Haywire got it right.But guys you are way behind on fighter aircraft one airframe for three services X32 now F-32 one by Lockhead over Boeing.
I think you're refering to the F-35 JSF (there's no F-32 as even the F-35 designation was to cover up a mistake made by a general at a press conference).
While it is true that the F-35 will be used by the AF, Navy and Marines (as well as Britain's Royal Navy), it's not anywhere near the fighter that the F-22 is. It is newer than the F-22, but the main reason for the F-35 is to develop a more versatile and cheaper plane. The F-22 is designed mainly as an air supiority fighter. It's ground attack capabilites aren't spectacular. Given that it's been quite a while since we really went up against a major enemy with a significant fighter force (most lost planes in the middle east are due to anti-aircraft batteries on the ground), air supiority isn't a huge concern, though we still need to have something in store in case we do run up against a major enemy.
In that regard, the F-35 whilst not nearly as capable a
fighter as the F-22, is targetted towards more versatilty. Vertical Take Off and Landing, carrier operations, ground strike capabililties, etc. The plane is truly a jack of all trades, and you can get several of them for the price of one F-22. If we're talking plane-on-plane combat though, in the hands of equally skilled pilots, the F-35 would be no match for the F-22.
All in all I think that we'll see far more F-35's in service, but the F-22's will simply serve as the "main muscle" in case we come to need it.
