X-02 Wyvern

The X-02 Wyvern, alternative designation YF-25A Wyvern is an experimental fighter manufactured by the Erusian Air and Space Administration (EASA). First conceptualized in 1987, the X-02 Wyvern combines an stealthy & futuristic design with state-of-the-art aviation technology, making it one of the best aircraft available in the market.

The X-02 Wyvern is one of the most famous original aircraft designs in the Ace Combat series, appearing as a secret aircraft in nearly all games post-Ace Combat 04, the only notable examples being Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation and Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. A common characteristic shared by all iterations of the Wyvern are high flight maneuverability, above-average speed and high air-to-air combat capabilities, but light armor. It is the first original design featured in the PlayStation 2 game series, as well as one of the most common of the series, alongside the ADF-01 FALKEN.

Usean Continental War (2003/2005)
The X-02 Wyvern was in development by the EASA during the later stages of the Usean Continental War in 2005. During this time, the Wyvern had successfully completed several test sorties, including missile launches. Despite its promising future and cutting edge technology, the X-02 did not see any action during the war itself, as the war ended in September 2005 after the Independent State Allied Forces laid siege to the Erusean capital of Farbanti, time during which the YF-25A was still in development.

Operation Katina (2006)
During the Free Erusea insurgence in 2006, the nationalist group somehow obtained a group of YF-25A airframes. When Mobius One of the ISAF raided the group's headquarters, they launched an squadron of Wyverns as a last resort against the allied ace. Despite the Wyvern's technological superiority, Mobius One prevailed, and all airframes were destroyed. After the Free Erusea incident, the ISAF recovered important information regarding the aircraft's performance, including the fact it could be modified to fly autonomously.

2010
Some time after the Free Erusea insurgence, an X-02 Wyvern was apparently shot down in a sortie in the Osean Federation. The Wyvern's wreckage was salvaged by the OADF, and subsequently stored at Sand Island AFB. Any details regarding this particular airframe, alongside information concerning the circumstances of its destruction are unknown.

Design
Manufactured by the Erusean Air Space Administration (EASA), the X-02 is the pinnacle of Erusean aircraft design. It combines stealth technology, forward swept inner folding swing wings, variable geometry (45 degree-horizontal) vertical stabilizers, 3D thrust vectoring, multiple weapons bays and new flight systems which keeps this extremely unstable aircraft design flying. The aircraft's design includes

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
The Wyvern's first appearance, it is the resident "superfighter" of Ace Combat 04. It is unlocked by finishing the game and S-ranking all missions in Normal mode in a 2nd playthrough. After it is unlocked, the Wyvern will be available for purchase at the Hangar for $1,414,000 credits. Statistically, it is one of the game's best aircraft, with high speed, stability air-to-ground stats, as well as maximum air-to-air & mobility. However, the X-02's armor is quite light, comparable to that of the F-4E Phantom II.

There are two special paint schemes available for the X-02. The first one is unlocked by S-ranking all missions in Hard mode in a 2nd playthrough, while the third and final paint scheme is unlocked by repeating the method above, but in Expert difficulty. Both X-02 variants are worth $1,414,000 and $1,838,000 credits, respectively.

Statistics

 * Speed: 97
 * Mobility: 99
 * Stability: 90
 * Defense: 67
 * Air to Air: 99
 * Air to Ground: 92

Paint schemes

 * Original: normal gray.
 * 2nd paint scheme: all-black paint.
 * 3rd paint scheme: experimental white w/EASA tailfin markings.

Armaments

 * Gun: M61 Vulcan w/ 950 rounds
 * Missiles (MSSL): AIM-9 Sidewinder w/ 82 missiles
 * Bomblet Dispenser (24 shots)
 * Quick Air-to-Air Missile (16 launches)
 * Advanced Long Range Air-to-Air Missile w/ 26 ammo

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
The X-02 marks its return in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. This iteration is unlocked by buying & obtaining at least one of every aircraft in the game, excluding the ADF-01 Falken, then finishing a single mission, afterwards the X-02 will be available for purchase at $39,700 credits an airframe. In The Unsung War, the Wyvern is virtually identical to its original incarnation, except for the obvious limitation of a single SP weapon.

Ace Combat 5 features the first in-game canonical appearance of the X-02 Wyvern: in the cutscene after mission #18, Journey Home, when Albert Genette & Pops are speaking about Grunder Industries, their focus changes into the wrecked airframe inside the hangar, which can be barely identified as that of an X-02 when the camera pans behind its back. The same moment is featured in the Japan-only The Unsung War artbook with the only difference that the camera is further back in the hangar, clearly showing the airplane's engines, which only confirms that this wreckage belongs to a Wyvern.

Two paint schemes are unlockable for the Wyvern: the first one is the standard "Ghosts of Razgriz" paint scheme, which is unlocked for the X-02 and most aircraft after mission #19, Final Option. The 3rd and final scheme (described below) is unlocked by S-ranking all missions in hard. The X-02's AC5 incarnation is infamous for a particular glitch: if the player S-ranks all missions in Hard with the X-02 unlocked then buys the plane afterwards, the 3rd paint scheme will be rendered unattainable. There is no solution to this glitch as it affects the player's save file, thus the player will be forced to delete their save and start the game anew.

Statistics

 * Speed: 97
 * Mobility: 99
 * Stability: 90
 * Defense: 67
 * Air to Air: 99
 * Air to Ground: 92

Paint schemes

 * Original paint scheme: simple gray.
 * 2nd paint scheme: standard Razgriz scheme; black w/ red tailfin flaps and RZ markings
 * 3rd paint schem: "tiger" camouflage pattern - Chartreuse yellow w/ black horizontal tiger stripes

Armaments

 * Gun: M61 Vulcan w/ 800 rounds
 * Missile (MSSL): AIM-9 Sidewinder w/ 82 launches
 * Advanced Long Range Air-to-Air Missile (XLAA) - 14 launches

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
"The pinnacle of Erusian military aviation technology, the 'Wyvern' combines stealth with extraordinary agility, made possible by its unique variable geometry wings."

- Official ZERO description

In Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, the X-02 Wyvern can be unlocked by completing the Campaign twice with a different Ace Style in both playthroughs; difficulty is irrelevant. The Zero incarnation of the Wyvern is notable for featuring a unique alternate unlock method: by having a Shattered Skies save file in the Memory Card, the X-02 will be available for purchase upon starting the game. The X-02's appearance in The Belkan War, however, is by no means canonical; rather, it is a shout out from Namco Bandai to AC04 fans.

Statistics
Defense: 67 Mobility: 99 Stability: 90 Air-to-Air: 94 Air-to-Ground: 67
 * Speed: 78

Paint schemes

 * Original paint scheme: standard gray.
 * SP scheme: original scheme w/ blue wing & tailfin flaps

Armaments

 * Gun: M61 Vulcan w/ 800 rounds
 * Missile (MSSL): AIM-9 Sidewinder
 * Advanced Long Range Air-to-Air Missile (XLAA) - 14 launches
 * Quick Air-to-Air Missile (QAAM): 14 launches
 * Advanced Air-to-Ground Missile (XAGM): 16 launches

Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
In Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception, the X-02 is available for purchase once the player finishes missions or Atmos Ring (12B) or Alect Squadron (13A, with S-rank) for $95,900 credits.

Statistics
Defense: 67 Mobility: 99 Stability: 90 Air-to-Air: 94 Air-to-Ground: 67
 * Speed: 78

Paint schemes

 * Original paint scheme: Standard gray.
 * 2nd paint scheme: Tiger camouflage.
 * 3rd paint scheme: Gray w/ blue wing and tailfin flaps.

Parts

 * Engines: Light Engine, Adv. Turbo Engine, Bullet Engine, SCRAMJet Engine, Mercury Engine, Hayabusa Engine
 * Wings: Adv. Trimtab, Extra Airbrake, Air Gripper, Extra Elron, Extra Canard, Thornback Fin, Adv. Actuator, Adv. Balance Tab, Adv. Anti-Balance Tab
 * Armor: Ceramic Armor, RAM Coat, Light Armor, TiAl Armor, Composite Armor
 * Weapons: Destructive Missile, Kinetic Energy Penetration Shell, Long Range Gun, Extra Ammo, Tracker MSSL, Long Range MSSL, High-Speed Ammunition
 * Cockpits: Emergency Auto-Pilot System, Raven, Terra Hammer, Automatic Machine Gun Fire Device, AAM Jammer, Sniper OS, Salamander.

Armaments

 * Bomblet Dispenser - 14 shots
 * Advanced Long Range Air-to-Air Missile - 18 launches
 * Quick Air-to-Air Missile - 14 missiles

Ace Combat: Joint Assault
The X-02 Wyvern's incarnation in Ace Combat: Joint Assault can be unlocked by completing the first SP mission, Operation X.

Statistics

 * Speed: 78


 * Defense: 67


 * Mobility: 99


 * Stability: 90


 * Air-to-Air: 94


 * Air-to-Ground: 67

Paint schemes

 * Original paint scheme: Standard gray.
 * 2nd paint scheme: Light blue.
 * 3rd paint scheme: Simple gray w/ white dots.
 * 4th paint scheme: Tiger camouflage from Ace Combat 5.
 * 5th paint scheme: Pink paintjob, fading white towards the center.
 * 6th paint scheme: Gray w/ blue wing & tailfin flaps.

Armaments

 * HACM: 2x AIM-9X Sidewinder (ACX2)
 * LGWM:Unknown (ACX2)
 * HVWM:Unknown (ACX2)
 * Bomblet Dispenser - 32 releases
 * Advanced Long Range Air-to-Air Missile - 18 launches
 * Quick Air-to-Air Missile - 16 missiles
 * Advanced Air-to-Ground Missile (XAGM) - 44 missiles

Gallery
thumb|300px|right|A full view in a X-02 Wyvern

Trivia

 * The name "Wyvern" refers to a flying serpent that is often depicted in family crests and national coats of arms in many European countries. It is often characterized as having a pair of bird-like legs, one pair of wings, and a barbed tail.
 * The X-02 shares its name with the real Westland Wyvern, a post-WWII British carrier-borne turboprop aircraft that saw limited action during the Korean War and Suez Campaign.
 * The X-02 is frequently mistaken for being a real aircraft, as shown in this article from Aerospaceweb.org
 * Elements from the F-22A Raptor, YF-23A Black Widow II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon, Su-37 Terminator, and Su-47 Berkut are notable on the X-02.
 * Model company Hasegawa made a limited edition plastic model kit of the X-02.