Mr Liberson : Our current assessment that we speak of is: greater than six to one relative loss exchange ratio against in four versus eight engagement scenarios—four blue F-35s versus eight advanced red threats in the 2015 to 2020 time frame.
May I suggest that a false assumption has been made. Four F-35's beating eight red defenders is NOT a claim about close-in dog fight air superiority. Four F-35s cooperatively penetrating defended air space can indeed (in simulations) beat eight advanced red defenders. There is no claim made here about close-in dog fighting in an air superiority role. In other words, a bad conclusion based on a false assumption.
Nevertheless, even though the F-35 was not designed nor optimized for the air superiority role, it does a creditable job there. Certainly as good as and usually better than any other aircraft designed and optimized for the strike role, and on occasion better than many non stealth purpose designed air superiority fighters.