If we buy -B we should get 2 carriers not 1 so that would have a sea-going platform for F-35 available pretty much constantly. Go -C and you'll get 1 carrier and the discussion on availability has already been had (read: horse flogged). The -C has superior range/loiter and that is very nice to have. I've already said that bay size won't necessarily make or break the mission. If the -B is cancelled by the US Govt and we cancel the carriers I would buy the -A. It has pretty much the same range as -C, has a built-in gun and has more kinematic performance than either of the others. It's also the least likely to be canned with the USAF being pretty reliant on it replacing their 'low' bit of the hi-lo force mix.
Oh and -A was the choice for DPOC
...and JSF ceased being a Harrier replacement on 15 Dec 10.
Last edited by ICBM; 6th May 2012 at 17:50.