the f16 is better in close dogfight. However in real world an f16 would never see it face to face in close proximity. The battle would be fought 10 kms or more and then once f35 released weapons system it would dissapear on map again. The f16 would have to evade rockets (unlikely) and look with binoculars to try to visually find it to get closer and come into a dogfight. Its not the 1930s anymore.
New weapons system: laser will be installed on jet fighters within the next 7-10 years. At that time flares will be useless, a plane will basically be able to shoot way more other fighters down (not limited by rockets) Also laser travels faster than rockets. Even better: you could use laser to shoot down incoming rockets from other planes and once their rockets are wasted then they will be sitting like the flying meat this pilot was talking about
