The situation isn't that dire but the F-35 program is still a screw-up. At a minimum, it still can perform its primary role - get into contested areas stealthil

The situation isn't that dire but the F-35 program is still a screw-up. At a minimum, it still can perform its primary role - get into contested areas stealthily, gain and share firing solutions to well-equipped friendlies in the area, bugging out, and rinse/repeat.