The latest generation of European fighter aircraft [EF-2000 Eurofighter, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS-39 Gripen] are canard-delta in design. What are the performance pros and cons of canard-delta aircraft compared to a design such as the F-15 or F/A-18 [that has the all moving tail plane].
That's a rather large answer your searching for, see: Aerodynamics, more specifically = Supermanuverability.
It's argued that those pretty little forward canards improve flight performance and manuverability. Example, Su-27, I believe that's the Russian Sukoi made interceptor that is NATO codenamed "Flanker" and can do the super cool manuever called the "Cobra". It's a really strange thing to see done....
Anyway, the idea is that these new fangled fighters will have "supermanuverability" and be supreme dogfighters. But it's argued that they'll only use pretty turns and "cobra" type manuevers for airshows, not usable in combat. Another good example of supermanuverability is the X-31 EFM jet. It has thrust vectoring AND forward canards. It can do a really cool high angle of attack spin, facing downwards on an axis that would enable it to stay focused/locked onto a target.
You see, with F-15A+B+C+D+E and F/A-18A+B+C+D+E/F variants, they don't have any "supermanuverability". The new age western aircraft, namely the F-22A Raptor and what will be the F-35 JSF, we'll have speed, stealth, look-first-shoot-first abilities and range advantages. No one really knows the characteristics of the F-22A that I've ever talked to, as in regards to how many G's it'll pull, but I bet it could be considered in the "supermanueverable" class also, with 72,000lbs static thrust and VECTORED, it would push the nose around pretty fast!!! It's fly-by-wire at the moment but upgradable to fiber-optic controls later on.... Instant response to pilot controls, no lag.
Anyway, this is all comming from someone who is simply an aviation enthusiast, I can guaruntee there will be some errors in the above. Regardless, let's hope someone posts something with more insight than I, eg> A pilot???