The F22 is a great plane, easily the best fighter in the world. However, it was designed primarily for the AA mission and according to most reports had a per unit cost around $300 million.
The F35 is a multirole aircraft and according to most reports, the per unit cost of the CTOL F35A, which most airforces will buy, is probably in the $150-200 million range, which makes it slightly more expensive than the F/A-18 SuperHornet and slightly less expensive than a Eurofighter Typhoon, both of which are older designs.
In Stealth mode, the F35 will be able to penetrate enemy air defences that the F15/16/18 can't and in non-stealth mode, it can carry a comparable amount of ordnance and has a comparable extended range.
critics keep harping on what a POS the F35 will be, yet it is meeting all of its performance goals. People seem to forget that criticism against the F22 was as harsh while it was being designed.
