The airframe dictates the missions. The F-16's airframe is fine, but not stealthy. Stealth is crucial when it comes to taking out the tracking radars of most "

The airframe dictates the missions. The F-16's airframe is fine, but not stealthy. Stealth is crucial when it comes to taking out the tracking radars of most "strategic level" SAM systems (like the S-300 and S-400). The F-16, with its inability to carry stores internally, shines like a beacon to these SAM systems and can't get close enough to take them out without huge amounts of support. Thus, the F-35.