I haven’t read much on the F-35. Why would the conventional version cost more and be delayed more than the VTL version?
I would think the vertical take-off would be much more complex.
The JSF program is a disaster. Time to restart the F-22 line, and think about a purpose-built carrier-based fighter.
Its not just the fighter, its the refit of current British military systems to incorporate a successor to the Harrier that is not the same type of fighter.
That means refit of ships, supplies, training and doctrine, ect.
There are two separate issues concerning the Brits here. One is that the undercarriage of the F-35C needs to be modified after its tailhook failed to snag arrester wires in tests.
And then there is the whole issue of having to modify the initial design of the two British carriers (being built) which was optimsed for the F-35B.