You got to lose those thrust vectors, I still don’t believe in 4 engines. You should define the role of the aircraft before you spend so much time on the design.

In many ways I like your idea but my feedback is;

Stick to 2*J85, it will be to difficult to maintain more
Make a aerodynamically stable design, the FCS and pilot training (2nd tier or reservists) will be a lot easier
Internal or conformal bay with 2 Mica IR is more than enough+ 2 wingtip AAM
Canard design will allow slow min speed/long loiter time as well as good trans/supersonic
Go for low wing loading

No radar or the size of a BVR missile and only to verify distance of localized targets and to aim internal gun
Internal gun 20mm?
IRSOT
IR MAVS
Decent RWR
Limited flares/chaff/ active jammer
Fixed refueling probe
Good networking
1 wet station

Performance
Limited payload
Maximize fuel fraction and minimize wing loading
Moderately supersonic but should have low drag in the 0,8-1,4 Mach area

Operational concept
Intercept incoming enemy or loiter at high altitude over friendly territory
Well networked to ground stations and “bigger brothers”
Hang around at high altitude, slow speed and dive intercept (gain speed and reach) its main targets of attack aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, stand off munitions, decoys, UACVS.

What about a cross over between JF17/MIG 21 and a F117? Very light, cheap tin can?

Czech lease of 14 Gripen C/D will be extended until 2026, negotiations closed but contract not signed. Source in Swedish
http://www.di.se/artiklar/2014/3/12/tjeckien-forlanger-gripen-avtalet/

“Capability” is multi dimensional not one dimension.
No doubt F35 will take sensor fusion to a new level, good sensors and will feature an excellent stealth.

My worst doubts of F35 would be,
To expensive to buy and run, poor availability, to difficult to maintain, NO INTERNAL JAMMER except radar, 1 fixed forward AESA array poor fov, too small internal AA load, interceptor wise poor flight performance (light load/high altitude), wrong political signal to your neighbours (I’m the attacker).

@Loke regarding the situation in Norway
Have money = willing to spend..?
Don’t forget to tell the guys in your navy 😉
Having 5 ships and 1 possibly 2 is manned due to cost reasons. I expect a lot of army/navy projects to stand back in order to get the F35, “Archer” was only be the beginning.

The fate of the 204 Gripens ordered by Sweden, (26 new built for South Africa not included)
88 in service
32 disassembled and partially destroyed (2 A/B’s for 1 D)
28 Leased to Hungary /Czech
24 in storage
12 sold to Thailand
10 to be rebuild from A/B to C/D
4 crashed
4 used for demonstrators
2 donated to museums

Source in Swedish
http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/fordon_motor/flygplan/article3806241.ece

“What mission is it exactly that you can’t do with X no. of F-35s, can do with Y no. of Gripens, but can’t do with Z no. of lower cost aircraft?”

Just get in the air.
Expensive & complicated aircraft operating on 1 airfield, will never start. F35 main merit is attack so opponent will make sure they act first.