Why does a VTOL have to make an arrested landing? What am I missing here?
The F-35C is the USN version. The F-35B is the STOVL version.
You save a LOT of fuel NOT making a VTOL return.
the c version is the navy carrier version.
the b-version is the vtol version, for marines. they won’t be on carriers all the time, they replaced the harriers and marines use them on land in areas they can’t normally get a regular aircraft in and out of.
The VTOL feature use much more fuel. When not operationally necessary, VTOLs are operated somewhat more normally for take-offs and landings.
Normally it doesn't need to perform an arrested landing but for the times it must it is comforting to know it can.
My guess is you don’t really want to do VTOL unless you have to, because it probably sucks a lot of fuel and places different stresses on the engine and airframe.
Naval aviation might be different, because using VTOL in rough weather might present an advantage to a conventional landing or takeoff.
But I would think that the USMC would mostly use a runway for many operations, unless they were close to the front, and even then. It would make a lot more sense if there were a short stretch of road you could STOL from, rather than VTOL.