[bongodriver]

You mean the lift fan? the turbofan(main engine) is still only fed by the fixed intakes, but you are probably righ in that the drag is probably minimised and potentially due to the fact air is sucked past it.

yeah all the extra weight and complexity has reduced interna fuel and weapons capacity for the B model, but Frankboy is right that it's a solution for alowing the small carriers a fixed wing operation once harriers are gone.