I suspect that you could write BEagle a check for a couple of boom-equipped A330-MRTTs for less than what LockMart would charge you to put a probe on an F-35A.
The fixed vs. retractable probe is interesting because chronologically the French went from fixed to retractable to fixed. The F1 probe is a bit cumbersome, I must say. They presumably worked out the drag and RCS issues.
Philip G - You need the stealth aircraft to do air defense, because you just spent all your money on stealth aircraft and can't afford another one for air defense.