Aerial Fleet
The Aerial Fleet was a strategic unit of aerial warships developed by Estovakia. It was formed by the P-1112 Aigaion heavy command cruiser, two P-1113 Kottos electronic support aircraft, and two P-1114 Gyges air defense units. The Strigon Team was the most notable squadron stationed aboard the Aigaion to defend the Aerial Fleet.[2]
Proposed by Colonel General Gustav Dvornik during the Estovakian Civil War under the Aerial Fleet Initiative (also known as the P/F-X program), the Aerial Fleet was made possible by Belkan War veteran Lorenz Riedel, who had acquired classified Belkan research and provided it to the Eastern Faction.
In a special issue from FRONT LINE titled "The Aerial Fleet", military analyst Vincent Baldwin stated that in addition to being an effective tool against Emmeria, the Aerial Fleet also posed a threat to superpowers Osea and Yuktobania.[3]
History
Conception
The Aerial Fleet was conceived by Eastern Faction commander Gustav Dvornik during the Estovakian Civil War as a means of projecting airpower at extremely long ranges throughout the continent of Anea. The Aigaion and her support warships were developed under the Aerial Fleet Initiative's "P/F-X" program with the aid of Belkan defectors—including Lorenz Riedel—who stole heavy command cruiser research from their country and defected to Estovakia alongside several engineers involved in classified Belkan weapons programs.[4] While development stalled in early 2012, leading to analysts speculating that the Eastern Faction might instead opt to purchase the submarine Alicorn,[5] the Aerial Fleet Initiative ultimately bore fruit. The resulting P-1112 Aigaion was a major factor in the Eastern Faction's ultimate victory over the Lyes United Front at the end of the civil war.[3] The P-1113 Kottos and P-1114 Gyges support ships, however, were not completed until after the end of the conflict.[6]
Originally, Estovakia intended to deploy numerous CFA-44 Nosferatus alongside the Aigaion, however, this plan was postponed as the Nosferatu faced development issues.[7]
In April 2015, a Yuktobanian spy satellite spotted the Aigaion as it was flying over Estovakia. The satellite tracked the Aigaion for four days before losing the aircraft as it flew off the coast of the country.[3]
Emmeria-Estovakia War
On August 30th, the Aerial Fleet first appeared in the war during the invasion of Gracemeria just as the Emmerians began to gain the upper hand. With Strigon Team engaging the Emmerian forces as the Aigaion's Nimbus missiles provided fire support, the Estovakians were able to force the Emmerians to abandon the capital.[8] For the first time, the Aigaion was joined in combat by her sister ships.[6]
In September, the Aerial Fleet took part in the Doypalm Bay Offensive, again utilizing Nimbus missiles and the Strigon Team to quickly gain air superiority for Estovakia.[3]
On February 12, 2016, the Aerial Fleet went into action in response to the Emmerians' offensive push through the Selumna Peaks. After giving the order to retreat for the surviving Estovakian forcess, the Aigaion began to launch cruise missiles from afar towards the Emmerians with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles acting as spotters. Despite suffering heavy casualties, the Emmerians were able to successfully push through Selumna.[9]
Their next involvement took place during the liberation of San Loma three days later. Again, they stayed away from the battle and provided cruise missile support for the embattled Estovakian garrison. With experience from the battle in the Selumna Peaks, the Emmerians were able to avoid the attacks by shooting down the drones, thereby lessening the casualty rate. As a result, San Loma was retaken by the Emmerians. Crucially, however, AWACS Ghost Eye was able to triangulate the launch point of the Aigaion's Nimbus missiles during the battle.[10]
On February 20th, the Aerial Fleet was on a scheduled rendezvous with a squadron of six KC-10 Extenders for the Aigaion's refueling above the Fuscum Sea. At the same time, the Strigon Team returned from a long-range patrol mission and landed aboard the heavy command cruiser. Unbeknownst to the Fleet, however, the timing of the refueling served as the ideal opportunity for the Emmerians to launch an ambush by taking advantage of the lead ship's weakened frontal radar due to the tankers taking position for the refueling process.[11]
Caught off-guard by the sudden appearance of enemy fighters, the Fleet scrambled to move to a defensive formation and returned fire. The Strigon Team and Riedel—who was on board the Aigaion for an unknown period of time—also joined the battle, but they were ultimately shot down. One by one, the Gyges and Kottos escorts fell, leaving only the Aigaion to fend for itself. It, too, would meet the same fate when Talisman struck the cockpit and core[note 2] of the cruiser—signaling the end of Estovakian air superiority over the mainland.[11]
Units
- 1x P-1112 Aigaion - flagship
- 2x P-1113 Kottos - electronic countermeasures support
- 2x P-1114 Gyges - fire support
Gallery
Footnotes
- ↑ The English edition of Aces At War: A History 2019 states that the Aigaion falls under the jurisdiction of the Navy. However, its description from ACES WEB states that it only falls under naval jurisdiction if it lands for maintenance. Due to the possibility of mistranslation, the Ace Combat Wiki displays the information from ACES WEB.
- ↑ Aigaion's core must be destroyed to complete the mission on Hard Expert and Ace difficulties.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ACES WEB ACE6 STORY
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 064.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Aerial Fleet
- ↑ Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Complete Guide
- ↑ Unneeded Submarine To Be Scrapped
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 064.
- ↑ Aces At War: A History 2019, page 069.
- ↑ Mission 01: "Invasion of Gracemeria", Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ Mission 07: "Selumna Peak", Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ Mission 08: "San Loma Assault", Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mission 09: "Heavy Command Cruiser", Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.