“One Size Fits All” worked with the F-4 Phantom (Navy, Marines and Air Force) though. There were Photo Recon, ECM, fighter, interdiction and attack versions of the same airframe. Some of those aircraft are still being flown in foreign services. Same goes with A-4 Skyhawk.
The F-4 was not that great a one-size-fits-all. It was supposed to be a standoff interceptor and long-range bomber. It was incredibly complex, and damn big. And we tried to turn it into a dogfighter. It kinda sorta worked, but there were far better solutions out there. The main restriction is that there are only so many spaces on a carrier, so you kind of have to make do with what you have.
The AF can get away with multiple varieties of dedicated aircraft e.g. F-16 for dogfighting, f-15 for long range interceptor/air-superiority, A-10 for ground attack etc. I have to think that the Navy tries to minimize the number of different aircraft varieties they put on the carriers, if only so there are enough of any one type to be useful (they have to carry ASW and helos and other things in addition to combat aircraft).
Also, isn’t the F-22 a dedicated air-superiority/interceptor similar to the F-15? My recollection is that it was never intended for the multirole activities the F-35 was supposed to take on.
Garvin wrote: “One Size Fits All” worked with the F-4 Phantom (Navy, Marines and Air Force) though.”
There was a critical difference with the F-4. It was not developed as a “one size fits all”. It was originally developed by the USN. One set of requirements, one spec. The F-4 was later adopted by the USAF essentially unchanged.
These “one size fits all” aircraft are developed by a consortium of services with the intent of incorporating all their diverse requirements. The multiplicity of requirements and management structures results in complexity, increased costs, and program delays.
Not quite designed as “one size fits all”.
The F-4 and A-4 were designed specifically as Navy carrier aircraft. It just ended up that they were such good solid all-round aircraft built for the stresses of Navy use that the other forces liked them. :^)