Replacing the F-4 Phantom with the F/A-18 has a clear logic, but replacing the A-6 Intruder with a shorter-ranged aircraft is criticized. A carrier needs both a fighter to defend its task group and a strike aircraft that can carry a heavy load over a useful distance. The Intruder is judged to have had further development potential despite the work needed to keep it operating. Reducing the number of aircraft types therefore has to be weighed against the strike capability lost.
Notable Point · 2:44:57-2:48:30
Why a carrier needs both fighters and a strike aircraft
The preference for retaining the A-6 Intruder rests on strike range and payload, while replacing Phantoms with Hornets is easier to justify.