Detailed analysis of the operational availability rates of F-22, Rafale, Gripen E, and Su-35 aircraft: figures, technical and logistical causes.

Key data for measuring operational effectiveness

The availability of fighter aircraft is an operational indicator that is often overlooked in public comparisons. However, it directly determines the actual ability of an air force to maintain pressure on a theater, respond to a threat, or maintain a training schedule. An aircraft that is theoretically capable but grounded due to a lack of parts, qualified personnel, or a functional supply chain becomes a tactical handicap, regardless of its level of stealth, thrust, or payload.

Air forces do not always communicate openly about these rates. Official figures are sometimes embellished for political reasons or are obsolete when cited in public debates. It is therefore necessary to cross-reference several sources, including audit reports, feedback from operational units, and budget data.

The aircraft analyzed here—the F-22 Raptor, Rafale, Su-35, and Gripen E—belong to very different doctrines, industrial ecosystems, and logistical constraints. The aim of this article is to provide an accurate technical analysis, without ideological bias or national preference, of the reality of fighter jet flight in a regular operational setting.

The F-22 Raptor: air superiority that is costly to maintain

The F-22 Raptor is an air superiority aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin. It is no longer in production, and its 186 aircraft (including 30 for training) suffer from heavy maintenance problems. Designed before the modular standards of the F-35, the F-22 is based on a complex architecture that is difficult to modernize. Its average availability in the 2010s was around 49%, according to the US Government Accountability Office.

Technical causes

The F-22’s stealth coating requires constant maintenance. Each operational mission or flight session requires surface checks and repairs. Access to internal components is not very ergonomic, which slows down repairs. The logistics management system, which is not digitized like ODIN for the F-35, is still based on old protocols, which lengthens turnaround times.

In 2022, despite optimization efforts, the actual availability rate remained below 60%, sometimes around 50% in combat units. This means that a squadron of 20 F-22s can rarely field more than 10 aircraft on alert or on mission.

Very high logistics costs

The hourly flight cost of the F-22 exceeds $70,000, making it one of the most expensive aircraft to maintain. The logistics budget per unit is over $5 million per year, excluding modernization. The replacement of the F-22 has not yet been decided, but its gradual withdrawal is under discussion, precisely because of its low operational availability.

The Rafale: a balance between performance and maintenance

The Rafale from Dassault Aviation boasts significantly higher availability than its Western competitors. During operations in the Sahel (Barkhane) and Syria, it achieved availability rates exceeding 80% in operational environments and over 90% in training on national bases.

A design with maintenance in mind

The Rafale benefits from an integrated design that facilitates access to modules. Each M88 engine can be replaced in less than an hour. The modular architecture of the systems allows electronic components to be changed quickly, with standardized procedures between the air and naval versions.

Logistics are based on a centralized support chain, with an availability contract between the military and Dassault, Safran, and Thales. This contract imposes stock levels, replacement deadlines, and predictive maintenance based on flight data feedback. This model allows for better planning of interventions.

Stable and verifiable figures

In 2020, according to the Court of Auditors, the average availability of the Rafale was 73%, but this rose to over 85% in front-line units. During the Chammal and Hamilton missions, the Rafale demonstrated its endurance, with a higher sortie rate than the Mirage 2000.

The hourly flight cost remains low at around €16,000, with projections of a reduction to €12,000 in the coming years according to the F4 standard. This model therefore remains one of the most reliable in terms of availability for long missions.

The Su-35: solid flight performance, but uncertain support

The Sukhoi Su-35 is a fighter aircraft derived from the Su-27, modernized with digital avionics, AL-41F1 thrust vector engines, and a semi-modern architecture. In purely aeronautical terms, its performance is recognized. However, operational availability remains highly variable depending on the context.

Heavy dependence on parts and the environment

In Russia, the Su-35 suffers from a poorly industrialized logistics network. Maintenance often depends on the original bases, with little deployable capacity. Spare parts are in short supply, and the production chain remains vulnerable to shortages, especially since 2022. At fixed bases, average availability is around 55 to 65%, but this falls to less than 40% in external projections, as shown by the Syrian example.

The IFF system, radar modules, and electronic equipment are not easily interchangeable. Software updates are not systematic. This makes it difficult for mechanics to manage a heterogeneous fleet.

Impact of sanctions on availability

Since the Western sanctions of 2014, followed by those extended in 2022, several components of the Su-35 (sensors, microprocessors, inertial systems) have become difficult to source. Workaround parts have been used, but with reduced performance. This weighs on the ability to keep aircraft on constant alert, limiting their strategic value in the medium term.

The hourly flight cost remains lower than that of the F-22 (around €20,000), but the availability/cost ratio remains unfavorable in the long term.

The Gripen E: availability designed from the outset

The Gripen E, designed by Saab, is one of the few Western aircraft designed to minimize logistical constraints from the outset. Swedish doctrine requires maintenance capabilities at dispersed bases with reduced personnel. The Gripen must be able to return to flight within 20 minutes after an operational flight.

An architecture designed for simplicity

The General Electric F414 engine, shared with the Super Hornet, is robust and easily replaceable. The AESA radar, electronic warfare and data link modules are mounted on bays that can be accessed without dismantling the entire airframe. The aim is to minimize the need for lengthy interventions.

In Sweden, the availability of the Gripen C/D regularly exceeds 90%, with peaks of 95%. The Gripen E, although more complex, follows the same logic. During trials in Switzerland, it achieved a rate of over 85% with minimal support.

A stable export model

The Brazilian contract provides for comprehensive assistance, including maintenance transfer. Sweden is focusing on rapid deployment, with mobile maintenance systems and on-board self-diagnostic software. The hourly flight cost is among the lowest on the market, at around $8,000.

A direct comparison of availability rates

Fighter aircraft	Average availability rate	Cost per flight hour (€)
F-22 Raptor	50–60%	70,000
Rafale	75–90%	16,000
Su-35	40–60%	20,000
Gripen E	85–95%	8,000

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