Carrier conversion costs prompt UK to re-examine JSF STOVL option

Just 15 months after dropping the F-35B short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in favour of the F-35C Carrier Variant (CV), the UK is examining whether to reverse its decision and switch back to STOVL for its Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) programme. This latest vacillation has been prompted by alarm within the top levels of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the costs associated with adapting one of the Royal Navy's (RN's) two new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers to receive catapults and arrestor gear in order to enable F-35C operations

[first posted to http://jdin.janes.com - 01 March 2012]