Every so often I read an article in semi- or pseudo-technical aviation magazines about the F-35. Without exception it is described as a gutless, poorly armed, unreliable machine.

Recently, I have read a two articles in online aviation web sites reporting that [apparently??] the Israeli Air Force has taken possession of a small number of F-35s and customized them as Adir. Included have been their unsubstantiated reports that between one and three of these Adirs has circumnavigated air base to Tehran, done photo reconnaissance - without the stealth aircraft being detected by Iran or any flyover country, and without refueling during the flight.

If this flight by the Adir version of the F-35 achieved this, how was it done and why is are American version unable to achieve a comparable level of performance?

I believe the operant of my query is "if."

It can do that no problem that’s what it is designed for. Stealth. Visual air to air is what some say it may be lacking. As for computer power and stealth it’s fantastic for sure. Israel used them operationally to do missions beyond recon recently....