Does the F-35 has any stealth capabilities? Honestly, how much worth is stealth today? The costs of the F-22 alone are absurd, the F-35 wont be cheap in any fo its versions as well and, IMO, inst taking down the enemy more important than not beeing seen?
Yes it does. If you notice the shape of the aircraft, its designed much like the F-22 with IR shielded engine exhaust and an intake shape that shields the radar from bouncing off the turbines. Apparently depending on the level of technology trade with the nation buying the aircraft will determine how stealth the F-35 is. So some countries like Britain, Italy and Canada if we buy them will have the best stealth signature while another country outside of the big contributing members and maybe not quite as friendly to the US will only get partial stealth.
The merits of stealth are questionable these days. Planes like the Typhoon and Gripen also have stealth characteristics that make them far and above more stealth than anything they are replacing. The size of the radar signatures of new generation aircraft are much smaller on the whole. The F-22 and F-35 take that to the highest possible level with the smallest of signatures. It doesn't mean they are completely invisible. A sophisticated ground radar tracking system is likely to be able to roughly distinguish a stealth aircraft. In the future apparently radar stations will have technology that can detect wake turbulence from the aircrafts engines so having a generaly knowledge that they are there will still exist. But thats all ground radar...putting that into a jet fighter or missile will be hard.
Nonetheless...they aren't impervious. If you got into visual range its going to be essentially like fighting any other aircraft. With a good missile seeker you'll still be able to down a stealth aircraft. Particularly using a IR missile. One Air Force General was quoted as saying that a Mig-21 pilot, if he was on the tail of a B-2 Stealth bomber would still be able to shoot at the B-2 using a AA-2 Atoll missile which is a very old weapon. So they aren't totally invisibile...but it gives you an edge.
If you're talking modern warfare where the terrorists might have a primitive shoulder launched radar guided SAM then stealth is a huge benefit because its almost impossible for him to get a lock. Against an enemy with the very latest radar, datalink, and SAM missiles...he'll have a chance but it'll be very hard. Which is why the F-22 and F-35 are so capable in other ways as conventional aircraft.
