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Description
And if the F-35C had never gone beyond the drawing board stage ...

In an alternate timeline, as early as 1996, the US Navy did not wish to continue the Joint Strike Fighter program, which would result in equipping it with a single-engine stealth fighter.

In any case, it refuses to do so until the 2 demonstrators (Boeing X-32 and Lockheed Martin X-35) have not been tested against twin-engine demonstrators.

Finally, the Pentagon agrees to finance 2 twin-engine demonstrators to satisfy the US Navy. The choice of manufacturers is fairly quick because Boeing does not wish to compete following its merger with McDonnell Douglas. So we have :
- The Northrop Grumman - Boeing (ex-McDonnell Douglas) X-34
- The Lockheed Martin X-37

As of October 2001, there is no possible error for the US Navy, which very clearly indicates the total superiority of the Northrop Grumman - Boeing X-34 over these competitors.

On October 26, 2001, the Pentagon announced the choice of the X-35 at the expense of the X-32 to ensure the replacement of the F-16, the A-10 and the AV-8B. On January 25, 2002 (3 months later), the Pentagon confirms the cancellation of the CV version of the X-35 which lacks performance in favor of the X-34 which is the best of the 2 twin-engine demonstrators. The difference in performance is such that even the US Air Force begins to doubt the relevance of the X-35. However, she will end up confirming her initial choice in 2009-2010.

In November 2005, the first single-seat YF-34C prototype made its first flight. It is within this framework that the final name of F-34 Tarantula is revealed. In all, 7 prototypes will be built until February 2009, including 2 two-seater aircraft. Which is a remarkable performance. Flight tests going so well, the first F-34C is delivered to the VX-23 Salty Dogs (based at NAS Patuxent River) in early 2012.

In the end, it will only take 10 years between the first flight of a prototype and obtaining the IOC (Initial Operational Capacity). This was in fact pronounced in 2015. Barely two years later, the F-34 Tarantula has sufficient operational capacity to envisage an operational deployment without flight restrictions.

update: role of the F-34C in the air carrier group

The main mission of the F34 Tarantula will be air superiority where it will be the replacement for the F-14 Tomcat after the interim provided by the F/A-18 Super Hornet. For this, it has an internal Vulcan M61A2 gun and can carry AIM-9X (side bunkers) and AIM-120C missiles. An air-to-air missile with a range greater than 75 nautical miles is also contemplated.

However, its stealth can also be harnessed for attack missions when needed. Its ventral armament bay can indeed receive up to 2000 lbs of air-ground armament in place of the 4 AIM-120Cs embarked on air superiority missions. The maximum initial configuration is 2 GBU-31 JDAM bombs (1000 lbs) or 8 SBD bombs (250 lbs). Very quickly, it will also be possible to use a configuration with 3 Mark-82 class bombs (500 pounds). In all this represents 9 models of guided bombs:
Mark-81 class bomb (250 lbs) : GBU-39 SDB Phase I or GBU-53 SDB Phase II (113 kg)
Mark-82 class bomb (500 lbs) : GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 JDAM, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II, GBU-54 Laser JDAM
Mark-83 class bomb (1000 lbs) : GBU-16 Paveway II, GBU-32 JDAM or GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II
The use of WCMD (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser) could be considered even if it is rather a weapon aimed at close air support. The most massive bomb class Mark-84 (2000 lbs) can initially be used only in external transport. This concerns the GBU-27 Paveway III and the GBU-31 JDAM (907 kg). Due to their dimensions, air-to-ground missiles will also initially be usable only from external pylons. This would potentially affect the AGM-88E AARGM, AGM-154 JSOW and AGM-158 JASSM.

On request of an export customer, the carriage of other NATO standard ammunition could of course be considered. The integration costs must be paid by the client in question.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This presentation board represents a fighter assigned to the VFA-136 Knighthawk. The initial schedule calls for a transformation of the squadron in 2019-2020.

So that's a commission from on a personal idea
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description
And if the F-35C had never gone beyond the drawing board stage ...

In an alternate timeline, as early as 1996, the US Navy did not wish to continue the Joint Strike Fighter program, which would result in equipping it with a single-engine stealth fighter.

In any case, it refuses to do so until the 2 demonstrators (Boeing X-32 and Lockheed Martin X-35) have not been tested against twin-engine demonstrators.

Finally, the Pentagon agrees to finance 2 twin-engine demonstrators to satisfy the US Navy. The choice of manufacturers is fairly quick because Boeing does not wish to compete following its merger with McDonnell Douglas. So we have :
- The Northrop Grumman - Boeing (ex-McDonnell Douglas) X-34
- The Lockheed Martin X-37

As of October 2001, there is no possible error for the US Navy, which very clearly indicates the total superiority of the Northrop Grumman - Boeing X-34 over these competitors.

On October 26, 2001, the Pentagon announced the choice of the X-35 at the expense of the X-32 to ensure the replacement of the F-16, the A-10 and the AV-8B. On January 25, 2002 (3 months later), the Pentagon confirms the cancellation of the CV version of the X-35 which lacks performance in favor of the X-34 which is the best of the 2 twin-engine demonstrators. The difference in performance is such that even the US Air Force begins to doubt the relevance of the X-35. However, she will end up confirming her initial choice in 2009-2010.

In November 2005, the first single-seat YF-34C prototype made its first flight. It is within this framework that the final name of F-34 Tarantula is revealed. In all, 7 prototypes will be built until February 2009, including 2 two-seater aircraft. Which is a remarkable performance. Flight tests going so well, the first F-34C is delivered to the VX-23 Salty Dogs (based at NAS Patuxent River) in early 2012.

In the end, it will only take 10 years between the first flight of a prototype and obtaining the IOC (Initial Operational Capacity). This was in fact pronounced in 2015. Barely two years later, the F-34 Tarantula has sufficient operational capacity to envisage an operational deployment without flight restrictions.

update: role of the F-34C in the air carrier group

The main mission of the F34 Tarantula will be air superiority where it will be the replacement for the F-14 Tomcat after the interim provided by the F/A-18 Super Hornet. For this, it has an internal Vulcan M61A2 gun and can carry AIM-9X (side bunkers) and AIM-120C missiles. An air-to-air missile with a range greater than 75 nautical miles is also contemplated.

However, its stealth can also be harnessed for attack missions when needed. Its ventral armament bay can indeed receive up to 2000 lbs of air-ground armament in place of the 4 AIM-120Cs embarked on air superiority missions. The maximum initial configuration is 2 GBU-31 JDAM bombs (1000 lbs) or 8 SBD bombs (250 lbs). Very quickly, it will also be possible to use a configuration with 3 Mark-82 class bombs (500 pounds). In all this represents 9 models of guided bombs:
Mark-81 class bomb (250 lbs) : GBU-39 SDB Phase I or GBU-53 SDB Phase II (113 kg)
Mark-82 class bomb (500 lbs) : GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 JDAM, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II, GBU-54 Laser JDAM
Mark-83 class bomb (1000 lbs) : GBU-16 Paveway II, GBU-32 JDAM or GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II
The use of WCMD (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser) could be considered even if it is rather a weapon aimed at close air support. The most massive bomb class Mark-84 (2000 lbs) can initially be used only in external transport. This concerns the GBU-27 Paveway III and the GBU-31 JDAM (907 kg). Due to their dimensions, air-to-ground missiles will also initially be usable only from external pylons. This would potentially affect the AGM-88E AARGM, AGM-154 JSOW and AGM-158 JASSM.

On request of an export customer, the carriage of other NATO standard ammunition could of course be considered. The integration costs must be paid by the client in question.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This presentation board represents a fighter assigned to the VFA-136 Knighthawk. The initial schedule calls for a transformation of the squadron in 2019-2020.

So that's a commission from on a personal idea
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------