AIM120 is a command link medium range mx with an active RADAR seeker. It does not have a thermal seeker and there is no feedback to indicate whether it can see its target (until AIM-120D P3I Phase 4 with bi-directional DL). That is why it has an uncertainty box. There is always uncertainty about the mx and the intended target.
Agreed. However, although the missile does not link back its location, the launch platform can track it along with the intended target. F-35s are especially adept at tracking their own missile(s) and can even do so passively. If the missile strays and/or the target maneuvers to avoid the missile the missile can be redirected and/or never have its terminal homing guidance switched on. And I agree that even in this situation, plenty of uncertainty remains. However, the F-35s combination of sensors and sensor fusion means the probabilities go up significantly in favor of a successful shot and successful kill.
There is a world of difference between supporting a medium or long range mx to a target at long-range and supporting a short range mx against a close target with a high sightline rate and manoeuvre- especially if your sensor was the MkII eyeball which doesn't feed range information to the datalink.
Agreed. And there-in lies the power of the F-35's sensor suite and (alleged "contradictory") helmet display system. The helmet, and thus the sensors and weapons, know where the "MkII eyeball" is looking and the fused and linked DAS and radar pictures (the DAS and radar pictures of ALL the F-35s in the fight) compute the range automatically. And if I may direct your memory to Vietnam, Sparrow missiles were used at "short range against a close target with a high sightline rate and manoeuvre" on many an occasion. The same thing happened later over Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the skies over and adjacent to Israel using AMRAAMs. So "close in high maneuvering" fights have not restricted the pilots to using IR missiles and using radar guided missiles is most assuredly appropriate and effective in those situations. Thus lack of an IR missile is not a deal breaker in such a fight. In short, the F-35 is most assuredly capable of fighting within visual range and is most assuredly not crippled by its lack of an internal IR missile. And in such a fight its stealth remains an asset. And in such a fight its fused and linked DAS and radar (along with its "contradictory" helmet system) also remain assets.