Carl-
I won't talk specifics to avoid getting classified, but I can point out the publicly advertised numbers:
The F-35 and F-16 have comparable combat radius:
F-35 vs F-16 Combat Radius Comparison
F-22 is very similar :
F-22 Combat Radius
(note this article says FB-22 would have a combat radius of 1800nm, about 3x F-22)
F-15E has a longer combat radius due to CFTs:
Eagle Combat Radius
F-18 is slightly shorter due to less gas, and being heavier to land on boats: F-18 Combat Radius
Combat radius is the best "range" number to compare - since it compares combat performance. Just "range" means just taking off and flying a given distance- but doesn't include any actual employment or fighting.
Basically, a given amount of gas will get you only so far. The specific energy of JP-8 is still the same- and the motors are not that much more efficient one way or another (only marginal effects). You would think more fuel = more range, but you know have to carry that fuel- potentially more parasite or form drag from external tanks or a larger aircraft, plus more induced drag from having to lift more weight. This is why the F-15C and F-15E have (fairly) comparable ranges and combat radii, since the F-15E has more drag even though it carries more fuel.
The F-22 (and to a lesser extent the F-15) have a slight advantage in that they can fly at higher altitudes than the other jets due to their design - in general jet engines get better fuel efficiency at higher altitudes.
The F-22 also has the ability to go supersonic without using afterburner (supercruise) which gives it a greater radius of action- the ability to accelerate quickly and travel at high speed without massively increasing fuel consumption means that it can get to where it needs to be quicker and cover a larger area than other fighters.
Hope this helps.
V/R,
Cliff
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