Is the F-16 out of production? The F-35 is a stealth version of the 16?
They tried that. But the 35 is a moonpig in performance. A 16 can fly rings around it, outshoot it, and outrun it, and run it outta gas.
The 35 is essentially a light stealth enhanced light bomber(but not stealth) I would think of it as an improved and more mainstreamed F-117 with some fighter capacity added.