Golly, I'm not French, I'm a colonial.
The range of F-35B is not conclusively known, but at the very least, we know that it is possible that it will have a longer range than the EF, despite being a VSTOL fighter.
Furthermore, with the addition of beam weapons on the F-35A and F-35C, the natural agility of the EF is eroded even further. At the moment they have gotten a laser to fire up to 10 km range with effect and are miniaturizing it to fit into the forward fan space of the B version.
There is no plane fast or agile enough to escape the speed of lasers, eh.
Furthermore, the AESA radar of the F-35B, which is already into the fourth generation AESA for the Americans, is known to be a comprehensive weapon.
When it comes to space age **** like this, I don't doubt the Americans.