I may be alone....but it is simply beyond me why the UK is pursuing ASTOVL. If you carry a lift-fan you give away miles and bombs, simple, end of story. I have heard arguments that ASTOVL is cheaper - i personally don't make planes but if i did i think i'd charge more for every bit that moved - makes me think ASTOVL will be more expensive to buy and maintain. Then the ASTOVL camp blahs on about the boat costing less, whilst at the same time patting themselves on the back that the boat could take a CV aircraft, so where's the saving there?!!
If the UK buy ASTOVL JSF/JCA they will have condemned yet another generation of UK aviators to the fate that the rest have suffered. Aircraft that don't go as far or carry as much as everyone else's.