The F35 will have some great capabilities with time,
But not it appears as a carrier based plane.
From the Torygraph, and it was in yesterdays Times as well:
"Leaked Pentagon documents claim a design flaw in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has caused eight simulated landings to fail.
The “F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Concurrency Quick Look Review” claimed the flaw meant that the “arrestor” hook, used to stop the plane during landing, was too close to the plane’s wheels.
The documents warn of "major consequences" to the aircraft’s structure and cast doubt on the readiness of the JSF to provide close-air support, which is seen as critical to a carrier’s role in providing amphibious landings.
The review further suggests the planes will be unable to fire the British Asraam air-to-air missile."
It adds that the F-35C remains untested in several areas, concluding that "there is a high likelihood of future failures that are not yet identified".
"The report, seen by the Sunday Times newspaper, concludes that unless a "significant redesign" of the aircraft is urgently completed the future of the aircraft is at risk.
If such a redesign is proven to be too costly or difficult to implement, it warns that the entire F-35C programme may have to be scrapped."