Originally Posted by Engines
I simply don't agree that the B's lift system is dead weight. The mission requirement is to operate from a ship. The lift system provides that. By your definition, landing gear is dead weight on an F-22. The F-35B is a STOVL aircraft. A lift system is essential to its mission. Clear to me.
That's a great argument, Engines, but not good enough. The lift system is dead weight if you don't have to fly from a very short, possibly moving, runway. In that respect the B model, as the UK's version, imposes potentially severe restrictions on the UK's new do-it-all fast jet that should take on a lot of the RAF's roles.
To many that will operate it, it could well be just dead weight.