The f-35 is a great example of the practically pathological need for the US military to appear to ne the most technologically advanced military in the world. To be clear, it is, but finally China is making significant improvements. This cold-war hold-over means that instead of making a boring solution for an actual problem, the US made a trillion dollar jack of all trades. The f-35 is worse at each of the individual task than the specialized frames it is supposed to replace. I can't find the link, but I remember an article where f-16 s won every mock dogfight with f-35s.