X-02 Wyvern
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| X-02 Wyvern | |
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| Type | Multirole |
| Manufacturer | Erusean Air and Space Administration |
| Primary users | Free Erusean Air Force Aurelia Air Force, ISAF, Osea Air Defense Force, Yuktobanaian Air Force, Ustio Air Force |
The X-02 is a fictional stealthy multirole fighter aircraft in the games Ace Combat 04, Ace Combat 5,Ace Combat Zero and Ace Combat X made by Namco. The X-02 plane is also called Wyvern in Ace Combat 5,Ace Combat X and Ace Combat Zero. It was developed by the fictional Erusean company called EASA . In real life, the craft resembles the Northrop Switchblade Design, also seen as the F/A-37 Talon in the recent movie Stealth.
The X-02 is the most agile plane in Ace Combat 04 and also one of the fastest. While it has an only average defensive rating, its extremely high mobility allows its pilots to avoid taking too much damage.
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[edit] Development and Operational History
Little is known of its operational history during the war between Erusea and the ISAF, though it is known that the Ace pilot Mobius One was called on to destroy four prototype X-02 aircraft. These were under the command of elements of the Erusean military that refused to surrender after the capture of the capital city of Farbanti by ISAF forces and the destruction of the superweapon Megalith.
The X-02 was only seen as an enemy aircraft during the Arcade mode of Ace Combat 5 and Operation X of Ace Combat X; it has otherwise only been controllable by the player in Ace Combat 04, Ace Combat Zero, and Ace Combat X the player and their wingmen in Ace Combat 5.
[edit] Aircraft Configuration
The X-02 Wyvern is a large, twin-engine single-seat fighter/interceptor incorporating the best aspects of nearly every 5th generation fighter. Components and sections of the aircraft bear striking similarities to diverse sources as the Su-47 Berkut (canards), YF-23 (tail configuration), F-22 Raptor (Nose/fuselage stealth design) and Su-37 Terminator (engines).
The wing design of the X-02 is a unique "W" shape. It consists of traditional rearward-swept wings with smaller forward-swept portions at the wings' edge (see Grumman X-29). The aircraft has canards and rear ruddervators; two angled wing sections instead of a conventional control surfaces. The X-02 also features 3-D thrust vectoring for added mobility.
One aspect of the X-02 is its "switchblade wings:" as their function is similar to that of a switchblade knife. At approximately 398 knots (~178 m/s), the outer, forward-swept portion of the wing folds inward, leaving just the rearward-sweeping wings. At the same time, the twin ruddervators, normally in a "V" shape (not unlike the experimental YF-23 Black Widow II), fold down; so they are level with the aircraft's other wings. It is this wing configuration that most likely gives the Wyvern its incredible maneuverability across such a wide range of speeds. With the wingtips deployed, it has all the advantages of forward-swept wings, but since the 'switchblades' retract as speed increases (and are fully stowed at approximately 400 knots, well prior to mach transition), extreme wingtip twisting does not occur. The aircraft's ruddervators also fold down, and all yaw control is handled by the engine's thrust vectoring nozzles. The clean delta or spade configuration enables efficient, low-resistance, high speed travel.
The aircraft's top speed (level flight) is approximately 1550 miles per hour (2494 kilometers per hour). Speeds in excess of 1600 mph (2575 km/h) can be achieved during steep dives.
The X-02 stores all of its missiles and rockets in 3 ventral weapons bays. A large bay runs in the center of the aircraft in-between the engines and is used to hold its special weapons. Its standard missiles are carried on two smaller, retractable racks that fold down from the lower engine nacelles.
In Ace Combat 4, the X-02 is capable of carrying three different special weapons, the QAAM (Quick-Maneuvering Air to Air Missile, Qty. 16), the XLAA (Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile, Qty. 26), and the BDSP (Bomblet Dispenser, Qty. 24).
Ace Combat 5 does not allow the player to select mission-specific ordnance for different airframes. The AC5 version of the X-02 carries 14 XLAA missiles in its internal bay.
In Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, the X-02 is once again capable of carrying three different special weapons, the XLAA (Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile, Qty. 14), the QAAM (Quick-Maneuvering Air-to-Air Missile, Qty. 14), and the XAGM (Advanced Air-to-Ground Missile, Qty. 16).
The X-02 can be used as a carrier based aircraft (only in Ace Combat 4 and the final carrier launch from the Kestrel in Ace Combat 5) and has in-flight refueling capabilities (boom receptacle).
[edit] Specifications (X-02A)
Data from http://www.acecombat.jp/ace5/img/wp/kabe29l.jpg
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 71 ft 8in (21.84m)
- Wingspan: 60ft unswept; 37 ft 10in swept (18.3m / 11.54m)
- Height: 14 ft 4in unswept; 11 ft 2in swept (4.36m / 3.42m)
- Empty weight: 37,000lbs (16,800kg)
- Powerplant: 2× afterburning turbofans
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.5, 1,544 mph at high altitude (2,485 km/h)
- Range: 653 mi (1,050 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000+ ft (16,000+ m)
Armament
- Guns: 1× M61 Vulcan 20 mm Gatling Gun
- Missiles: 2× AIM-9M Sidewinder, 2× AIM-9X Sidewinder, 4× AS-14 Kedge, 4× AGM-65 Maverick, 1× Bomblet Dispenser, 4× Meteor
[edit] Trivia
- It has been rumoured in 2channel that the X-02 is modelled after FRX-00 (FFR-41) from Sentou Yousei Yukikaze, the production team of Ace Combat has denied this in the Ace Combat 5 official strategy guide. This is also impossible because the Yukikaze OVA was not released until a year after Ace Combat 04, and the Mave in the novel did not resemble the X-02 in any way.
[edit] See also
| Ace Combat series | ||||||
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| Video games | ||||||
| Air Combat | 2 | 3 | 04 | 5 | Zero | X | Advance | 6 | ||||||
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| Other | ||||||
| Aircraft of Ace Combat | Characters of Ace Combat |
