I poster here, I forget his name, i think Syed Yusuf or something similar said that the best design profile was a delta with twin canted V tail and TVC.
I was just thinking about this configuration and I think it would be brilliant. Why?
Because TVC has had some benefits that are not often discussed or thought of:
1. TVC is very effective for maneuver at high altitude (where future BVR engagements are likely to be). At high altitude, wings are less and less effective, needing greater and greater wing area / lower wing loading.
But greater wing area comes at the expense of drag and weight. With a TVC, for a given amount of maneuverability, lower drag and less wing area is needed.
2. TVC along with 45 degree tails allow you to eliminate canards, lowering weight and complexity
3. TVC has stealth benefits as
@Oscar pointed out.
4. TVC and canted tails would together allow a simple delta design, significantly lowering drag, RCS, wing loading, increasing range and efficiency.
this means one can, with this general profile, have the best chance of a low cost supercruising stealth fighter.
if we imagine twin improved RD-93s, at say 120 kn thrust, and we limit or eliminate the need for internal weapons, and instead go for semi-recessed weapons, you end up with an aerodynamic profile that can take on F-22s and a combat radius twice that of the JF-17 (roughly, guestimate).