LO,
Thanks. With the performance differences and the technological advances in both east and west I see any actual air-air combat between near-peer States being much more decisively swung by good intel and ops planning, tactics and aircrew ability.
I would hope that the OT people at Edwards and Nellis have enough intel on the capabilities of their adversaries to be able to come up with tactics that put the F-35 at an advantage. On paper a Sea Harrier FA2 should never have beat a Mig 29 or F-15C but tactics were devised to be able to make it happen during DACT sorties.