Why an F-22 is not an easy naval F-35 substitute

Would a smaller single-engine F-22 and a low-cost F-15/F-16 alternative have been better than the F-35 variants?

The F-22 would be a difficult carrier conversion and remains an air-superiority design, while the F-35 is fundamentally a strike aircraft that can also fight.

The F-15 and F-16 already embody very different design philosophies despite often being paired as a high-low combination. An F-22 carrier adaptation would demand an extensive rebuild because the aircraft was never arranged around naval operation. Their intended roles also differ: the F-22 is fundamentally an air-superiority aircraft, even though it can perform some strike work. The F-35 is fundamentally a strike aircraft that can also fight. A common fighter label does not make airframes, missions, or carrier requirements interchangeable.