You missed the point - all the other planes are not “stealth” so carrying an external tank is not going to make that much difference in radar cross section. The F35 on the other hand takes a major hit even with a conformal tank.
The 35 can only approach or loiter near enemy territory without the tank and there in lies the limitation, so it needs a tanker ... often.
PIF: “You missed the point.”
So, if I understand, when you posted about “range”, you were not referring to normal “combat radius”, but rather to extended range with external fuel tanks?
You think for extended range, even “conformal tanks” unmask the F-35?
And this is a limitation somehow not shared by other stealth aircraft such as the F-22, do you say?
It sounds to me like loss of some extended range is a price of stealth, unless you do things like fill weapons bays with fuel tanks.
And I still note that published numbers show F-35 normal combat radius equal to or better than any except the F-15 Eagle.
But that must be assuming the F-35 is carrying bombs while the F-15 normally does not.
So, comparing apple’s to apple’s, how much range does the F-35 really lose?
Seriously, I don’t need to know that, but it is nice to hear the F-35 pilots are confident their weapons will bring them home from real combat not only victorious, but healthy.