Should have gone with the latest F/A-18 version, paid for catapults with the saving. Donate the F/A-18s to the RAF in 10 years to play with (ala Buccaneer) then buy a mature risk reduced stealthy aircraft force mix of F-35/Stealthy UCAV for the up to speed carrier force. Maybe keep a few F/A-18s for standoff jamming, refueling duties, bomb truck duties etc
Not exactly rocket science is it.