The ADF-01 FALKEN (sometimes referred to as the ADF-01F[2][3]) is a powerful fighter aircraft developed by North Osea Gründer Industries and the first production model in their Advanced Dominance Fighter series of aircraft. It was chronologically the first aircraft in Strangereal history to feature a fully enclosed cockpit, and one of the first to be flown in combat by a fully autonomous artificial intelligence.
The ADF-01 FALKEN initially appeared as an unplayable enemy-exclusive aircraft in Ace Combat 2, making it one of the first original aircraft in the franchise, alongside the XFA-27. It made its first playable appearance in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War after undergoing a slight visual redesign, requiring players to destroy five special hangars to unlock it.
The ADF-01 FALKEN represents an improvement in Gründer Industries's advanced fighter program. It acts as the spiritual successor to the ADFX-01 and ADFX-02 Morgan;[5][6] compared to those units, the FALKEN has improved mobility and stability, albeit with slightly reduced armor. It remains a very powerful aircraft, and features high speed and excellent air-to-air capabilities.[7] The aircraft's distinctive angular body provides limited stealth capabilities as well, something the two Morgan models did not feature.[5][6]
A prominent aspect of the FALKEN is its implementation of Connection For Flight Interface (COFFIN). Instead of instruments and controls, the cockpit of a FALKEN features two armrests on either side, allowing the pilot to lay down with their arms and legs extended.[8] However, the FALKEN's COFFIN system did not have neurological connections, which were not developed until the 2020s. Instead, pilots had to control the FALKEN using eye movement and voice commands.[9]
The FALKEN, unlike most conventional aircraft, does not have a glass canopy. Instead, sixteen miniature cameras and sensors surround the cockpit on the surface of the aircraft. These devices are capable of picking up numerous electromagnetic wavelengths, from infrared to radio waves to visible light.[10][6] The data is then transferred inside the cockpit, where the pilot is surrounded by numerous displays in a hexagonal setup that allows them to see everything outside in a 360-degree angle.[8]
Another notable aspect of the FALKEN is its chemical-based Tactical Laser System (TLS), which was also improved upon since the Morgan models. The first-generation model of the FALKEN, utilized by the Usean Rebel Forces in 1998, did not feature the weapon, however. This first-generation model also placed the cockpit closer to the aircraft's nose.[11] A second-generation FALKEN model was created by the time of the Circum-Pacific War, however. This model integrated the TLS cannon within the nose of the aircraft, which splits apart to fire the cannon and closes again to maintain stealth capabilities. Its laser features the ability to recharge even while firing.[12] Due to this, the cockpit was placed further behind the aircraft, closer to the middle of the body.[11]
The aircraft's specifications are as follows:[5][13]
Length: 24.00 m (78.74 ft)
Wingspan: 15.92 m (52.23 ft)
Height: 5.64 m (18.50 ft)
Weight: 23,300 kg (51,400 pounds)
Engines: 2× WWX-GD-425
Top speed: >Mach 2.2 (2,695+ km/h; 1,675+ mph; 1,455+ kn)
Following the loss of the sole existing ADFX-02 Morgan to enemy action in December 1995, Gründer Industries recovered the aircraft's remains. They used the aircraft's flight recorder data to determine what aspects of the Morgan required improvements.[5][14] Within two to three years, Gründer had a working prototype of the ADF-01 FALKEN, and concurrent development of the Zone of Endless AI program led to a fully-operational unmanned FALKEN equipped with jamming and the ability to fire missiles and guns backwards. This FALKEN, along with other Z.O.E.-equipped aircraft, soon made it into the hands of the Usean Rebel Forces.[1]
On September 18, 1998, the Z.O.E.-equipped FALKEN engaged in battle against Scarface Squadron over Fortress Intolerance; despite its technological superiority, Phoenix managed to best it, resulting in the aircraft's destruction.[1] It is unclear if Gründer managed to recover the aircraft's remains from the fortress, or if any other first-generation models were built by the company, but the plans were never scrapped. Instead, Gründer began working on a second version of the aircraft, wherein a tactical laser pod would be integrated inside the body. This would become the standard design of the aircraft from then on.
Sometime after the Continental War, Gründer appeared to offer the ADF-01 FALKEN's blueprints to Yuktobania, which would then develop its own FALKEN models, likely as part of the Grey Men's plans to secretly arm Yuktobania for the Circum-Pacific War. Yuktobania split the FALKEN's development among multiple facilities in the country. The main development factory was in Sonza[15] and some parts were also stored at two facilities in the Jilachi Desert[16][17] and one secret facility north of Lake Dama.[18]
Yuktobania got very close to manufacturing its first FALKEN model by early November 2010.[15] However, due to the development continuing into the Circum-Pacific War, during which Osea quickly invaded the country, Yuktobania could not complete a model by the time Osea raided all of the facilities.[15][16][17][18]
Gründer was still holding a part of the blueprints in the company's headquarters in Sudentor, and had planned to mass-produce unmanned ADF-01s to use in their final offensive against the two countries.[19] Following the Battle of Sudentor, during which the loyalist Oseans invaded the last FALKEN facility, however, Osea became the only country to possess all of the FALKEN blueprints.[20] One FALKEN was produced and featured during an airshow at November City alongside a Morgan and an X-02 Wyvern.[21]
At some point in time, the FALKEN's TLS received an upgrade program that successfully increased its emission power and accuracy.[22]
Before the two planes take off, capture both of them in one shot. Got it?
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"A large fighter developed by North Osea Gründer Industries. A product of international conspiracy, the aircraft and its design were largely influenced by Belkan ideologies. All weapons, including the chemical laser in its nose, are loaded inside the craft, and the cross-section is designed to reduce detection from radars, granting the aircraft excellent stealth capabilities, albeit at the cost of wingspan.[sic] Its air-combat capability arises from the combination of its canards and forward-swept wings, and together with its stealth capabilities, makes it the once-dominant Belkan Air Forces' extreme answer to modern warfare. The aircraft has a unique look born of its cockpit, designed for wind protection,[sic] and its canopy, which is tightly fit with armor. To compensate for the pilot's inability to see the outside the[sic] craft, the ADF-01 comes with an AI system called "Z.O.E.," which provides information to the pilot via sensors all over the aircraft, far more effective than a co-pilot. The aircraft is currently operated by the TLS Unit[sic], and has been fitted with the unit's latest cutting-edge laser technology that increases both laser power and accuracy. The fighter's nickname is "Falken.""
"A large air supremacy fighter developed by a certain country. Based on its predecessor, the "ADFX-01 Morgan" prototype fighter, it features an array of monitors arranged in a 360-degree sphere within the cockpit. This is known as the "COFFIN" system. The aircraft also features new technology, including a 2DCD thrust vectoring nozzle, vertical canards and stealth capabilities. The "TLS" (Tactical Laser System) is stored within the body of the aircraft which transforms upon using the weapon. Its abilities are beyond anything that conventional aircraft are capable of and can be considered to be the ultimate forward swept wing aircraft featuring canards. Its nickname is "Falken"."
"Cutting-edge fighter aircraft incorporating the latest technologies developed by Grunder Industries. Its 360-degree view cockpit system gives its pilot an immense advantage in combat."
The ADF-01 FALKEN is available for purchase after completing one of the following two methods:
Earn the Supreme Mercenary, Supreme Soldier, and Supreme Knight medals. These medals require the Ace Style gauge to be all the way to the right, directly in the middle, and all the way to the left (respectively) by the end of three different campaign playthroughs.
If the player has an Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War save file on the memory card in slot 1, complete the campaign three times with three different Ace Styles. The Supreme medals are not required.
"Cutting-edge fighter aircraft incorporating the latest technologies developed by Grunder Industries. Its 360-degree view cockpit system gives its pilot an immense advantage in combat."
The ADF-01 FALKEN is unlocked by destroying the five FALKEN hangars hidden throughout the campaign missions. They do not show up on radar until the player gets close to them. They are located in:
Mission 12A, Powder Keg - After the mission starts, the player should follow the river until it splits into two; follow the river that goes east, towards the right edge of the radar. The hangar will be located near the river, protected by one SAM launcher and one fighter.[18]
Mission 12B, Four Horsemen - After bypassing the radar net, the hangar will be located to the northeast of the production facility, near the smokestacks. This hangar does not actually show up on radar and cannot be locked onto until some of the TGTs in the facility are destroyed. However, if the player sees it beforehand, they can still destroy the hangar with unguided fire.[15]
Mission 16A, Desert Arrow - This hangar is located next to a small river that flows between the air base and the field HQ. It will be easiest to encounter after the field HQ bombing run is completed, before the ground forces reach the airfield.[16]
Mission 16B, Desert Lightning - This hangar is located north-northwest of the oil facility, near the river the player flies over during the Mission Update.[17]
Mission 27, ACES - This hangar is located in the eastern part of Sudentor, near a Gun tower.[20]
If the player destroys a specific hangar for the first time, the debriefing screen will display "Acquired part of enemy prototype aircraft." Destroying a hangar will also cause AWACS Thunderhead (or AWACS Oka Nieba, during ACES) to say, "Mechanical parts discovered in destroyed enemy facility. We'll have the ground forces retrieve them later."
The player can destroy the hangars on any difficulty and can do so in Free Mission rather than repeatedly playing the Campaign.
After the fifth hangar is destroyed, the debriefing screen will inform the player that a new aircraft is available, and the FALKEN will be available for purchase. Each unit costs Ƶ826,000.
The FALKEN is worth 45,000 points, more than any other unit in the entire game, and requires three missile hits to destroy rather than two. The FALKEN will additionally fire backwards, so the player must remain on guard at all angles. Like with the other Z.O.E. units, destroying the FALKEN will award the player with a Z.O.E. medal.
In March 2006, Bandai released a 1/100 scale model of the ADF-01 as part of the "EX-Model" series.[2] The same model kit was re-released in June 2019.[26]
In Ace Combat 5, Ace Combat Zero and Ace Combat 7, the cockpit armrests feature the acronym "Z.O.E".
In Ace Combat 5, if one equips the Razgriz Squadron with the FALKEN, Nagase's FALKEN will have the vertical fin deployed, albeit inside the ground.
In Ace Combat Zero, the FALKEN's take-off speed is approximately 420 km/h (260 mph), higher than the 300 km/h (190 mph) required by most aircraft, likely due to its weight.
The FALKEN, along with the ADF-11F Raven, appears in the PS4 "It's Time to Play" ad, flying over the crowd approximately 55 seconds in.[27]
Thrust vectoring is the ability to change the direction of thrust emitted from an engine. Aircraft with thrust vector control can perform enhanced maneuvers not available to aircraft without it.
Enemy units marked as TGT usually must be destroyed to advance the mission. The TGT text is always in red, except if the player changes this in Ace Combat 7.