Airpolice
I don't necessarily disagree with you, but my point is that if HMG want to do such things (and I'm referring to taking on Syria the nation state and not the ops currently conducted with regime consent) then it doesn't need much time until you really need something like F35 to get the job done.
I'm not saying it's the right priority, but to suggest that F35 is only needed if we want to go to war with Russia/China is living firmly in the 90's.