Terrorism

A group of Chandelier cruise missiles flying towards Gracemeria

"Correct term is "terrorist" or "irregular military," but I have a different name for them. "An enemy to be stopped at all costs.""

― David North, regarding the Alicorn

Terrorism is the use of violence, usually against non-combatants, to incite fear (see § Definition). Terrorism has been depicted in various ways in the Ace Combat franchise, with attacks perpetrated by either organized groups or official state militaries. In most cases, the player is tasked with preventing such attacks or, if they are already in progress, stopping them from causing further harm.

Definition

In real life, there is no consensus on the definition of terrorism. The term is primarily used in reference to non-state actors, but Ace Combat has repeatedly depicted state terrorism and referred to it as terrorism. Some definitions only classify actions as terrorism if they involve the threat or use of violence against non-combatants such as civilians, but Aces At War: A History 2019 states that Erusea's drone attacks targeting the Osean Maritime Defense Force were terrorist attacks.

Generally, terrorists use violence to incite fear (hence "terror") in attempting to advance a specific goal. While some attacks stated to be terrorism in Ace Combat have a clear goal, not all do, but they do tend to incite fear.

Terrorist attacks are distinguished from indiscriminate attacks in that attackers performing the latter are indifferent as to whether they are hitting military or civilian targets, rather than specifically targeting civilians to incite terror. For example, the attack on Bana City is considered a terrorist attack, but the bombing of Hoffnung is considered an indiscriminate attack.

As such, this article only classifies an attack depicted in Ace Combat as terrorism if it fulfills any of the following criteria:

• It is directly stated to be terrorism.
• It is performed or attempted by a group directly stated to be terrorists.
• It is designed to incite fear and advance a specific goal.
• It deliberately targets civilians or civilian infrastructure not being used in a war, as opposed to an indiscriminate attack which makes no distinction.

List of terrorists

Valahia soldiers

Non-state actors

The following groups have either been officially classified as terrorists or performed or attempted attacks officially classified as terrorist attacks:

• Ouroboros
• Grey Men
• Free Erusea
• Falcons of Dawn
• Valahia
• Sons of Troia
• USEA Federation
• Alicorn

The following groups have performed or attempted attacks that could classify as terrorism, but have not been officially classified as such:

• Usean Rebel Forces
• A World With No Boundaries
• Golden Axe Plan Private Army
• New Russian Federation

States

The following states' official military forces have performed or attempted attacks officially classified as terrorist attacks:

• Yuktobania
• Erusea

The following states' official military forces have performed or attempted attacks that could classify as terrorism, but have not been officially classified as such:

• Leasath
• Estovakia

List of terrorist attacks

Strangereal

Air Combat

The opening crawl and box art for Air Combat describes the enemy forces as terrorists.

Ace Combat 2 / Assault Horizon Legacy

• Operation Bellissima: In Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy, if the player chooses Operation Bellissima over Operation Alphaville, the Usean Rebel Forces attempt to launch ballistic missiles towards multiple Usean cities from a missile base located in Faith Park Gorge. While this mission also exists in Ace Combat 2, the briefing makes no mention of a target (and the mission takes place during Operation Alphaville).
• Second battle of Saint Ark: In both games, after losing their main headquarters in Saint Ark, the Usean Rebel Forces attempt to destroy the city with a cruise missile, which Phoenix shoots down.
• Attack on Fortress Intolerance: In Assault Horizon Legacy, the Usean Rebels prepare to use Fortress Intolerance to launch a ballistic missile attack on Yuktobania, with the intention of starting an intercontinental war and escaping in the chaos. While this mission also exists in Ace Combat 2, the briefing makes no mention of a target, nor that the Rebels intend to fire the missile at all. In the English version of Assault Horizon Legacy, Ulrich Olsen directly states this to be a "terror attack." In the Japanese version of the game (3D: Cross Rumble), he states this to be an "indiscriminate attack," which would distinguish it from a terrorist attack.

Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere

Prior to simulation

• Payton Dispute: At an unspecified time before 2040, Abyssal Dision launches an ICBM in the direction of Neucom's space development facility in the Comona Islands, barely missing it. He successfully passes it off as an act of terrorism by General Resource, who deny ever having launched it, however; Neucom believe Dision's ruse to be true and trigger a violent dispute with GR over the ICBM. Dision's involvement in this incident remains unknown.

Simulation

• Obliteration of Megafloat: Rena Hirose, brainwashed and piloting the X-49 Night Raven at Ouroboros' behest, flies to Megafloat and destroys the entire city with a single use of the X-49's laser cannon. This event occurs regardless of the route Nemo has chosen.
• Ouroboros attack on Port Edwards: After Nemo's defection from the GRDF to Ouroboros, it accompanies Dision on an unannounced intrusion upon Port Edwards in the midst of a heated air battle between GRDF, NEU and UPEO. Nemo and Dision alone destroy swathes of Port Edwards' infrastructure, from buildings to freeways, shoot down multiple UPEO fighter planes, and kill fleeing UPEO and Neucom bureaucrats even as they fly in unarmed V-22Bs.
• Destruction of Neucom's navy: Nemo and Dision attack the unprepared Neucom navy at Megafloat. They successfully eliminate the entirety of Neucom's remnants.
• Ouroboros attack on Expo City: Nemo, Dision and Rena assault Expo City in an attempt to wipe out the now-disarrayed UPEO after having destroyed GR and Neucom. They successfully destroy much of the city and kill the entirety of SARF that remained in Gilbert Park's employ, and shortly after Nemo kills Park as the latter attempts to escape.
• Kidnapping of Rena Hirose: Nemo, Cynthia Bridgitte Fitzgerald and Dision assault Expo City with the intent of kidnapping Rena. They are successful, eliminating much of SARF and covering their escape by destroying UPEO's headquarters.
• Geopelia attack on Megafloat: Eight rogue XR-900 Geopelias attack Port Edwards for unknown reasons. Nemo is sortied to eliminate them.

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

Arcade Mode

• 2006 Free Erusea uprising: The terrorist group Free Erusea is formed. Comprised of multiple high-ranking officers of the Erusean Air Force and surviving Erusean soldiers who refused to comply with ISAF's terms of surrender, the militants seize a munitions factory in White Valley and carry out multiple attacks throughout Usea. Mobius 1 is dispatched by ISAF to deal with the threat and temporarily dismantles Free Erusea.

Campaign

• Dresdene terrorist attack: Grabacr Squadron—posing as the Osean Air Defense Force's 8492nd Squadron under heavy communications jamming—conducts an air strike against a Yuktobanian engineering college in Dresdene, resulting in a high number of civilian casualties. Wardog Squadron is blamed for the attack due to being the only Osean squadron officially operating in Sector Charlie Omega (where the attack occurred) at the time.
• November 4 attacks: In response to the attack on Dresdene, Yuktobania initiates two simultaneous terrorist attacks against Osea. While both attacks ultimately fail to achieve lasting results, they result in heavy civilian casualties and growing anger against Yuktobania from the Oseans. Wardog Squadron and the Capital District Air Defense Squadron repel both attacks.
  • Operation Wisdom: In the college town of Bana, the Sudayev Commando Team releases poison gas at multiple points throughout the city, resulting in widespread panic and over 300 confirmed casualties. The gas is eventually neutralized by an air-dropped neutralizing agent.
  • Operation Emerald: Meanwhile, Yuktobanian aircraft, in conjunction with unmarked Yuktobanian transport aircraft, attack Apito International Airport. The transport planes release multiple tanks that fire on the airport terminal, while the aircraft attempt to shoot down civilian airliners in the surrounding airspace.
• Operation Supercircus: Yuktobanian aircraft penetrate Osean airspace over November City, intent on attacking a stadium where Vice President Appelrouth is giving a speech. Wardog Squadron, performing a flyover at the time of the attack, repels the air raid. Captain Alvin H. Davenport is killed in action, being rendered unable to eject from his crippled aircraft and ultimately guiding his plane into the stadium to avoid endangering civilians. Aside from a few injuries, no civilian casualties are reported in the stadium.
• Operation Game Bird: The Arkbird—having been sabotaged and hijacked by operatives of the Belkan Grey Men—attempts to drop a V1 tactical nuke on the Yuktobanian city of Okchabursk to further escalate the war. During a controlled descent in order to change its orbital trajectory, the Arkbird's airbrakes are deployed by a captive Osean astronaut, who departs the hijacked spacecraft via an escape capsule. Razgriz Squadron shoots down the Arkbird before it can escape the atmosphere, preventing the attack from being carried out.
• Operation Arcadia: After the destruction of the Strategic Orbital Linear Gun's control system during Operation Winter Storm, a fail safe is triggered that causes the satellite to begin descending toward the Osean capital, Oured. Razgriz Squadron engages Ofnir and Grabacr Squadrons before engaging the SOLG itself, eliminating it before it hits Oured.

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

• Operation Valkyrie: A World With No Boundaries uses the XB-0 Hresvelgr to attack the North Osean (formerly South Belkan) city of Lumen, before moving to attack Valais Air Base in Ustio.
• Operation Point Blank: A World With No Boundaries attempts to launch a V2 from Avalon Dam, a strategic missile facility in Mund Valley in Belka. Their goal is to destroy major cities in Osea, along with underground natural resource deposits that had caused the Belkan War, aiming to paralyze human civilization and ultimately reset society to 'zero.' Cipher manages to destroy the dam's control facilities, but Larry Foulke uses the remote control capabilities of his ADFX-02 Morgan to continue the launch. Despite Foulke managing to launch the V2, Cipher manages to shoot down the Morgan. The V2 self-destructs in midair harmlessly, preventing the attack from being carried out.
• Postwar
  • In 1996, five former members of Wizard Team plot to assassinate the President of Osea. Kevin Shore is suspected to have leaked details about the plot, leading to Osean Special Ops killing Evan Carey and Ethan Button and arresting Iosif Beletsky and Jay Porter.
  • The Falcons of Dawn perform seven terrorist attacks in the ten years following the Belkan War, including an assault on the Mueller Trust Company.

Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception

• Battle of Santa Elva, if the player did not complete "The Midnight Sun": After the Gleipnir sustains critical damage, Captain Frank Burlington attempts to use its Shock Cannon to destroy the city of Santa Elva. Gryphus 1 destroys the Gleipnir before it can fire, though the Gleipnir's massive wing destroys a bridge as it crashes into the Lenal River.
• After Leasath loses Santa Elva, the Hamlet Unit, a special operations and biological warfare division of the Leasath Army, prepares a chemical attack on the city using lethal Cynocrine gas.
  • If the player completes "Blitz" followed by "In Pursuit I": The Hamlet Unit enters the city and initiates the attack. Gryphus 1 neutralizes the gas and foils the attack, eliminating the Hamlet Unit.
  • If the player completes "Blitz" followed by "The Wasteland": Gryphus 1 destroys the Hamlet Unit at the Kalana Steppes before they can enter Santa Elva.
  • Otherwise: Aurelia advances on the Kalana Steppes too quickly for the Hamlet Unit to organize.

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

• Fort Norton infiltration: The Estovakian Army threatens the use of a chemical weapon of mass destruction against Gracemeria as a last-ditch attempt to stop the Emmerian counteroffensive. Garuda Team infiltrates Fort Norton airspace via a canyon and destroys the WMD's chemical catalyst, preventing any attack.
• Gracemeria cruise missile attack: General Gustav Dvornik, after fleeing Emmeria prior to the liberation of Gracemeria, activates the Chandelier railgun and fires multiple salvos of Stauros shells—each containing multiple cruise missiles—at Gracemeria. Garuda Team and the Emmerian Air Force prevent widespread casualties among the civilian populace.
• Assault on the Chandelier: The Chandelier attempts to fire multiple Stauros shells during the Emmerian Air Force's operation to destroy it. After the destruction of all its cooling units, the Chandelier begins to charge up a massive shot at Gracemeria, but Talisman flies down the barrel and destroys the railgun's core, preventing the weapon from firing and saving the city.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

VR Mode

• 2014 Free Erusea uprising: Free Erusea mounts a second uprising in Usea as it undergoes reconstruction under the IUN. Mobius 1 and several former ISAF squadrons are deployed in response; they suppress Free Erusea once again before they deal any lasting damage.

Campaign

• May 15 drone attacks: The Kingdom of Erusea uses MQ-99 UAVs hidden aboard civilian cargo ships to attack Osean naval ports in Aulick Bay, St. Hewlett, Oured, and Bana City. While Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown portrays the attack as being carried out against military targets with no harm done to the civilian population, Aces At War: A History 2019 refers to the surprise attack as "terrorist strikes by drones."
• Alicorn: The Erusean submersible aviation cruiser Alicorn—under the command of Captain Matias Torres—deserts the Erusean Royal Navy and carries out a plan to nuke the Osean capital of Oured, aiming to kill one million people. While Torres claims it is meant to horrify both sides into ending the Lighthouse War and save the lives of ten million (who would otherwise be killed during the conflict), the attack is really meant to satisfy Torres' desire to "land a clean shot on a difficult target," killing as many people as possible. Trigger sinks the Alicorn during Operation Fisherman, ending the threat to Oured.
• Operation Reflux: Erusean conservatives, angered by the radical faction's collaboration with Gründer Industries and elements of the Grey Men, indiscriminately massacre civilians of Belkan descent on Tyler Island.
• 2019 Free Erusea uprising: In the chaos of the satellite blackout following Operation Giant's Step, Free Erusea mounts a resurgence in northern Usea.

Ace Combat: Joint Assault

• Valahia Crisis: The armed insurgent group Valahia conducts numerous terrorist attacks with the financial backing of Andre Olivieri:
  • First Battle of Tokyo: The Valahia attacks the city of Tokyo using the aerial fortress Spiridus. Antares Squadron damages the Spiridus' rear heat vent as it charges its Balaur railgun, causing the Spiridus to flee the city airspace.
  • Second Battle of Tokyo: The Valahia attempts to attack Tokyo once more, this time utilizing the Orgoi aerial warship. Antares is once again deployed in defense of the city and shoots down the Orgoi over Tokyo Bay.
  • Battle of London: The Valahia threatens an assault on the city of London, leading to mass panic. The group assaults the city with the Spiridus, causing damage with its electrolaser cannons. When Antares Squadron counterattacks and severely damages the Spiridus, its commander orders the firing of the Balaur. Antares destroys the heat vent as the railgun charges up, causing the Spiridus to lose control and descend into the River Thames.
  • Assault on Infern: The Valahia, having betrayed Olivieri, attempt to deploy nuclear-equipped intercontinental ballistic missiles against the Western world. Antares Squadron stops the attack by destroying the missile complex's command center, ending the threat of the Valahia.
• Battle of San Francisco: The Golden Axe Plan Private Army launches an all-out assault on San Francisco using tanks, aircraft, and warships. Martinez Security and elements of the United States Navy repel the attack and defeat the Varcolac Squadron before killing Andre Olivieri, the mastermind of the attack.

Assault Horizon universe

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

• New Russian Federation uprising: The New Russian Federation mounts an armed uprising around the world, conducting numerous terrorist attacks.
  • Battle of Dubai: The Blatnoi crime syndicate—who backs the NRF—declares that they will use Trinity to destroy the city of Dubai unless the international community agrees to their demands. Warwolf Squadron shoots down several Tu-95 Bears, saving the city.
  • Defense of Moscow: After the fall of Moscow, the NRF attempts to use Trinity along with conventional cruise missiles to destroy the city. One Trinity missile detonates in the center of the city, but the rest of the attack is foiled by Warwolf Squadron, who shoots down the remaining launch aircraft and missiles.
  • Battle of Miami: A remnant of the NRF—led by Andrei Markov—mounts an attack on the continental United States of America. Their first target is Miami, though they are ultimately repelled from the city.
  • Battle of Washington, D.C.: Markov's remnant moves to attack Washington, D.C. with a Trinity missile, aiming to destroy the White House. Before he can complete his mission, he is shot down and killed by William Bishop.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Master File

• September 11 attacks: Terrorists hijack four airliners and crash three of them into major U.S. buildings, killing thousands of civilians.
• Battle of Tokyo: Remnants of the NRF launch an attack on Tokyo with fighter aircraft, though they are repelled by an F-3 Shinden II test squadron.

Ace Combat Infinity

• Operation Override: The USEA Federation occupies the city of Tokyo. The United Nations Forces launches a counteroffensive, liberating the city despite USEA's deployment of an Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser and the Butterfly Master to the area of operations.
• Operation Eternal Liberation: Multiple cities fall to USEA during the course of the USEAn War, including Moscow, Dubai, and Tokyo. They are recaptured by the UNF.