Perhaps they should simply rename it A-35 and be done with it.
That's not the USAF way. The only USAF developed "A" aircraft was the A-10. All the other USAF air to ground fighters (like the F-105, F-111, F-117, etc, etc) had an "F" prefix. Yeah, they flew the A-7, but that was a US Navy bird.
After the Saber, the only USAF air superiority fighters were the F-15 and F-22, yet all but the A-7 and A-10 had an "F" prefix. USN tends to be more "honest" and develops and fields aircraft with an "A" prefix. And USN's strike fighter, the Hornet, has an F/A prefix. Maybe the F-35C should have a small "f" and big "A" prefix (f/A-35C ?) On the other hand, against 3rd and 4th gen fighters, the F-35 would consistently do well and could properly have a big "F".