You appear very knowledgeable about the plane but I counter the above with a pentagon report that summarily states (second paragraph) the F-35 circa July 2015 i

You appear very knowledgeable about the plane but I counter the above with a pentagon report that summarily states (second paragraph) the F-35 circa July 2015 is falling short and it is not operationally effective for military combat. The following paragraphs thereafter contain a "shopping list" of mods the F-35 would need to have to be combat effective. http://www.pogoarchives.org/straus/2015-9-1-DoD-FOIA-ocr.pdf http://www.pogoarchives.org/straus/2015-9-1-DoD-FOIA-ocr.pdf The plane's 400-billion cost is too extravagant and to bring up a point that the 'War is Boring' article made when comparing the inexpensive, 4-speed, Sherman tank versus the Porsche-engine equipped Tiger tank in World War 2, the Tiger was outnumbered by a preponderance of force that was more manageable. An "outdated" F-18e (still in use) can defeat an F-35 in a dog fight and costs about half or $55-million each. (An F35 $100-million-plus) In my opinion the F-18 would be more valuable and effective in regional conflict than an F-35. YMMV