By contrast, the development of the jump-jet fighter is proceeding more smoothly than expected, meaning the aircraft could be ready to fly from the new carriers as early as 2018.
Who on earth is making up this BS, to want the B based on flexibility, lighter training burden etc. is absolutely fine, but whoever is advising that we take it because it's going to be cheaper and less risky is an example of the reasoning why we have found ourselves in such a god awful financial clusterf*ck, with very little to show for it.
You can take the Air Force out of the STOVL game, but you can't take the STOVL game out of the Air Force!!