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Actually, they are already talking about different roles for the F-22...even an enlarged bomber version.

The JSF is a true multi-role, multi-force fighter. Lots of money and expertise invested in it. Some believe it is ill spent because attempts at the same in the past have been such failures. We shall see.

On thing is clear to me, the VTOL version of the aircraft will make every LPH Wasp or Tarawa class ship in the worlkd a potentially potent jeep carrier.

Actually, they are already talking about different roles for the F-22...even an enlarged bomber version

That's like saying that the F-15C is good for ground attack, which it truly is. But look at its airframe and other characteristics: it's obvious from the design that it's first and foremost mission is to find hostile aircraft and blow them out of the sky. The Raptor is in much the same mold as the F-15 and the F-14. Find enemy planes, and shoot them down. The Raptor has the improvements of extreme speed and stealth as compared to our current aircraft.

The JSF is a true multi-role, multi-force fighter. Lots of money and expertise invested in it. Some believe it is ill spent because attempts at the same in the past have been such failures. We shall see.

I have always been highly suspicious of these kinds of aircraft. The F-18 attempted to do the same thing. And while the Hornet turned out alright, it didn't turn out to be the stellar fighter/bomber everyone had hoped it would be. Specifically, the C model suffered by not having quite the speed many other fighters had (although the E and F models do much to redress this). I think we would be better off with a little bit more specialization. I think a ground attack plane should be just that: a ground attack plane and a fighter should be solely for shooting down hostile planes. It's good for attack aircraft to have some air-to-air capability for self-defense, but trying to make a fighter and an attack plane in one package is problematic at best.

On thing is clear to me, the VTOL version of the aircraft will make every LPH Wasp or Tarawa class ship in the worlkd a potentially potent jeep carrier.

Yes. Our LHDs are going to become far more serious threats overnight. It's good to have some backup for the big boys just in case. And it allows us to project more power in more places at once.