The early concept design studies (circa 1996-1998) used the F18E as the basis for the "CTOL" carrier, because at the time IIRC the STOVL option was called the "STOVL Strikefighter" or SSF. The USN was still recovering after the A12 fiasco and had not yet worked out what to do beyond F18. the "what" subsequently became the JSF, which in turn became F35A, B & C.
The money saved on carrier operations and F35 acquisition and operation has lots of alternative uses in the meantime, and many of them we are far more likely to need than a 'Day 1' stealthy strike capability
Perhaps.
Indeed, in future we are more likely to need a maritime force air defence capability than we are a land-based deep-strike or CAS capability.........Carrier Strike is not all about Day 1 strike, there is a wider maritime piece that is often conveniently forgotten.
Last edited by Not_a_boffin; 19th Mar 2012 at 16:01.