I think the Boeing X-32 is a development of the Harrier concept of direct lift into a LO supersonic aircraft. It has many of the same features to reduce weight. The fuselage hangs from a one piece wing like the Harrier. It has a short single inlet to reduce weight. The concept is more modular as well. It would be much easier to “hang” a UCAV variant off the same wing for example.
A lot of the technological risk of the X-32 was in the use of advanced composites, thermoplastics have matured a lot if you look at the use of thermoplastics in the A380, A350 and 787. If they had succeeded it would have meant an easy to manufacture, lightweight, low cost advanced supercritical delta wing with all the advantages of a delta wing. Strong structure, large internal fuel volume and no wing fold mechanism for the naval variant (weight). The Naval and CTOL variants can share the same wing (cost) and the STOVL variant is a clipped version of the CTOL/CV wing (high commonality). Successful delta wing naval designs include the A4 Skyhawk, Dassault Rafale and F4D Skyray. I think the X-32’s delta wing is of a more advanced design than the Eurofighter and Rafale as well.
Other good points include good all aspect stealth due to the highly swept wing and aft body design with 2D exhaust blended into the rear of the aircraft. A low thermal signature due to high engine mass flow, low drag aerodynamics and long exhaust duct. 2D thrust vectoring can also be used to trim the aircraft (low drag).
I think the F-35 is a development of the Yak-141 concept. A lot of the technological risk was in the lift system but the F-35 uses large, expensive and heavy aluminium/titanium bulkheads in its design. Aircraft weight also affects costs and the F-35 weighs more than a F-15. I don’t think it’ll be a cheap aircraft to operate. The biggest criticism of the F-35 is that the F135 engine has higher thrust to weight ratio than both the EJ200 and F119 but yet the aircraft has similar E-M to a F/A-18.
Kinematics is still important in a multirole combat aircraft especially with the advent of J-20, J-31 and PAKFA. First day of war strike can be carried out by UCAVs like the X-47B which have better range payload, loiter, lower RCS, and thermal signature and Tomahawk block IV (reprogrammable inflight via sat link).
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