This aircraft should be considered specialist low volume for clandestine ground support only. The cost and time required for maintenance makes this a craft that you can't keep in the air fighting. You could service a whole fleet of f16 for what this cost to buy and run. It's a massive strategic blunder to have large numbers of these aircraft. In a battle you need air superiority and that comes with having aircraft in the air supporting your ground forces advance. The f35 was properly nicknamed the flying pig for a reason.