F22 Raptor at Airshow

[Steel God]

Mike has the details nailed pretty well Ian. It is called the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for a reason, and that is because it is designed as a weapons platform, as opposed to the F-22, which is designed for the air supremacy mission. It's a little bit of apples and oranges comparison.

Unlike the F-22, which by law can not be exported by the US, the F-35 is an international venture and plans for production of over 3000 aircraft to at least 9 or 10 nations (6 European nations, Canada, Australia, and Israel that I can recall) are already laid down. The JSF can be nearly as stealthy as the F-22, but doing so limits it's weapons load to 4000 lbs in the internal bays (half that for the VTOL version).

I have no doubt you've read stories about closing up the production line, a product of the way programs are funded in the US. Don't believe them. The Air Force knows it needs that weapon system more than anything else if it's to maintain the technological edge to assure air supremacy in any future conflicts. It will give up almost anything to keep the Raptor funded.