F-32 Graphics

After the really ugly Boeing Seattle X-32 prototype, Boeing turned over the work to their recent McDonnell- Douglas acquisition for the final design. McD-D's aircraft was a lot closer to a conventional design than the prototype, but still had the long legs of the prototype. Here is what operational F-32s might have looked like.

http://amp.timeinc.net/thedrive/the-war-zone/20971/this-is-what-a-boeing-f-32-wouldve-looked-like-if-lockheed-lost-the-jsf-competition?source=dam

 

The idea behind the F-35 (or F-32) is to be stealthy while you need to be and after you beat up the other guy's IADS, weapons payloads go way up carried externally. Not real efficient cramming all those munitions in the weapons bay and can limit the types you can carry. These were not F-22As and do not need to be stealthy all the time.

In the olden days, we would have built both of them with different engines and guaranteed your entire fleet was not grounded all at once. Times change.

Thanks to LGen Brett Dula, who steered me to the images.

 

Afraid the F-22 decision had more to do with McCain and a liberal administration with no foresight than F-35 considerations.