[Yo-Yo]

1.5 the payload - if its external, stealth goes way down.

The F-35 was never designed to be all stealth all the time. It was intended to be stealthy during 'first day of war' then become a non-stealthy bomb truck in subsequent days and weeks of a conflict.

[DesertRhino]

“It was intended to be stealthy during ‘first day of war’ then become a non-stealthy bomb truck in subsequent days and weeks of a conflict.”

Its stealth is not full stealth, its a low observable, but it is detectable. And when it has anything external its totally not stealthy, AND its helpless against anything that can see it. It could not outfly an F-16 in a visual situation. A Sukhoi would eat it alive if it ever locates it.

[doorgunner69]

The F-35 was never designed to be all stealth all the time. It was intended to be stealthy during 'first day of war' then become a non-stealthy bomb truck in subsequent days and weeks of a conflict.

Bears repeating over and over for those not having much of a clue on modern warfare. You'd think the first night of hitting Baghdad would jostle some memories.