[1812Overture]

This aircraft is never going to be risked on a ground attack mission. It was dumb for them to think it could fill that role.

[reality_hacker]

They can drop JDAMs, small diameter bombs from 30 miles away and turn back. You are probably saying about Close Air Support role. It can be fulfilled by high precision weapons, which can be applied from many miles distance, but also Air Force consider replacement for A-10 for this role, which will not be F-35. And some other cases of CAS can be covered by apaches and drones.