There's been a lot of discussion about the nature of the differences between the F-35 and other options we were considering. We use slides in a briefing, obviously, and I've brought hard copies to show the nature of the difference.
These aircraft are all in their combat-ready state, and there's clearly a difference between the one on the right and the ones on the left. That is what comprises stealth. People often ask how you tell whether an aircraft is stealthy. Well, when you first look at it, you can see when it is in its combat-ready state.
What is good about the F-35 is that after you advance beyond the high threat environment where stealth is no longer required, you can take more ordnance on the outside--external--and you start to look similar to the other aircraft. But that's in an environment where you don't need to have the stealth capabilities. This type of flexibility gives the Government of Canada a range of options that does not exist with any other option.