...the F35 [is] a strike fighter not an interceptor and I doubt anybody is dumb enough to try and use one as such.
Royal Navy to protect their carrier[s]? USMC for point defence if their big cousins are not around?
I understand your point but if F35 in one of its guises is to replace F16, [F15?] F18, at least partially, and AV8B, it will be called upon for air defence duties to some extent. This may not have been its primary function but it will have to get adequate at it at the very least.
LF