I'm struggling to understand why anti-submarine warfare missiles would keep a carrier 250nm offshore.
Likewise, the F35C is the only CVW system available now and in the near to medium term that will be able to do day 1 strike.
Which is probably why the latest USN FY19 budget (dated Feb 2018) notes that Full rate production for F35C is due in Apr 19 and that the programme of record remains at 369 cabs, with IOC in Aug 18. Strangely the max rate (24 pa) is reached in the same year that the FA18E begins to ramp down.
The FA18 SLEP budget line is described as : OSIP 20-14 increases due to ramp up of the F/A-18E/F service life modifications from three aircraft in FY18 to seven aircraft in FY19. This OSIP fund modifications required to extend the F/A-18E/F service life and maintain sufficient aircraft inventory to meet fleet operational requirements through FY2043.
In the same budget, they're asking for 5.4Bn to complete the balance of F35C.
Strangely, the DoN doesn't seem to think it's an either/or scenario.