Sevenstrokeroll,
Trade offs was my point. Keeping the cost down while preserving customers' Key Performance Parameters is why we have the variants we see now. The slight exception is STOVL as the weight reduction changes in 2005 did alter the design. USAF demanded the A have an internal gun and be 9g capable. Big deck USN was range and approach speed (driving wing size and a need for ailerons at slow speed). UK and USMC was bring-back, hence the crash diet in '05 that made the weapon bay shorter (1000lb vs 2000lb stores)
In response to JTO, UK doesn't want or need F-35 as its primary fighter yet. When it does the requirements to replace Typhoon will be created and IF F-35A meets them it MAY be chosen. It may not. We may be looking at a 6th Gen UCAV fighter that can manoeuvre up to 25g should it's 50 internal BVRAAM fail to do their job.
From our perspective these are separate issues to address.
Last edited by ICBM; 27th May 2012 at 08:41.