A very fine answer Scratch, and one I can't add anything to, other than anecdotally, while lots of folks are worried about this or that, the F-35 is still the most sensor fused aircraft that the US has ever designed or fielded. The F-35 is single cockpit, because the smart quiet folks have equipped this bird with lots of helps/assists for it single pilot mission. I can't and won't specifically argue point by point for or against things I don't understand completely, (nor do I really care about). My interest is primarily in the F-35 as an airframe/aircraft, its powerplant, and how it flys and performs, in the air and during launch/recovery, and how it will perform its mission, stealthiness and how that will play tactically, in other words will it be able to put weapons on target, A2A or A2G, will it survive and be able to sneak/fight its way back to base for another go around.
Master Jura, I KNOW you are as clean and pure as the driven snow, that's why you are my real Bruda, that's why I make every attempt to answer each and every question in a way that hopefully is both honest and direct, and helps you understand this very fine airplane. Having said that, I am a pilot/mechanic/eyeball engineer??? I do have some grasp of this aircraft, I do have some gut feel about how it will perform and stack up in everyday life, against both the Chinese and Russian fifth gen prototypes. I have criticized the F-35 from time to time, and the logic and reasoning behinds its strength and weaknesses, I have no doubt that the F-35 will be nearly unbeatable in the real world both as a solo one on one, and in team exercises as well, any 4 or 4.5 gen aircraft prolly better run if they get the chance.
Folks are flying these airplanes in the colors of our partners, the F-35 is being sold and deployed, right now in the test and training mode, very shortly it will be operational, as Jeff's last post notes, this airplane is the future, and it is a very good future, and this airplane will contribute to the safety and security of the free world, and even of the not so free world. Today the F-35 is wearing the colors of the USAF, MARINES, and USN, the UK, AUS, and the Dutch???? ,,,,, tomorrow it will be wearing more colors, it will be deployed, it will be tested, and in the words of Lord Vader-"this Death Star is Fully Functional"!