I don't want to get into a battle of general versus general here, but I'm interested in why we need this particular aircraft, perhaps why we need a fifth-generation aircraft instead of another.
I have before me commentary by retired Major-General Leonard Johnson, and he talks about some strategic questions. I'll just summarize it here. He suggests that in the absence of a bomber threat, unless the new fighters are intended to make war against an enemy with robust air defences, the joint strike fighters don't have a useful military role. He suggests that there is no close air support role for the F-35 in counter-insurgency operations nor any conceivable asymmetrical war against small arms and improved explosive devices any more than the CF-18 has that. The age of major inter-state war between developed nations has vanished, so why prepare for one?
These are comments from someone obviously with a significant military background. He also suggests you don't need a stealth fighter to patrol the Arctic.
You may not be able to talk about the simulation studies, but can you talk about why it is we need the kind of things that the stealth fighter can do in terms of realistic military needs for Canada?