It will be a 9 G airframe as far as I know (of course without external stores). It will probably outperform the F-16 in about every field, but it should, lol. I say it's not just a better attacker, and apart from the F-22A, it is a better fighter as well (doesn't make it the best platform for interception though) it has a very powerful multi-mode radar, HMS, off-boresight SRAAM, AMRAAM, stealth, much better thrust management, datalink, so it will do great in A-A at short to medium range. Close range, I still have to see as well, but no need to get to it. At least not the way the USAF will be using it.
The Typhoon is said (RAF source) to fly the same in full QRA load (4x AMRAAM, 4x ASRAAM, 2x Fuel) as in 'empty' load. If that's true, and the same will apply for the JSF, it will be a greater fighter than the F-16 and F-15. But will it?
I'm actually more in doubt of its CAS capabilities, in the most traditional sense, as it will replace the A-10 as well. Will it carry enough punch? (Hornet: negative on the strike, needs to refuel. JSF: negative, only have a couple of rounds left...) What about TGP? I think it needs to externally carry a TGP pod in order to designate targets itself or for a strike package of JSF. Good thing, the F-15E will be around for some time.
But well maybe you don't need much stealth when used in such a role anywayz. What about ECM package? Recce? It looks like every piece of kit apart from the radar needs to be carried externally... especially on the -B version. The USAF has dedicated aircraft for most of these things, but what about other countries...looks like they really need USAF support. New age of netcentric warfare, great if you have the network with all sensors. IMHO, this is were most countries can and will only be able to deliver shooters, and the JSF is not changing that.
You need a jack of all trades if you don't want to have a fleet of 3-4 types or more. I reckon it will be the best jack of all trades produced ever... when finally everything is integrated and all.
Just not the most independent or economical.
The RAAF is buying new tankers, these should make up for the reduced range compared to the F-111 in any interdiction mission. Thanks to the stealth, supercruise, datalink with AWACS/ISR or escorts, the JSF can fly a far more fuelefficient mission profile+route than the F-111! Then take in consideration the stand-off weapons. So I don't think that it's that big a gap. Also the JSF can probably achieve the same result in one pass, as a flight of F-111 bombers would in a few waves. Two JSF even better, thanks to datalinking of targetting information (destroyed targets) and radar picture. I do think however, that Australia does and will lack a good CAP aircraft/interceptor...but the need/threat is not high enough to sustain the cost yet.
The good thing about the Tornado, Hornet, F-15, F-16, or just about any third generation aircraft, is that you can bolt anything on it or use a few pylons for it. You loose performance of course, so it's not the greatest solution... but with the new generation, especially the stealth aircraft, you can't, because of the expensive materials, US software, and losing precious stealth capability. So how expensive will the JSF get, when it needs to be upgraded/updated.
I am wondering how it will eventually perform compared with 4+ generation aircraft, like the Typhoon and Rafale. I wouldn't be surprised that in 2020, US flown JSF strike package or fighters are just as easily detected as RAF flown Typhoons.
I'm saying too much in one single post again, hehe. Sounded like I was a JSF fan, so I added some of my concerns.
One final thing: those ex-USAF F-16s will first go to ANG and AFR units mostly, with the JSF delays, once they enter the market they will be very high houred, especially with Iraq and Afghanistan now. If you wanted second hand ex-USAF F-16s, you about had your chance. For the West-Europeans ones, they'll be heading for the scrap yard when JSF arrives. There are many other F-16 operators though, that will also go JSF with less hours flown, but most of these countries will keep their F-16s for quite some time because they still need to retire an ealier type, couple of Phantoms for example, and takes longer for them to get JSF.