On Jan 12, 6:13*pm, Typhoon502 wrote:
I'd go the other way around, dump the AF version and make the F-35C be
the only non-STOVL option, then put STOVL off until F-35C is up to
speed. But F-35 is probably going to go the way of the F-22 in any
case.

An AF Lt wrote a paper about using the F-35C for short field
operations by setting up arresting wires, but I lost the link.

The problem with the F-35 is the tiny range. The F-35C is only
slightly longer ranged than the F-22.

Just look at the stats:

F-22, RCS of 0.0002 m^2, Combat radius: 410 nmi
F-35C, RCS of 0.0015 m^2, Combat radius: 640 nmi
Sukhoi PAK FA, RCS of 0.5 m^2, Combat radius: 800 nmi (Spots the
F-35 just outside of Sidewinder range and the F-22 just outside of
cannon range.)

-HJC