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This question is highly debated and in any conversation, or forum, it can boil down into a mindless argument that never ends. Most answers for individuals are based on their nationality. This answer will be un-biased.

Top Candidates:

F-22 Raptor- USA: This is usually accepted as the best fighter. This is due to the fact that is the only Stealth Fighter currently in service , Excellent Maneuverability, and its amazing technology. It poses 2D TVC giving it its amazing agility. Its air-to-air combat abilities are unmatched. NOTE: The F-22 Program was recently cancelled by President Barack Obama. 183 of these Generation 5 fighters are still in service in the United States.

F-35 Lightning II - USA: This Aircraft is more of a ground attack, multi-role fighter. It is the best Ground-Attack fighter. It beats the Eurofighter in that category because of its Stealth technology. In this group, it is the only one with V/STOL capabilities, meaning that it can take off vertically.

Eurofighter Typhoon - UK, Germany, Spain, Italy: The Eurofighter has great BVR and WVR capabilities. It has reduced RCS features but lacks true stealth. In this group, it is the 2nd best ground-attacker.

Dassault Rafale - France: This is usually viewed as a cheaper, less capable option to the Eurofighter. Never the less, it is still a highly capable aircraft. It has reduced RCS features and it's 2 seats give it greater awareness in a dogfight and reduces pilot fatigue. It is the aircraft originally designed as a carrier-based aircraft.

Su-35BM - Russia: The 30 year old Su-27 airframe is still going strong with its great maneuverability, durability ,and adaptability. It also has great BVR capability but not on par with western designs like the F-22, Eurofighter, and Rafale. It has the largest RCS in this category making it highly visible to radars.

PAK-FA - Russia: This aircraft (when it comes in service in 2011/12) will be the 2nd best fighter after the F-22. It will incorporate technology from the Su-47 and the MiG-1.42. It will be stealthy. Little information is known about it and is still just a design on a paper. And by then all the other aircraft will have had extensive upgrades. It will definitely be more agile than the F-22 due to its 3-D TVC.

J-13/14 - China: It could challenge the the F-22 and PAK-FA. It will be a stealth aircraft. It might incorporate much features and technology from the PAK-FA including 3-D TVC; however at this time (2011), this is solely a prototype, and is years (probably a full decade) away from production.

Other candidates: Japan have been researching new stealth aircraft. But they are unlikely to go in service. They will probably just buy the F-35 or if the USA lets them, the F-22. UPDATE: Japan is reported to have ordered F-35.

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10y ago

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