[GeronL]

and there goes any stealthiness it actually had

[sukhoi-30mki]

Not necessarily, since the f-35 was always designed to carry external munitions. Besides you can jettison or release any fuel tanks and stand-off weapons and still retain internally mounted weapons.

[USNBandit]

This goes back to the original spec, and why all the people that want to replace the F-35 with more F-22s just don't get it.

The original spec was for a stealthy aircraft capable of internally carrying 2x2000 lb. J-weapons. You can't fit those in an F-22.

That spec was for a "first couple days of the war" scenario, before air superiority has been achieved. After air superiority has been achieved then you slap on the LAUs and turn the thing into a bomb truck.