Are twin-engine fighter jets better than single-engine ones ?

-If yes, then why doesn't the F-35 have two engines ?

If not, then why do Typhoon, Rafale, Sukhoi and the rest have only one ?Hello there

I am the surfer



2 engines is almost customary practice

Examples F - 15, remarkable, long range capable kill, excellent over lebanon 1982

F - 4 , good in vietnam and israelis did the best of them during many years

Su 27, the most agile fighter modern times wil see, vertical climb un - matched by none other plane eastern or western impressive maneuver capability

Mig 25, high altitude interceptor, pilots claim they see earth curve, no single engine jet goes so high so fast!

, Su 37 ,remarkable.

A 10 Thunderbolt II Tank Killer , spectacular performance over gulf war

F 18 Hornet

F14 excellent during iraq - iran war, iranians did Absolutely great

EA6B prowler , perfect service ever since vietnam.

F111 raeven electronic warfare 2 engines

look after redundant systems inside A 10 warthogs very necessary and very capable, plane sustains damage and keeps going on



after korean war it almost became non written rule to have 2 engines better than one



Single engine

French Mirage F1. good in the hands of Israelis, popular all around latin american air forces

F16 .good for every thing , very versatile

Starfighther F 104 , great, but cruel in the hands of novice pilots, Burns too much fuel

F 105 Thunderchief, spectacular vietnam service

A - 4 skyhawk superb over falklands war



Many single engine jets are one pilot only, then modifications meant pilot and weapon specialist on the back . examples F 15 was 1st single pilot then became 2 pilots, F1 mirage french plane is mostly 1 pilot, A4 skyhawk was always one pilot only, most of times F16 is one pilot. F18 was single seater then became 2 seats, F14 was always a two seats plane A10 is always single pilot plane. F111 was always 2 engines two pilots



Depends on missions , doctrine and number of pilots to be trained



From the surfer
Twin engine aircraft are statically safer than single engine aircraft just like Kirk said; because if one engine fails you still have another engine that works. While the F-35 does not have 2 engines, the F-22, F-15, F/A-18, all do. What is interesting though, is that the U.S. Navy plans on using the C variant, which does have fold-able wings, but still only has one engine. I always thought it was a U.S. Navy requirement for their aircraft to have 2 engines? On the other hand though, if you only have one engine it is probably cheaper to produce and maintain.
F-35 has only one engine as it has the capability to hover, the Typhoon and Rafale have two because they are airborne superiority fighters and if an engine fails they can still fly on one engine to the nearest friendly airbase.
The only reason their are 2 engine fighter jets is because if one engine fails you still have the other. The second engine does add extra weight but the power output compensates for it, easily.