http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0216.shtml

By 2012 the B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer should be on the way out, still in service would be advanced variants of the F-117 Nighthawk/Blackjet (stealth fighter or X-47?) and the B-2 Spirit (stealth bomber).  The F-35 and F-22 are also supposed to be "stealthy."  The JSF/Raptor have internal weapon bays and can also carry externally.

Lockheed-Martin

Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)	Client	Unit Cost	Number of Units Ordered	Operational FY
F-35A CTOL	USAF	$28M	2,036	2008
F-35B STOVL	USMC UKRN	$35M	Marines: 642 Royal Navy: 60	2010
F-35C CV	USN	$38M	300	2012

CTOL = conventional take-off and landing

STOVL = short take-off / vertical landing

CV = carrier variant

The largest JSF model is the Navy's (wingspan) required for a better glide on the final approach during carrier landings (low-speed approaches).  It will also help on take off with mission loads (fuel/ordnance).  The Navy will have about 25 F-35s per carrier along with Super Hornets that will fly for the Navy till about 2030.  The F-35C will have folding wings for optimal carrier parking above and below decks.  Below from left to right the USAF, USMC, and USN F-35s.  Variants of the USAF CTOL will be the "export" versions (not counting the UKRN F-35Bs).

The UK Royal Navy by 2012 will get 60 F-35Bs operating 30 from each of its new carriers (2).  The JSF was picked by the UK for its Future Carrier Borne Aircraft (FJCA) and Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programs.  Below - an artist concept sketch of both developing RN programs.  Notice the two (2) "islands" on their new "Frog" built carriers.

The following F-35 program analysis questions the ability of the "multi-role" JSF to perform its mission especially during long range air interdiction :

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~fta/aviat-6b.htm

Here is the 'fas.org' JSF page and other interesting F-35 links

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/jsf.htm

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0163.shtml

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/jsf_fighter_020312.html

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/jsf/

JSF External Weapon Options

Maybe the USAF does not believe it needs the STOVL capability of the F-35B?  The "B" variant is $7M more per unit than the standard USAF CTOL.  For Lockheed-Martin the F-35A will also be the export version of the JSF program.

Below a graphic of the USMC and UKRN STOVL F-35B

Unlike the JSF CV and CTOL versions the F-35B has a lift fan behind the cockpit (SDLF: Shaft Driven Lift Fan) and in the rear it has an AEN (Advanced Exhaust Nozzle or "swivel duct") that can 'bend' 90 degrees to provide downward thrust from its modified F-119 engine.  For vertical landing control the F-35B also has two (2) small lateral thrust nozzles under the wings (starboard and port), also known as 'roll' control nozzles.  Due to the need for a SDLF the 'B' carries less fuel than the 'A or C' JSFs.  The F-119 is a derivative of the F-22 Raptor engine (Raptor has two) which is also standard on the JSF CV and CTOL variants.  Due to all the space the STOVL engine took on the JSF 'B' model its 25mm cannon must be mounted externally.  An internal 25mm cannon is standard in the USAF CTOL, not so in the CV and STOVL, they must add an external 'tear-drop' specialized gun pod for missions requiring the cannon (don't know why the gun is not standard in the naval F-35C?  I actually read in one source that the gun would be internal on the CV and at another that it would have to be external...the same with the caliber of the gun, one says it will be a 27 mike mike another 25mm).  To read more on the JSF STOVL F-119 engine go to the following link:

http://www.air-attack.com/page.php?pid=48

RAKK, I personally can't pass judgement on that yet.  Seems to me their trying to have the JSF do a lot.  Like the old saying goes "it will have some big shoes to fill" with all the airframes/systems it is supposed to replace along with the Raptor.  The DoD and Lockheed-Martin keep saying that the F-35 will deliver what it is promising.  Well see.

I read the Aussie site, I must say it is a rather intriguing idea to re-engine F-111's (too bad we have smashed all our Aardvarks to pieces) with the F-22 (Pratt and Whitneys?) engines. However I would think the development cost to field something like 60 F-111x A/C for RAAF would not make as much sense as buying a basicly off the shelf bird that they have already help pay for in the F-35.

As far as the F-22 goes I would say for us it is more of a must have item than the F-35 is. The A/C we have now can soldier on in the deep strike, interdiction, CAS, and strategic deterrence role for 20 to 30 years to come (with upgrades) we must have the absolute best fighter in the worlds skies. If you dont maintain air superiority (against an enemy that has any kind of AF) than a war is almost impossible to win IMO.

One thing you don't seem to hear much about anymore ( at least regarding these new fighters) is the use of data links with other sensors on the battfield (ground,air sea, and space based) to intergrate themselves into the F-35 and 22 that will really revolutionize the use of air power once again.

"I have the Americans with me, and they have their death ray. Surrender or die!"   Gen. Abdul Rashid Dotsum. Afghan Warlord.