RoyalistFlyer
A quick Google search suggests that the combat radius for the F-35B on internal fuel is 505 nm. Not too shabby, and you seem to forget that land based tankers frequently support carrier operations - most carrier based tanking supports aircraft recovering that miss a wire and need to top up and go around again. In an air defence scenario the enemy aircraft come to you.
I am not sure why you are so dismissive of LO technology - making life harder for enemy radars.
Asturias56
Errr - what? If it were not for vertical landing, all aircraft and pilots earmarked for carrier embarkation would need to continually practice carrier landing.