Many lists online seek to rank fighter jets by “best” or by some singular characteristic (e.g., speed, range, payload, reported RCS). But to a large extent, this is a fool’s errand. Fighter jets are built to solve different problems and for different operating environments. They are also built to match the available resources of the intended operator. When it comes to the upcoming Chinese J-36 and US F-47 next-generation fighters, it appears they are being built for different missions and that they aren’t necessarily analogues.