I wonder if prestige is also a factor, being able to brag that you have the "latest and the greatest". It's also the only true stealth fighter available for sale. Well, the SU-57 is also being marketed for export too, but it's probably not going to have many takers in the West for political reasons, and it has it's own set of problems.
Otherwise, what is the F-35's competitors? Typhooon, Rafale, Gripen, Super Hornet, or some advanced Eagle variant? All good planes, and probably more appropriate for many air forces than the F-35, but they are all 4+ generation planes, not the latest new shiny toy that the F-35 is.
Otherwise, what is the F-35's competitors? Typhooon, Rafale, Gripen, Super Hornet, or some advanced Eagle variant? All good planes, and probably more appropriate for many air forces than the F-35, but they are all 4+ generation planes, not the latest new shiny toy that the F-35 is.