UAV-45
- "I'm out of Malebolges. This is where I get serious!"
- ― Ilya Pasternak
The UAV-45,[1] more commonly referred to as the Malebolge,[2][3] was an unmanned combat aircraft developed by Albastru-Electrice, a leading Estovakian weapons manufacturing firm.[4] They were designed to support the CFA-44 Nosferatu in large numbers.[3]
Etymology
Malebolge (roughly meaning "evil ditches") is the term Dante Aligheri used in his Inferno to refer to the eighth circle of hell, represented by a series of trenches. Dante and his guide, Virgil, attempt to cross the area by using bridges, but many of them are collapsed. This is mirrored in-game with the collapse of the King's Bridge.
In relation to the aircraft being a remote-controlled drone, Malbolge is also the name of a very complicated programming language.
Design
UAV-45s have an incredibly small airframe 3.1 m (10 ft)[1] in length, which is equipped with variable sweep wings, canards, twin vertical stabilizers, and a dorsal air intake. Their weaponry is limited to a single machine gun, since they are too small to carry missiles; likewise, they have very little armor. Individually, one UAV-45 is highly vulnerable to enemy attack.[3]
However, their lack of offensive and defensive power is compensated for by the fact that UAV-45s are deployed by the dozens, easily swarming enemy fighters. They also have high maneuverability, capable of extremely high speeds and post-stall maneuvers.[3] Their primary purpose is to act as 'pickets' for the CFA-44; due to their networking capabilities, the CFA-44 can obtain targeting information from a UAV-45 and respond with the appropriate weaponry. They can also mimic the CFA-44's radar reflection, effectively acting as decoys against enemy anti-air defenses.[5]
The CFA-44 Nosferatu has a "master unit" that controls the UAV-45s. This control unit is highly vulnerable to combat damage suffered directly by the CFA-44; consistent damage could cause a temporary loss of functionality or a self-destruct command to activate on some of the drones. If the master unit completely fails or is entirely destroyed, all remaining UAV-45s self-destruct.[3] They are also capable of being folded up and stored in a CFA-44's internal weapons bays for long-range deployments[5], while three can be carried on each of the CFA-44's four external pylons.[1]
History
In June 2005, Albastru-Electrice began developing the CFA-44 Nosferatu as an airborne arsenal ship intended to work in tandem with numerous Malebolge UAV-45s.[4] It is presumed development of the drones started alongside the CFA-44. While attempts to equip the Malebolge with an electron beam system to reduce weight and increase efficiency failed, the UAV-45 successfully completed development.[5]
Their only known combat deployment was during Operation Free Gracemeria, when a massive swarm of UAV-45s was utilized by Ilya Pasternak as he used a CFA-44 to attempt to hold off the Republic of Emmeria Air Force. All of the Malebolges present were destroyed by Garuda Team and other Emmerian squadrons.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/labo/labo-272202/
- ↑ Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Original Soundtrack.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 The Liberation of Gracemeria. Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 68.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 69.