Don,
This 5th generation multipurpose fighter is amazingly agile. The marine version is almost virtical takeoff and landing, but can use regular short runways too. The 360 degree rotating rotors take up space so the weapons load it reduced but these are still formidable planes. It can neutralize enemy radar and its own radar signature is small. Anyway, it can project its power, launch weapons from a great distance agains air or ground targets and can be essentially undetectable in battle mode.
I think they are going to build some 3.000 of the various models.
The Elbit heads up display helmet alone is a masterful achievement, giving 360 degrees of vision, radar mapping and weapons response, communication and battle management capability.
I wonder whether such advances will be built into semi-autonomous drones as the next masters of the sky, instead of a new generation of even more advanced fighters after the F-35 has been retired in 20 years time!
Asher