Re: Irrational
I am not a fan of the F-35, however...
"But against modern air defence assets, I'd expect the F35 to suffer significant losses"
Considering that is outside the specifications and purpose of the F-35, of course it would not do well.
The F-35 IS a 2nd-rate fighter, designed to be the workhorse/bomb-truck to the F-22.
It's use doctrine is:
Let the F-22s and Intruder-type aircraft take out the enemy air defences - aircraft, AA, etc.
THEN the F-35 does the high-rate close-air-support and precision strike sorties, with no significant enemy air defences left intact.
It is not designed to be a front-line dogfighter or a 'penetration'-type strike aircraft, that's the f-22's job.