[PapaBear3625]

Larger weapons bays plus more fuel ( = longer range) would make sense for a plane whose primary purpose would be to tangle with our carrier fighter wings.

I wonder if the weapons bay is big enough to accommodate a Harpoon-class anti-ship missile? Perhaps nuke-tipped?

[frithguild]

plane whose primary purpose would be to tangle with our carrier fighter wings

As well as first strike attack of ground based defenses like I-Hawk SAMs and Tien Kungs