Originally Posted by busdriver02
As far as your IADS point, all of that high end EW and SEAD is much more effective with an LO platform. Standoff jammers can standoff a lot further if the jets going into the MEZ are LO and a big part of the problem being addressed is a MEZ that is much deeper than in the past.
Consider this...North Korea (for example) can effectively close its airspace for any 'bomb slinging from stealth aircraft' action (including jamming), with only two AN/TPY-2 class radars, so you're back to cruise missiles anyway.
Sure, stealth provides some fighting comfort, but is it worth it in comparison to what the 'legacy' fleet can do with even fraction on money in terms of upgrades and procurement?