“hoot for Israel. Maybe they can make them work, maybe not. Either way the F-35 will get a real world workout against a real adversary on a near daily basis.”
The Israelis will take the plane and immediately start modifying it to meet their unique strategy. Their electronics wherewithal is at least on a par with ours, maybe better. No worries, the Israelis will make it a good fighter.
Then they would have made their own.
The Israeli are having their electronics pre-installed before delivery according to the story. However, no amount of tinkering can make up for poor design and lack of ability. Jack of all trades is master of none - USAF or IAF.
Keep in mind that only one third of the ordered planes will be combat ready at any one time; that Israeli weapons pods may or may not actually work in combat; that despite what some imagine Russian S400 systems are as yet an unknown opponent and may well operate at spec.