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Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere features a large number of notable fighter aircraft in the Ace Combat series. Some of the notable aircraft featured in the game are based on real-life prototype aircraft, while others are completely fictional.
One of the differences between aircraft in Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere and other games in the series is the COFFIN (Connection for Flight Interface) system. Aircraft are piloted and controlled through nerve signals (including vision) communicated to and from an electronic system installed inside. Therefore, pilots do not physically control aircraft, instead relying on electronic signals translated from the pilot's mind and reflexes. This technology also makes possible of remote control of aircraft through wireless transmissions from COFFIN systems installed at ground locations.
The notable aircraft are categorized by original manufacturers featured in the game, which includes:
- General Resource LTD.
- Neucom Inc.
- Ouroboros
General Resource LTD.[ | ]
F-16XA Sakerfalcon[ | ]
The F-16XA Sakerfalcon is a fictional multirole aircraft based on the F-16XL technology demonstrator. It sports a streak-based camouflage color scheme with three shades of brown.
The most noticeable item in the Sakerfalcon's shape is the cranked-arrow delta wing, which enables more weapons to be equipped. Its acceleration is significantly better than the F-16XFU Gyrfalcon, making it more capable of escaping dangerous situations. In addition, its excellent defence performance makes it less susceptible to missile and gun attacks. It can carry up to 96 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2043m for both aircraft and ground targets. Due to its small construction, it can only survive light damage.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Vulcan, Heavy Machine Gun
- Missiles: Air-to-ground missile
F/A-32C Erne[ | ]
The F/A-32C Erne is a fictional attack stealth aircraft. It has a brown-green-black camouflage scheme. Its delta-wing design is based on the original concept of Boeing's X-32 and Lockheed's FB-22, an attack version of the F-22A Raptor.
The Erne varied immensely from the actual prototype. The plane had a longer nose, which overlapped the "Yawning Hippo" air intake, with more tapered chines along the side. The aircraft also had two engines, compared to the X-32's one, and sports larger tail fins. While the Erne is an agile aircraft, it does not accelerate well. It is particularly immune to missile attacks, dodging missiles easily especially when it slows down. It can carry up to 136 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2043m for air targets and 2275m for ground targets.
Keith Brian pilots an F/A-32C during the General Resources Defence Force's protection of the White Valley airbase against Neucom Emergency Unit forces. If the player is on the NEU's side, he or she will be tasked to take out Keith's plane as the last target for the mission (after completing a sequence of targets) to unlock two new missions - "Guardian Angel" and "The Prize."
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Vulcan, Cannon
- Missiles: Short-Range Air-to-air missile, Air-to-ground missile, Spread Bomb
RF-12A2 Blackbird[ | ]
The RF-12A2 Blackbird is a stratospheric interceptor aircraft. It sports a gray color scheme. The plane's designation and purpose is a direct reference to the YF-12 Interceptor, a heavy high-speed fighter off-shoot of the A-12 Oxcart, which later evolved into the SR-71.
The aircraft is only playable in the General Resources mission "Stratosphere," where it is vertically launched with the help of four booster rockets. Two ramjet engines propel the plane to a maximum speed of 5068 km/h. However, like its real-life counterparts, the RF-12A2 has a moderate-to-poor turning radius, which is evident during intercepts of small, nimble aircraft such as the R-311 Remora. It is able to carry up to 160 missiles. While the plane can acquire missile lock-on for air targets as far as 2246m, it needs to reach within 1159m for ground targets, making it the worst air-to-ground performance aircraft in the game. Its massive construction enables absorption of heavy damage.
In "Stratosphere," the player will use the aircraft to destroy a Neucom Emergency Unit force of six R-531 Mobura planes that carry two Remoras each. After the mission, the player will land the aircraft normally.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Vulcan, Heavy Machine Gun
- Missiles: Air-to-air missile, MIRV
XFA-36A Game[ | ]
The XFA-36A Game is an advanced fighter aircraft. Its shape and "36" number is a reference on the real-world X-36 unmanned test plane. Games used by the General Resources Defence Force have a dark-and-light-grey splinter camouflage scheme while the Ouroboros versions are painted gray-black with a light gray nose. The "X" prefix signifies its experimental status, in line with the model naming conventions in the game series.
During flight, the aircraft's wingtips can slow down the plane by folding from 45 degrees to 90 degrees above the horizontal axis, together with a traditional airbrake along the centerline. It also possesses 3-dimensional thrust vectoring for greater maneuverability, allowing it to make sharper turns. The maximum speed attainable from this aircraft is 3304 km/h. Its performance characteristics make it one of the game's most balanced aircraft, with its defense, attack, power, mobility, and stability ratings all equally approaching the top. It can carry up to 184 missiles. Its attack ability is the most impressive in the game, acquiring missile lock-on as far as 2455m for aircraft targets and 2521m for ground targets, both which are the maximum figures attainable.
In one of the last missions in the Ouroboros story path ("Memory Error"), Keith sacrifices himself to help the player defeat Rena's X-49 by jamming his Game between its wings. The collision hampers the X-49 from manoeuvering long enough for the player to take a shot.
The XFA-36A is the last fighter to be unlocked in the North American version of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere, as a model available to the UPEO.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: M61 Vulcan|Vulcan, Heavy Machine Gun, Cannon
- Missiles: Air-to-air missile.
X-49 Night Raven[ | ]
The X-49 Night Raven is an advanced flying wing fighter, touted as General Resources' crowning achievement in fighter design.
The Night Raven has two parallel wings which are connected by a central section and at right angles on the wingtips. It is powered by two Aeon engines on the top wing and a bank of standard jet engines on the bottom wing. The COFFIN cockpit faces backwards. The Aeon engines, which emit a trail of particles and a high-pitched noise in flight, source their power from a series of ground-based generators. Due to the wings' unique design, the X-49 has incredible maneuverability compared to other aircraft in the game, such as making a complete vertical loop in less than two seconds, against ten for standard aircraft. It is armed with one laser cannon located in the center section that can fire one short beam every few seconds, as well as 184 missiles.
Former UPEO member Rena Hirose was the Night Raven's only pilot. The Ouroboros terrorist group stole the plane in 2043 and hid it aboard the Sphyrna flying carrier. The plane made its debut when it destroyed the artificial island Megafloat with only one laser shot.
In the Neucom III story path mission "Self Awareness," the player is tasked to destroy the X-49's Aeon generator network located in Port Edwards city. It is required to eliminate the plane's advantage in mobility. Once the generators are all dealt with, the player can then engage Rena normally.
In the final part of the UPEO storyline, Rena destroyed the Sphyrna instead of Megafloat. However, Dission retaliated by detonating a remote bomb inside the plane. The X-49 crashed, but Rena was able to walk away from the wreckage.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Laser Cannon
- Missiles: Short-Range Air-to-air missile, Air-to-ground missile.
Neucom Inc.[ | ]
R-101 Delphinus#1[ | ]
The R-101 Delphinus#1 is a fictional multirole aircraft designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. It has a sky blue color scheme and is manufactured by Neucom Inc. Models operated by the Universal Peace Enforcement Organization have a tan color scheme. It is the entry model in the Delphinus series - nicknamed "Delphinus" (dolphin) presumably because of the aircraft's unique shape.
The blue color scheme model is not playable in the game's storyline. It has a cardioid-shape tail and two fuselages in a lightweight construction. Its engine is silent during acceleration and can propel the aircraft to speeds up to 2856 km/h. It is the only model in the Delphinus series that cannot be equipped with the Pulse Laser machine-gun and also without an engine protrusion under the body. As an entry-level model in the Delphinus series, it delivers good maneuverability and fast acceleration, due to its light weight (8098 kg). It can carry up to 88 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2043m for both aircraft and ground targets. Due to its small construction, it can only endure light damage.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Heavy Machine Gun
- Missiles: Air-to-air missile.
R-102 Delphinus#2[ | ]
The R-102 Delphinus#2 is a fictional multirole aircraft designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. It has a purple color scheme and is manufactured by Neucom Inc. It is the middle model in the Delphinus series - nicknamed "Delphinus" (dolphin) presumably because of the aircraft's unique shape.
Unlike other models in the Delphinus series, the R-102 Delphinus#2 has a more discrete-looking engine at the bottom of the aircraft. Air intakes are located between the aircraft body and the engine that almost resembles a mouth. As a result it is unlike any real-world fighter aircraft. Its maneuverability is theoretically better than the R-103 Delphinus#3 by a small margin, according to performance ratings in the game. However, its worse stability performance makes this not the case in practice. It can carry up to 128 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2246m for aircraft targets and 2275m for ground targets. Due to its small construction, it can only withstand light damage.
In addition, a white and orange color scheme for this aircraft was designed exclusively for the fictitious character Cynthia Bridgitte Fitzgerald in the game story.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Heavy Machine Gun, Pulse Laser
- Missiles: Air-to-air missile.
R-103 Delphinus#3[ | ]
The R-103 Delphinus#3 is an advanced, fictional fighter aircraft. It has a dark blue color scheme and is manufactured by Neucom Inc., with some models stolen by the terrorist organization Ouroboros. Its design is somewhat similar to the ADF-01 Falken. It is the top model in the Delphinus series - nicknamed "Delphinus" (dolphin) presumably because of the aircraft's unique shape.
It is the lightest (10040 kg) advanced fighter aircraft available in the game, due to its unique shape and an advanced engine developed by Neucom Inc. Together they make the aircraft very quick to accelerate to top speeds. Its engine noise is considerably more silent and has a lower pitch than other aircraft in its class. In addition, it can reach a higher maximum speed (3920 km/h) than many other advanced fighter aircraft, such as the XFA-36A Game and Su-43 Berkut. One interesting design feature is the vertical missile firing system. Unlike conventional fighter aircraft where missiles are launched from the two wings, the R-103 Delphinus#3 launches missiles from the center. Unlike other Delphinus models, it contains canards and the cardioid-shape tail is joined together with the body, giving it a more integrated appearance. It can carry up to 168 missiles, and can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2455m for aircraft targets and 2275m for ground targets. These statistics exceed even that of the [R-900 Geopelia and X-49 Night Raven.
In addition, a white and orange color scheme for this aircraft was designed exclusively for the fictitious character Cynthia Bridgitte Fitzgerald in the game story.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Heavy Machine Gun, Cannon, Pulse Laser
- Missiles: Air-to-air missile, MIRV.
R-201 Asterozoa[ | ]
The R-201 Asterozoa is a fictional attacker aircraft specifically designed for air-to-ground attacks. It has a lime color scheme and is manufacturered by Neucom Inc. Models operated by the Universal Peace Enforcement Organization have a tan color scheme. It is the only aircraft in the game to feature two canopies.
It has a twin-fuselage design, to carry more fuel and ammunition with less aerodynamic drag than a single-fuselage aircraft. Each one contains a canopy, which suggests it can be piloted from each one. The fuselages are connected by its Cannon machine-gun hanging at the center, which also improves aerodynamics and stability. This model breaks several design conventions of Neucom Inc. aircraft. First, it is the slowest aircraft in the game with a maximum speed of only 1540 km/h. While lower maximum speeds is a common trait of attacker aircraft, the slow acceleration and speed of this aircraft makes it particular vulnerable to missile attacks as its ability to evade them is relatively limited. All other Neucom Inc. aircraft are the fastest in their respective class. The engine appears to be of an older design, with louder noise and higher pitch. In addition, it is one of the few Neucom Inc. models that cannot be equipped with the Pulse Laser machine-gun. It can carry up to 104 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2043m for aircraft targets and 2275m for ground targets. Due to its large construction, the aircraft can survive heavy damage.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Cannon
- Missiles: Short-Range Air-to-air missile, Air-to-ground missile, MIRV.
R-211 Orcinus[ | ]
The R-211 Orcinus is a fictional attacker aircraft specifically designed for air-to-ground attacks. It has a brown and white color scheme and is manufactured by Neucom Inc.
The two vertical stabilizer fins positioned at the back improves its yawing maneuverability. Its broad base and construction allow it to maintain altitude and stability even at very low speeds; an important feature for attacker aircraft, which often require to slowly approach above a ground location to release bombs with precise timing and accuracy. Unlike the R-201 Asterozoa, its performance makes it also suitable for dogfights. As with other aircraft designed by Neucom Inc., the engine is comparatively silent during acceleration. It can carry up to 144 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2043m for aircraft targets and 2521m for ground targets. The only other aircraft in the game able to lock-on to ground targets as far as 2521m is the XFA-36A Game. While the comparatively inferior R-201 Asterozoa can endure heavy damage, the R-211 Orcinus can only withstand normal damage.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Cannon, Pulse Laser
- Missiles: Short-Range Air-to-air missile, Air-to-ground missile
R-311 Remora[ | ]
The R-311 Remora is a stratospheric parasite fighter. Its method of operation is reminiscent of the US Air Force's FICON project.
The Remora's shape closely resembles a thick surfboard with two elevons near the exhaust. As a stratofighter with the lightest weight (5105 kg) in the game, it can accelerate close to its maximum speed (5068 km/h). However, due to its thin body and design, its aerodynamics makes it unstable during flight and unable to make nimble turns. As with the EF-2000E Typhoon II, it has the smallest missile capacity of all aircraft in the game at 72 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2043m for aircraft targets and 2275m for ground targets. Due to its small construction, it can only sustain light damage.
The Remora is only available in the Neucom I story path mission "Power for Life." They are launched from R-531 Mobura aircraft during the NEU's attack on the GRDF's RF-12A2 stratofighter base in White Valley. Each Mobura normally carries two Remoras that are launched from the wings while the player's aircraft can be seen being dropped from a ventral bay.
Cynthia Fitzgerald pilots a Remora decked out in an orange paint scheme, while standard Remoras sport a mint-green color.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Heavy Machine Gun, Pulse Laser
- Missiles: Short-Range Air-to-air missile, Air-to-ground missile
R-352 Sepia[ | ]
The R-352 Sepia is a fictional starfighter, making it the first spacecraft ever to appear in the Ace Combat series.
As with all spacecraft, the Sepia's underside is wrapped by a large black heat shield that also reaches past the chines into the upper fuselage. It's delta wing curves upward to prevent stress and residual heat forming at the wingtips. The spaceplane's vertical stabilizer angles forward instead of backwards. The handling of this spacecraft is different from all other aircraft in the game. Due to the lack of atmosphere in space, heavy inertia occurs when it changes direction. The starfighter is equipped with weapons designed for space combat such as a Neutron Beam and 156 Plasma Beam charges. It can acquire target lock-on as far as 2043m for flying targets. Designed to withstand atmospheric friction during re-entry, it can endure heavy damage.
The Sepia is only playable in the Neucom I story path mission "Zero Gravity." It is launched aboard an R-353 rocket during the General Resources Defence Force attack on the Neucom Inc. space complex at Comona Island. Once in orbit, the player is assigned to take out four Orbital Satellite lasers in less than three minutes to complete the mission. If the mission took longer than the target time, the satellites will reposition to destroy the player with a laser barrage.
After the mission, the player is given the choice to perform or skip the atmospheric re-entry phase.
Weapons available for this spacecraft include:
- Guns: Neutron Beam
- Missiles: Plasma Beam
XR-900 Geopelia[ | ]
The XR-900 Geopelia is an advanced, fictional fighter aircraft. Its shape resembles a boomerang and is the most futuristic and radical aircraft design in the Ace Combat series. Its appearance is very similar to the X-49 Night Raven, except that is has a silver color scheme instead of black. It is manufacturered by Neucom Inc.
In the game's story eight XR-900 Geopelia aircraft were piloted by submininated AI programs (unmanned) controlled by the terrorist organization Ouroboros. Due to the wings' unique design, the aircraft has incredible maneuverability compared to other aircraft in the game. A complete vertical loop can be performed by this aircraft in less than two seconds, while conventional aircraft require approximately ten seconds to perform the same maneuver. The engine ejects aeon particles when it accelerates and reaches a speed of approximinately 1680 km/h. Engine noise has a unique high pitch, although the volume decreases considerably when it reaches speeds in excess of 4300 km/h. The special engine allows the aircraft to propel to top speeds in excess of 4000 km/h without the help of gravity, and can reach its maximum speed of 5068 km/h otherwise. When compared to the X-49 Night Raven, this aircraft is significantly lighter. However, it reaches a slightly lower speed in practice (difference within 5 km/h). It relies on air passing through the gaps of its wings to provide stability during flight. The large gaps also makes the aircraft incredibly difficult for missiles and machine-guns to hit it successfully.
This aircraft has the largest missile capacity of all aircraft in the game at 192 missiles. It can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2455m for aircraft targets and 2043m for ground targets. The aircraft can only be fitted with a unique Laser Cannon weapon. The laser is fired from the center of the aircraft and can last approximately one second per fire. In addition, it can withstand heavy damage.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Laser Cannon
- Missiles: Short-Range Air-to-air missile, Air-to-ground missile
Ouroboros[ | ]
UI-4054 Aurora[ | ]
The UI-4054 Aurora is an advanced, fictional fighter aircraft. Its shape is based upon the speculative Aurora spyplane project that gained much notoriety in the mid 1990s. Both the spyplane and the UI-4054 had twin vertical stabilisers, black colourschemes and giant ventral engines. It is manufactured by the terrorist organization Ouroboros and is piloted by the fictitious character Abyssal Dission in the game story.
It possesses four parallel jet engines positioned at the bottom center of the body. Two vertical stabilizer fins positioned on the back of the aircraft improves its maneuverability, rivaling the Su-43 Berkut. In addition, it has two small delta-shaped wings for yawing. There are four parallel intake ramps at the front part of the body that take air through the engine, after which is ejected through its four parallel afterburner ramps. It can carry up to 176 missiles, and can acquire missile lock-on as far as 2455m for aircraft targets and 2275m for ground targets. While its attacking ability is slightly behind the XFA-36A Game, it can sustain heavier damage.
Weapons available for this aircraft include:
- Guns: Vulcan, Heavy Machine Gun, Cannon
- Missiles: Air-to-air missile, Short-Range Air-to-air missile
References[ | ]
- http://www.neoseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rlid=39359&rid=36908
- http://www.absolute-playstation.com/api_walk/walkacecombat3.htm
- http://weaponsmanual.risu.com/ac3fighter.htm