Military jets are divided into generations. We're now on the 5th generation of fighter planes.
The only 5th generation fighter currently in operation is the F-22, but the Russians are eager to get the T-50 into service
With its twin-engine design, the T-50 closely resembles the 20-year-old F-22 Raptor prototype
Russia doesn't compare the T-50 to the F-35, preferring to compete with the F-22, but the F-35 is the future of America and its allies
The T-50 will be the backbone of the Russian air force — but it's not as stealth as the F-35. The T-50's designers are going for maneuverability over secrecy
Though the T-50 tops out at 1300 mph compared to the F-35's 1200 mph, the American fighter can launch internal missiles and smart-bombs while flying faster than the speed of sound
Both jets can slip into thickly defended ground targets, but the F-35 will be better at taking them out. But the T-50 is better suited for air-to-air battles.
The T-50 is said to have an excellent weapons firing range, but the F-35 has three variations tailored to specific missions
Russia hopes to capture a third of the 5th generation stealth fighter market, but the F-35 is intended to be the Allied jet of the coming decades with several countries already signed up
The T-50 can take off using a relatively short 300 meter runway — but the F-35 also has a short take-off model as well as a vertical takeoff variant
The T-50 program is still getting off the ground. The first batch enters an evaluation phase this year. But the F-35 already has a training school for pilots and crew of its three variants
... and the F-35 it looks mighty impressive from behind-the-scenes
