JF
A good post, but...
There is one thing that SHar always lacked and that was speed for air-to-air. Three things come to mind:
1. High Value Air Asset Defence (HVAAD) sometimes you need to cut the corner on a 'leaker' that is going for the asset you're protecting.
2. Supersonic launch gives a 10-20% launch success zone (LSZ) to missiles like BVRAAM/AMRAAM. Plus a block 5+ launch puts a further throw on missiles. You want to schwack the enemy long before it gets anywhere near your fleet or other assets, so long rockets are a vital capability.
3. Chase down and disengagement speed is a vital for an Air Defence fighter.
I know the SHar did well in the FIs, but the air to air threat wasn't really credible IMHO.
Just my 2 penneth, and as always, aircraft selection is a compromise - it just depends on what capability that were willing to sacrifice.
LJ