Joint Strike Fighter and US force structure

Totoro said:

IDont, does that mean that f-35 carries only a total of two amraams internally? With a cumulative total of internal and external aams being only 4 amraams?? I mean, i've checked that site before and I refuse to believe that... It just doesn't make sense. Also no sidewinders interally?

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I looked at that sight clearly and its states:

two internal weapon bays
2 AIM-120C AMRAAM or
2 AIM-132 ASRAAM and
2 AGM-154 JSOW or
2 Brimstone or
2 GBU-12 Paveway LGB or
2 GBU-31/32/38 JDAM or
8 GBU-39 SDB or
2 CBU-87/89 CBU or
2 CBU-103/104/105 WCMD

Taking out 2 JDAMs would make room for more air to air missiles. How many, your guess is as good as mine.

I've continuously heard the rumor that the export versions won't be as stealthy as US ones, but have found zero credible sources stating this. Does anyone know of an article (factual) stating this?

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A crucial aspect of the fighter's "stealth capability" - radio frequency signatures - has been downgraded from "very low observable" to "low observable", according to the US Defence Department website.

hmmm, I read that article before, but maybe i misunderstood. I thought the implication was that the F-35 wasn't meeting desgin requirments in the low observables field, not that it was being deliberatly made less stealthy for the Aussies.

then there is this bit of confusing info:

A Federal Government source conceded yesterday that the stealth capability definitions had been changed, but maintained that the "design requirements" for the fighter to "avoid detection" had not.

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To me that sounds like it will still meet the original design requirements but they have merely changed their definitions of for example what is very low observable vs. what is extremely low observable.

Regardless, i will be looking out for more sources confirming this. If it is true that export versions have "downgraded" LO, that is just appalling to me. Not how you do business with your most trusted allies, which is why I remain somewhat sceptical.