The war against Japan was won with massive conventional bombing before the atomic bomb, far more devastating than the atomic bomb. But you don’t learn that in school. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a power demonstration not to Japan, but to the Soviet.

At ten times the cost 😁

And Boeing is laughing all the way to the bank

Would really like to know more about how the F5/T38 really compares against 4th and 5th generation fighters. Sure, some lucky shots have been documented, but is the cost/effectively numbers comparable?

Isn't the F-35 edge in long range only because the radar?

By the time the F-16 is offered in 4.99 generation configuration because nobody can afford to operate the F-35, only the stealth and bad maneuverability will be left to adopt.