Yes you can use it. But F16 was still credible aerial superiority fighter against everybody in 2005. Mostly because of collapse of Soviet union, as there was a

Yes you can use it. But F16 was still credible aerial superiority fighter against everybody in 2005. Mostly because of collapse of Soviet union, as there was a decade of low intensity R&D with everything except F-22. Now with latest SAM missiles and long range air-to-air missiles being slowly adopted by everybody, stealth is the only way to go. If you wish to control airspace with impunity. Lot less is required just to defend your own with credibility. My guess is that F35 is going to see new more stealthy radar, new all aspect IRST, new RAM coatings better optimized against IR emission. Some engine tweaks are going to happen to later models. Then at some point (decided by everybody else) it comes obvious that F35 is going to run into some other stealth aircraft and get mutual kill. Some active protection system adopted from tanks, but no matter how successful that is, some startstreak type "I'll throw tungsten rods at you as soon as I detect that shotgun blast". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starstreak_(missile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starstreak_(missile) Missiles already travel at speed of mach 3, which is same that autocannon shells. Maybe you could also (finally) get some use for metal storm concept, and implement five round burst cannon inside AA missile. (That kind of cannon can get significant weight reduction once you don't need to worry about fatigue and safety factors to keep close by personnel safe.) The final nail in the coffin is engines. F35 engines have very good thrust/weigh, but they have poor fuel economy. This allows big weapons load for quick short mission. But if we accept that you can't after-burn, you don't need to turn that fast, and you won't survive to shoot more than 4 missiles etc, then your top priority is low fuel usage, long loiter and long range. Back to the missileer concept. The problem with F22 and F35 is exactly their success. They are the first prototypes of the stealth/missile age. I'm expecting bit similar situation than with first swept wing afterburning planes. Those things got outdated in a decade. But if China implodes, then everything slows down.