Ok, but the F-35 still is an extremely expensive dog.
It's slower than an F-16, less agile, cannot fly in bad weather or lightning (funny considering it's name), the EO system is way behind and most importantly, it is waaaaaaay too expensive. The software is flawed and against a Su-35 in a dogfight, it will loose...
The US and the partner nations would do well do ditch the whole program and sue Lockheed-martin for fraud. Because that is what LM is doing to its customers and the tax payers.
Even the Block 62 F-16's will do a better job.
I'll get off me soapbox now...
Dumonceau
Every single time I read comments like this, I easily recognize the talking point sources which come from a mix of sources ranging from ill informed news services and individuals which get their information from entities who are against the program for political reasons(who want the money shifted elsewhere). No personal offense but the information you mention is disinformation/misinformation. The F-35 can actually out turn or maintain turn rates with any non-thrust vectoring jet fighter currently flying and it's High AoA stability is significantly greater than the F-16. Recently, a series of tests were held to vet(and acquit) the F--35's Air Combat Capabilities in which it was run against the F-16C, F-15C, F/A-18E, F-22A and a pair of privately held SU-27 & Mig-29. Simulating the AIM-9X Block II/III integration with the DAS system, not a single one of the opposing fighters ever got a BVR radar or sensor lock or visual cue on the F-35. They were all shot down by a mix of simulated AIM-9X and AIM-120D set ACMI parameters at varying distances from over 60 nm and in as close as vr and including over-the-shoulder shots cued by the DAS system and Helmet. They did in fact push merge ACM just to see if the F-35 could handle the stress of a close in Dogfight where it's advantages might be more at risk. Again, it quickly made the kills and even the F-22 pilots involved in the closed tests came away with a new respect for the F-35's capability. The lethality of the F-35's Sensor and Weapons integration are not and have never been in dispute and based on the non-public tests of it against Legacy systems, the partner nations are totally satisfied the F-35 will deliver as advertised. In reality, the false news sources who make statements about the F-35 not being able to "win a dogfight" laughingly know nothing about the current and cutting edge capability of Air Combat Fighter Weapons. They(those information sources) seemed to be fixated with the notion that legacy type nose-on-tail dogfighting is how Aerial Engagements are won. With current capability of the only two 5th Gen Fighters, legacy fighters and missiles that still fight with such limited aspect capability will be killed by the F-35(and F-22) long before they ever detect or see them(and yes, the DAS will be TO/MSIP integrated into the F-22 and other aircraft over time). We're the only country in the world which such capability and yes, I agree with some here at home that perhaps we've been too generous in sharing the technologies found within the F-35.
With regards to the reports of development problems, yes, they have happened as they do with ALL types of aircraft and machinery that has ever been made. Few seem to remember that aircraft like the F-15, F-16, F-111, AH-64, etc etc were all plagued with development and service integration problems and even then, the same calls for their cancellations and bad press(much if it false or misleading) were abundant even more so than the F-35's bad press. Again, there's a lot of nonsense disinformation out there which almost invariably, the milestones of the program prove wrong the detractors as in past and now highly successful aircraft. BTW, if anyone wants to know what the systems like the F-35 keep coming in over budget and hit with technical issues/delays, take a close detailed look at the political and source procurement system which drive such programs. If we ever had a Federal Law which gutted much of the non-sense and wasteful decision making, our annual defense budget would be easily half what it is now if not lower and programs like the F-35 would come in cheaper and on time. In this case, had the decision makers and law makers left the F-35 alone and not tried to "push it up" on certain time tables, the original service entry date was roughly where it will actually enter service, not that far behind and BTW, no combat aircraft built in the last 40+ years has ever came into service perfectly on schedule or under budget.....
(Edit), Dumonceau, nothing personal on you(not attacking you), there's just a lot more to all of this than meets the eye.
NC