There was a lot of press about the two Aim120s fired as the F4 target drone which was the target was actually preserved and returned to base. Many "The F35's only 2 missiles both missed" etc etc etc. Turns out they didn't actually miss, but were right on target and closing to warhead detonation when it was decided there was no point in wasting the last F4 drone that was to be used to prove that the missile warheads worked, so they sent self destruct through the datalink connection from the F35 to the Aim120s. That's actually a pretty interesting feature, and probably has some real world use for times in swirling combat when a pilot might wish he hadn't let one fly due a friendly or unknown all of sudden showing up somewhere downrange.
IMO this still all boils down to theory - does low observability, new/great sensors, and modern tech in weapons and their employment trump maneuverability, speed, and power? I've said this before, I'm still waiting for info from a very large EX where the various versions of the F35 are used in large, as in a 4 ship or a section of a squadron versus current Red Air and other threats at say Red Flag or what have you. The Air Force has recently joined the USMC in stating that using their F35s even with current software and restrictions is to the point now where all the other fighters (save the F22 of course) are saying it's pointless to even play, as they are dead as soon as they turn inbound during their scenarios, and never even see the F35. I do hope that's true, this thing needs to work, regardless of how any of us feel about its design and the compromises made in building it the way it is. There are still issues, but there are still issues with every fighter out there in some manner, and there have been more and more glimmers of hope regarding the F35 recently IMO.
