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keep in mind that ST-21 was an alternative to the NATF, not to A/FX or the Super Hornet. ST-21 was never actually in the Navy's plans, although I wouldn't be surprised if it had gotten built if Cheney hadn't killed the -14D. ST-21, BTW would have probably cost less to develop than the SH, although it naturally would have cost more to buy--but then it would have been far more capable. Alternatively, they could have gone from the F-14D to an A/FX concept, hard to tell since they never got to go down that roadSH at its inception was clearly and repeatedly described as a bridge to the AX (later A/FX), it was one of the arguments used to sell the concept to doubters. As far as choice went, Navy never really had a say in the instigation of the SH program. When the A/FX was sacrificed (partly to preserve the Super Hornet--Hornet had the strongest lobby in the history of naval air), the fact that SH was supposed to be a bridge aircraft was officially forgotten and became No Longer Something of Which we Speak in officaldom. I don't know for sure how many dropped out when AX became A/FX. Since the program was in a fairly early stage when the change was made, I'd think most would have stayed in and revised their designs. In some cases, they may have already been heading that way.
keep in mind that ST-21 was an alternative to the NATF, not to A/FX or the Super Hornet. ST-21 was never actually in the Navy's plans, although I wouldn't be surprised if it had gotten built if Cheney hadn't killed the -14D. ST-21, BTW would have probably cost less to develop than the SH, although it naturally would have cost more to buy--but then it would have been far more capable. Alternatively, they could have gone from the F-14D to an A/FX concept, hard to tell since they never got to go down that road
SH at its inception was clearly and repeatedly described as a bridge to the AX (later A/FX), it was one of the arguments used to sell the concept to doubters. As far as choice went, Navy never really had a say in the instigation of the SH program. When the A/FX was sacrificed (partly to preserve the Super Hornet--Hornet had the strongest lobby in the history of naval air), the fact that SH was supposed to be a bridge aircraft was officially forgotten and became No Longer Something of Which we Speak in officaldom.
I don't know for sure how many dropped out when AX became A/FX. Since the program was in a fairly early stage when the change was made, I'd think most would have stayed in and revised their designs. In some cases, they may have already been heading that way.
