The most expensive parts of an aircraft are the engines and avionics. So any new design using the F119/F136 engines and the JSFs avionics cant be that expensive.
The baseline Raptor lacks the ability to carry any heavy weapons so i think a B-3 like plane sounds better.

On another note: What happens to the Tomcatters when they move on to the Super Hornet? Will they become the VKFA-31 Super Hornetters?

IMHO the A-12 would have been an extraordinary bomber to replace the A-6. Thanks to its very low wing loading it should be very agile and have excellent low speed handling.

It was cancelled by D. Cheney…
Cost was an issue, the planned numbers were reduced after the cold war ended. Also the weight was a major problem. Requirements were for 24 (!) Mk 82 and 2 AMRAAMS all carried in bays. Add to that the gear and the air intakes all located at the underfuselage. These “holes” increased the weight of the structure. It was approaching the limits for the elevators.

Since we all know the capabilites of the Avengers replacement, this is a sad story for the USN.

Are those 250-kg bombs on the first Mirage pic in the last set of pictures?

I think so.

That doesn’t seem likely with the E/A-18G Growler entering service soon? In the article does it state if the EA-35B is a two-seater?

But the Marines don’t have any Super Hornets. Those smart guys. 😀
And yes, it is said to be a two-seater.

Two-seat JSF’s……..news to me. When was that announced?

It was in afms article UK Future Maritime Airpower. It is mentioned as EA-35B based on the F-35B to replace the Marines Prowlers.

In the fuel department it isn’t lacking when you take in external tanks. It can carry four 480 gallon tanks which is more than an Eagle’s three 600 gallon tanks. Couple that with engines that use less gas than the F100s and it’s probably not too bad. Of course, unlike the Strike Eagle you have to lose some of those tanks to carry bombs but what can ya do? I still think the Attack Tomcat 21 is the one we should have went with 🙂 but then that would have been a lot more $$$

You wanna compare the Super Hornet to the Strike Eagle? This is just ridiculous :p
The Problem of the SH is not fuel, but drag. Most of the external fuel is used to compensate the airbraking effect of the loudout.

In case anyone wonders why the SH doesn’t need an airbrake: