One of the things everyone admits is that the range of current western tactical jets was designed around a war in Central Europe and, looking at China, is inadequate for the Pacific theatre. That is being addressed. To quote Greg Ulmer, vice president and general manager of the F-35 program at Lockheed.
“We talked to several customers about how do we extend the range of the airplane,” Ulmer told reporters during a briefing. “We're looking at conformal fuel tanks as well as external fuel tanks on the airplane to increase the range by about 40 percent”.
Whilst the external tanks can be dropped before ingress 8 presume the conformal tanks will preserve the stealth signature - though what it might do to the drag index and acceleration is unknown. (Doesn’t have to increase, might actually reduce it.).
I doubt either is a real possibility for the F-35B unless you throw the external tanks away every trip and/or every landing is a RVL.
P&W are, of course, offering 2 stages of engine thrust growth and an eventual new higher thrust engine, though where the heat we go is a problem.
Lots more money to throw at the program yet.....