[hongseleco]

You have a few F-35s and F-22s relaying high quality targeting information back to F-18s, F-15s and F-16s, which the US has more of, that carry lots of long range air-to-air missile against adversarial aircraft, and more of those same planes carrying anti-radiation missiles(ARM) and other stand-off weapons for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). And just for fun, you might have EA-18G and EC-130 raising the noise floor and other cool electronic warfare techniques to hide your LO and non-LO aircraft, AND further deny, deceive, and degrade the adversary's RADARs and communications.

The F-35s and F-22s can get up closer to the adversarial aircraft and air defense than non-LO (Low Observable) aircraft (B-1s, B-52s, F-18s, F-16s, and F-15s). A lot has been invested in the interfaces and data-links for F-35 and F-22 pilots to relay information to other platforms (Land, Sea, and Air) The key is to get better stand-off range and higher resolution targeting data for your non-LO aircraft to minimize risk and maximize hitting air and land targets.

My overall opinion of the F-35 is that it's not really a fighter, but more like an EA-35, because it has a very capable electronic warfare suite (AN/ASQ-239), and it has the ability to take that suite and collect data passively up close and personal with lower risk of detection, and can transmit a lot of high quality intel very quickly, while keeping great emission control (EMCON) with directional antennas and near-noise floor communications. It's also the only LO aircraft that can take-off a carrier. The capability to carry these towed decoys only adds more tricks and tools to the EW suite. I don't have a very high opinion of it's air-to-air combat performance, but it definitely has it's place as a great EW/SIGINT/COMINT platform.