I guy I grew up with is a flight instructor for the F-35. He claims (publicly) it's a total game changer compared to the F-16's he used to fly before.
In exercises such as Red Flag, it dominates anything 4th gen.
"Stealth" is not only about being hard to detect. It's just as much about making it difficult for enemy missiles to get a lock and keep it until they score a hit.
Also, the softer (or software) elements of the F-35 is a huge part of it. Sensor Fusion makes it a lot easier to know what to do next.
In exercises such as Red Flag, it dominates anything 4th gen.
"Stealth" is not only about being hard to detect. It's just as much about making it difficult for enemy missiles to get a lock and keep it until they score a hit.
Also, the softer (or software) elements of the F-35 is a huge part of it. Sensor Fusion makes it a lot easier to know what to do next.