would blow several zeros out of the sky with missles, and with the zeros propensity to burst into flames when hit, the raptor pilot would only have to line up each plane and if the raptor pilot had had top skills as a marksmen he would take many down that way also. after he ran out of ammunition, there would likely be at least 50 zeros going down in flames, and with a few supersonic passes over the zeros with a couple of feet to spare, probably another 15 or 20 going down because of the over pressure from the supersonic fly over. if the zero pilots were able to compose themselves after seeing so many of their squadron mates going down so easily, they may be able to form a few wolf packs and perhaps get enough lucky shots on an overconfident raptor pilot to knock him from the sky. otherwise they will take the better part of valor and leave the area.

Answer 7

To make it a fair test, reduce the number of Zero's significantly.  Give one or two, air to air missiles.  

Then you have to determine who's element you're in.  One component of 'Top Gun' school is training pilots how to deal with aircraft of lesser capabilities.  

At altitude, if the Raptor may lock on the Zero way beyond visual range.  I say, 'may' because the Zero will have a barely discernible heat signature and relatively small radar signature given the targets the Raptor is designed for.

At really low altitudes the Zero may disappear into background clutter and get an advantage on the Raptor.  By the time the Raptor turns for a second look he may already be trailing a missile.

If this was done as a dual where the contest began after the aircraft passed each other, the Zero, if armed with missles would knock out the Raptor.  (Provided the Raptor's turbulence didn't knock him out of the sky.)

Once passing each other, the Zero would be on the Raptor's 6 in seconds.  A Mach 3 missile would make short order of the Raptor.  

This has been a topic of discussion on many occasions.  This site will give you some information, without missiles but not quite at the disparity you describe.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aviatio...

Answer 8

It would depend on how organized the Zeros' flight plans and how much ammunition the F-22 is carrying. I think the Zeros would ultimately defeat the Raptor because of fuel and ammunition consumption.

Answer 9

I don't think the fight would end in the destruction of all of the zeros, but I'd put the F-22 on top. The pilot could take out a few with AMRAAMs first, move around behind the formation and put a couple of AIM-9Xs into the mix. Then spend some fuel making high speed passes with the cannon, probably picking off at least a few more. The zeros are equipped with machine guns and cannons with very low lethality compared to modern cannons. The zero's gun range is a fraction of the raptor's as well. Basically, the raptor pilot would likely pick off a few and go home. If he had to drop as many as possible he'd use hit and run, blow-through tactics to make numerous straight-through passes and take advantage of his much higher speed. There's always a chance for a luck shot, but the F-22 would be very hard to shoot down in this situation.

Answer 10

The F22 carries 4x AIM120 Slammers, 4xAIM9M (soon to be ASRAAM) Heaters and a gun.

The F22 has huge advantages in energy, the Zeroes will bleed off energy very quickly turning to engage; fire control-the F22 can shoot further away thus avoiding said turning engagement, and small size.  What I mean by the latter is the "big sky small plane" idea: A formation of 100 aircraft is EASY to spot both on radar and visually.  The Zeroes are looking for 1 jet, designed to be hard to see visually.  The key is you NEVER fight the way the bad guys fight best.

Before giving you my two pfennigs worth of how I would fight this, I'd like to make a counter argument to some assumptions:  1- small IR signature.  Maybe from the rear, but that huge radial engine with non-suppressed ejector exhausts, plus that enormous greenhouse are sufficient IR sources for an AIM9M to lock and track.  2-small Radar cross section.  Not true, propellors are huge radar reflectors, along with the wide chord wings-I could see these guys.  If they notch in the ground clutter, due to their relatively low ground speed the doppler radar MAY assume they are ground clutter- but then they're defensive anyway, and below me.  Gonna take them quite some time to re-engage.  I'm not just spitballing here:  Top Gun has used privately owned P51s to fly against F14s and F18s, this is from some of these engagements.

Since the F22 has superior fire control and sensors, I've already got SA, and am sorting targets long before the Zeros even know I'm around.  Additionally, I have a height advantage (they can't climb to meet me) due to the limitations of their aircraft (about 27000 ft).  I'm at FL300 or higher.

So I've locked 4x Zekes, and launched.  The bad guys won't know hit them-literally as 4 aircraft fall out of the sky.

As we close, "merge", I should now get decent tone from my heaters.  The major heat generators are in front on these aircraft.  Shoot off my 4x heaters, another four (possibly more) Zekes go down.  It could be more if they are flying a typical WW2 Japanese formation of close vics.  (Japanese never did the finger four thing).  The explosive radii of my missile might well take out another Zeke or two.

I definitely want to stay out of turning engagement here, so I would basically use the vertical and make diving attacks hosing off rounds, again that many targets so close and my gun is so lethal (even in WW2 1x20mm round could sink a Zero) I'm going to whipsaw my shots-which means lightly using rudder to yaw the plane.

Once Winchester, I head out for home.

Most likely outcome: 8 dead Zekes from missile kills, possibly as many as 10-12(if I"m living right).  Most likely 3-4 gun kills. Let's call it 12-13 altogether.  12-13/0 pretty good ratio.