What are you smoking?
what do you mean with that? that the jsf is an bad plane, or do you think it can win in top gun
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
I have no doubt that the F-35 will be in the same over all performance bracket as the F-22 for air to air combat. You seem to not get just how big of a thing the datalinks and sensor fusion is.
Edit: Your comment also betrays your lack of knowledge. No one "Wins 'TOPGUN'".
Of course it could. With a good pilot. The JSF is a good aircraft (needs to be tested in combat to back that up) but all the same it looks as if it will be a good one. It's just not what the RAF and RN need. And as yes proposals are proposals but the fact remains it is doable. Even if the feasibility might be a little questionable? The fact that they (Government) want to completely scrap the Tornado force in the next couple of years means we'll have a big capability gap. Even with the Typhoons (if we get all of them).
My issue is that converting planes from land based to carrier based is a bit difficult. Things like corrosion, and air frame stress rear their ugly heads when you try to make those conversions. I'm not saying they couldn't be done, just that, as an American, I don't see why allies should waste their money with R&D when they could spend that money to buy American fighters (Replace my argument for Super Hornets with Flankers for the Russian equivalent).