- "Erusea had a lot up their sleeves ... What if Trigger couldn't shoot it down? Just thinking about it gives me chills. We're lucky to be here."
- ― Jaeger[1]
The X-02S Strike Wyvern is an updated and modernized variant of the Erusean-made X-02 Wyvern, developed jointly by the Erusean Air and Space Administration and North Osea Gründer Industries. Just like its predecessor, the X-02S has variable-geometry wings and possesses excellent stealth capabilities. Unlike its forerunner, however, the Strike Wyvern features a second seat, conformal fuel tanks, and is capable of carrying an experimental railgun in its internal weapons bay. While the original X-02 was designed for joint use by the Erusean Navy and Air Force, the S-variant was exclusively designed for Air Force use.[note 1]
The X-02S Strike Wyvern was introduced in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. It was initially teased in a trailer released on January 9, 2019, approximately a week before the game's release.[2]
Design
An onboard view of Mihaly's X-02S with an Arclight EML equipped underneath
At a glance, the Strike Wyvern appears almost identical to the original X-02. What the X-02S lacks in obvious outward differences, it makes up for with numerous internal modifications.
Development on the X-02S began with an overhaul of the airframe and changing the manufacturing process to use metal 3D printers. The new airframe uses redesigned engines with heat-resistant magnesium alloys to enhance thrust and fuel efficiency, compensated by expanded air intakes. The exhaust nozzles were changed to a saw-tooth design to lower the plane's infrared signature and make it quieter. The shapes of the internal weapon bays were altered and conformal fuel tanks were added to the top of the aircraft's engine nacelles.[3]
The X-02S's control programs were updated to allow full use of all of the aircraft's moving parts: the new folding canards, the signature variable forward-swept wings, the V-shaped tail, and the 3D thrust vectoring. The ventral strakes, however, were deemed unnecessary and removed. The combination of all of these parts leads to incredible maneuverability.[3]
Other minor improvements include an IRST sensor on top of the nose, an EOTS below the nose, and simplified landing gear, with all parts necessary for a carrier-based aircraft removed. The aforementioned control programs include both fly-by-wire and power-by-wire systems to ensure redundancy.[3]
The X-02S features a single machine gun to the left of the cockpit and two internal missile bays underneath the air intakes. Another weapon bay located between the two intakes supports at least three types of specialized munitions: upgraded "Dark Fire" medium-range air-to-air missiles, next-generation "Star Fire" anti-ship missiles (nicknamed "Flipper" due to their shape), and an experimental "Arclight" Electromagnetic Launcher. A weapon systems officer can be present in the new two-seat cockpit to operate these new weapons.[3]
The X-02S's specifications are as follows:[3]
- Length: 21.84 m (71.65 ft)
- Wingspan
- Outer wings deployed: 18.3 m (60.04 ft)
- Outer wings stowed: 11.54 m (37.86 ft)
- Height
- Outer wings deployed: 4.36 m (14.30 ft)
- Outer wings stowed: 3.42 m (11.22 ft)
- Weight: 15,200 kg (33,500 pounds)[note 2]
- Engines: 2× GIG/ERG-2000
- Combat radius: 1,280 km (800 miles)
- Top speed: >Mach 2.5 (3,063+ km/h; 1,903+ mph; 1,654+ kn)
- Aerial refueling: Option between the flying boom system or the probe-and-drogue system
History
The original X-02 was a pioneer of new stealth technology and long-range air-to-air missiles, but its advantages were trimmed as other countries employed their own stealth squadrons and radar jamming techniques. Its variable forward-swept wings were useful in close-range dogfights but ultimately susceptible to structural fatigue, creating cracks and folds and eventually mechanical failure.[3]
Due to Erusea's reduced military industrial complex in the period following the Continental War, the Erusean Air and Space Administration was unable to improve the Wyvern's design on its own. Instead, Erusea contracted North Osea Gründer Industries to solve these issues. Development on what would become the Strike Wyvern subsequently began on April 19, 2010, beginning with an overhaul of various components and the overall manufacturing process; these improvements resulted in the X-02S being lighter and able to carry more equipment than its predecessor.[3]
In secret and unbeknownst to other Erusean forces,[1] the Erusean Air and Space Administration continued to research the X-02S's potential by having Sol Squadron's leader, Mihaly A. Shilage, test the Arclight EML.[4] Their ultimate goal was to create a nearly-invincible and highly agile stealth aircraft that could supercruise and hold a large railgun.[3]
Despite this, the X-02S was not prepared for mass production by the time of the Lighthouse War in 2019. On October 24 of the same year, the beleaguered Strider Squadron initiated Operation Beehive, aiming to capture a stockpiling base at Shilage Castle to resupply their own base. Unbeknownst to them, however, Sol Squadron had defected from Erusea and joined up with the independence movement based at the castle. After Trigger shot down half of Sol's pilots, Mihaly entered the airspace in the X-02S and engaged the Oseans in a dogfight. The rest of Strider Squadron proved unable to keep up with the fighter, and they left the battle to Trigger while setting up a perimeter to ensure that no one else entered the duel. Eventually, Trigger shot down the X-02S,[4] but Mihaly survived the aircraft's destruction.[5]
On June 30, 2020, an X-02S Strike Wyvern painted to look like the original aircraft flown by Mihaly was showcased alongside other foreign air units at Redmill Air Force Base in Osea during a ceremony commemorating 25 years since the end of the Belkan War.[6]
Game Analysis
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
- "A fighter used exclusively by the navy.[note 1] It is a greatly improved version of the X-02 air superiority fighter developed in Erusea, which was used by both the navy and air force. As a carrier-based fighter,[note 1] parts such as the landing gear were simplified and the aircraft's internal components were redesigned to improve its stealth and flight capabilities. The addition of a conformal tank to increase flight distance, an Arclight rail gun for additional firepower, and various other add-ons ended up making the craft slightly heavier.[note 2] Its unique variable wings give it great combat and speed capabilities, which are unaffected by its heavy armament. Overall, it is an excellent fighter; however, its demanding controls mean only the top aces can get the best out of it. Its nickname is "Strike Wyvern"."
- ― Full hangar description
How to Unlock
- The X-02S is available on the Aircraft Tree after completing the campaign. It costs 2,000,000 MRP and requires purchasing one of the following aircraft: the YF-23 Black Widow II, the F-22A Raptor, or the Su-57.
Statistics
Weapons
- GUN x3600 (∞ on Easy/Normal)
- MSL x146
- Special Weapon
- FLR x2
Part Slots
- BODY: 28
- ARMS: 28
- MISC: 28
Named Pilots
Skins
- Osea: Two-tone light grey camouflage
- Erusea: Jagged grey/dark grey (Unlock: Complete a full campaign run in under 4 hours.)
- Special: Mihaly livery; two-tone grey body with orange wingtips (Unlock: Shoot down all named aircraft.)
- Mage: Osean skin with Mage Squadron markings.
- Spare: Osean skin with Spare Squadron markings.
- Strider: Osean skin with Strider Squadron markings.
- Mihaly: Special skin with Sol 1 markings. (DLC: Purchase the ADFX-01 Morgan Set)
- Glowing: Glowing skin with no markings. How it glows is determined by the mission and hangar.
- Prototype: Flat grey with yellow accents, similar to the ADFX-01 -Block1- (DLC: Purchase the Cutting-edge Aircraft Series Set)
- Razgriz: Razgriz Squadron livery. (DLC: Purchase the Cutting-edge Aircraft Series Set)
Gallery
Hangar view from the front
Hangar view from the rear
Hangar view of Skin 8 at 444th Air Base
Ditto, but at Fort Grays Air Base for comparison
An X-02S firing two standard missiles
The engines of Mihaly's X-02S
An X-02S firing an EML in the Target Locked trailer
An X-02S flying through an explosion in the Target Locked trailer
X-02S showing its crew, components and weapons
Trivia
- The glowing skin added in the 2nd Anniversary Update is a reference to an infamous glitch in Ace Combat 7, in which choosing the F/A-18F Super Hornet with the "Red Devils" skin for certain missions (namely Dark Blue and Cape Rainy Assault) would cause it to glow in a similar manner. This has since been patched in Update 1.41.
- This was due to a problem with the aircraft's MREC file, which controls how lighting interacts with the texture. Normally, the MREC controls the formation lights, and restricts them to the spots on the texture where the formation lights are located. However, the Red Devils skin had an error in the MREC which caused the game to interpret the entire texture as a formation light, resulting in the entire aircraft glowing.
- An X-02S Strike Wyvern sporting Phoenix's livery from Air Combat appears in the PlayStation 5 game Astro Bot, a game that features many easter eggs that allude to various aspects of PlayStation history. The plane is a scale remote-control model being controlled by a Bot wearing a flight suit and a helmet bearing Phoenix's emblem. The game's prequel, Astro's Playroom, similarly featured an Ace Combat reference in the form of a CFA-44 Nosferatu with Phoenix's livery.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Japanese and English hangar descriptions for the X-02S contradict each other; the former states the X-02S was designed for the Air Force, while the latter refers to the plane as a "carrier-based fighter" "used exclusively by the navy". Since the X-02S cannot take off from the Vulture in "Two-pronged Strategy" or the Admiral Andersen's catapult in "Dark Blue", the Japanese description is correct.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Both the Japanese and English hangar descriptions state the X-02S is heavier than the X-02A when both planes are empty. Aces At War: A History 2019 lists the empty weight of the X-02S as 15,200 kg and the empty weight of the X-02A as 16,800 kg, meaning the X-02S is lighter, not heavier.
Hangar view of Skin 1
Hangar view of Skin 2
Hangar view of Skin 3
Hangar view of Skin 4
Hangar view of Skin 5
Hangar view of Skin 6
Hangar view of Skin 7
Hangar view of Skin 8
Hangar view of Skin 9
Hangar view of Skin 10
Cockpit
Instruments
Hangar view from the front
Hangar view from the rear
Hangar view of Skin 8 at 444th Air Base
Ditto, but at Fort Grays Air Base for comparison
Cockpit
Cockpit
Front
Flyby
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An X-02S firing two standard missiles
The engines of Mihaly's X-02S
An X-02S firing an EML in the Target Locked trailer
An X-02S flying through an explosion in the Target Locked trailer
X-02S showing its crew, components and weapons
