Page "Fourth-generation jet fighter" Paragraph 11

There are two primary contributing factors to maneuverability — the amount of thrust delivered by the engines, and the ability of the aircraft's control surfaces to efficiently generate aerodynamic forces, and hence alterations in the plane's direction.

Air-combat maneuvering ( ACM ) involves a great deal of energy management.

The greater energy a fighter has, the more flexibility it has to move where it wants.

An aircraft with little energy is immobile, and becomes a defenseless target.

Note that available thrust does not necessarily equal speed ; while it does give greater acceleration, the maximum speed of an aircraft is also determined by how much drag it produces.

Herein lies one important trade-off.

Low-drag configurations have small, often highly swept wings that disrupt the airflow as little as possible.

However, that also means they have greatly reduced ability to alter the airflow to maneuver the aircraft.