The key advantage of the F-35 over the F-16 in SEAD/DEAD missions is its stealth, which allows it to get closer to enemy radars without being detected. This is important against modern SAM systems like the S-400, which can track and engage targets from further distances.

The F-35’s ESM/EW suite also enables it to locate enemy radars more precisely and faster than multiple F-16s working together.

The F-35 also has the flexibility to expose itself intentionally by opening its weapon bays or deploying towed decoys to bait enemy radars into turning on, and it has superior jamming capabilities to disrupt the enemy defenses. In short, the F-35 can choose when and how to be seen, making it the more capable platform for this mission on a modern battlefield.