I think we need some positive thinking here..
BBC News - NY Auto Show: World's first 'sky-worthy' car
Well, here's another F35 alternative. Folding wings so carrier friendly, and while not really a stealth design, it's capable of going really low and so under the radar. Refuelling courtesy any roadside service station and the 'BAR' bit of CATOBAR could probably be performed by half a dozen matelots with a sort of modified bouncy castle on ropes. Very effective in the SEAD role against SA-21 as it can be driven right up to the launcher while it's radar and crew are still looking skywards, and pour sugar in the launcher truck's fuel tank.
Possibly a tad short on a couple of KPP's, but then so is F35. IOC scheduled for 2013, but 2019 after some UK specified modifications (converting to right hand drive). Priced at under $300,000 at today's prices or $15,000,000 each when acquired through a PFI, including RHD mod. So we can afford lots of them.
There is just a slight worry about training costs in the UK because it could be susceptible to fixed penalty speeding tickets if caught by GATSO cameras or average speed limits on motorways, but this can be amortised over the through life costs which are otherwise reckoned to be very reasonable consisting as they do of an annual service, road fund licence, and MOT every 3rd year.
Can't see any downsides myself. Expect to see this, with possibly an optionally manned version, as a corner stone of
Future Force 2020, while F35 has disappeared without trace.
Pity the BBC didn't cover this story on 1 April really.