Does maneuverability still matter in modern air-to-air combat? Well, in a Top Gun world where Maverick lures the enemy 5th-gen fighters close enough to exchange hand signals so that Tom Crusie can use his F-14 Tomcat’s guns to down the jets. Sure. In the real world, maybe not. If maneuverability was key, then aircraft like Russia’s MiG-31 would be king as it is one of the most maneuverable (and fastest) fighter jets in the world. 5th and 6th-generation fighters seem to focus on stealth, long-range missiles, and beyond-visual-range detection.