The F-35 platform has very credible and powerful sensors, in the conventional sense of radar and so on, but it also has passive systems and electrical optical sensors such as you just mentioned. Combined with stealth, it certainly opens up more capability and options for government when it comes to building situational awareness, whether that's off our coastal waters or over foreign countries, where we are required to understand what's going on before we can make decisions or take action.
On October 28th, 2010. See this statement in context.