The F-22 is an air superiority fighter that was always intended for exclusive use by the Air Force. There was never a plan to have a carrier based version of the F-22.

Perhaps you mean the F-35? There are two carrier based variants - the F-35B and F-35C. The B is a STOVL and the C is designed for takeoff and landing on carriers. Both variants are still in testing, and I believe the C is closer to operational than the B at this point.

F-22 was funded by the Air Force and I don't think there was ever a carrier-based version planned. The F-35 has a carrier variant being worked on.

The article references the NATF history.

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2011/04/natf-better-is-enemy-of...

As far as I can tell, the F-22 was never intended for the Navy at all. It was specifically requested and paid for by the Air Force as an air superiority fighter with no real plans to ever retrofit it for use in carrier operations. Also, the F-22 is significantly larger than an F-18 (about 6 feet longer and 2 feet wider), making it a bit harder to cram a bunch of them into a carrier.

Let's keep in mind the F-18 is just the second place in the F-16 development. Navy wanted two engines and something different than the Air Force.