ADF-01 FALKEN

"There's nothing on it in our databases. And there's no way the Rebel Forces could have developed it on their own. Who the hell's behind it?!"

- Ulrich Olsen

The ADF-01 FALKEN (sometimes referred to as ADF-01F FALKEN) is a next-generation fighter aircraft. It was the first original aircraft design to be featured in an Ace Combat game, and the first aircraft in Strangereal history to feature an enclosed cockpit. It was also the first aircraft in the series to be flown in combat by an artificial intelligence, namely Zone of Endless.

The ADF-01 FALKEN has been featured in various games since its first appearance in Ace Combat 2, including Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War and Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as its main appearances on consoles. Its appearance in Ace Combat 5 is notable for requiring the destruction of special hangars before it can be unlocked. In January 2015, the ADF-01 FALKEN was added to Ace Combat Infinity, its first console appearance in almost a decade.

Design
The ADF-01 FALKEN represents an improvement in Gründer Industries's advanced fighter program. It acts as the spiritual successor to the ADFX-01 and ADFX-02 Morgan; compared to those units, the FALKEN has improved mobility and stability, albeit with slightly reduced armor. It is still a very powerful aircraft, and features high speed and top air-to-air combat potential. The aircraft's distinctive angular body provides limited stealth capabilities as well, something the Morgans did not feature.

A prominent aspect of the FALKEN is its implementation of Connection For Flight Interface (COFFIN). Instead of instruments and controls, the cockpit of a FALKEN features two armrests on either side, allowing the pilot to lay down with their arms and legs extended. However, the FALKEN's COFFIN system did not have neurological connections, which were not developed until the 2020s. Instead, pilots had to control the FALKEN using eye movement and voice commands.

The exterior of the FALKEN, unlike most conventional aircraft, does not have a see-through glass canopy. Instead, sixteen miniature cameras and sensors surround the cockpit on the surface of the aircraft. These devices are capable of picking up numerous electromagnetic wavelengths, from infrared to radio waves to visible light. The data is then transferred to inside the cockpit, where the pilot is surrounded by numerous displays in a hexagonal setup that allows them to see everything outside in a 360-degree angle.

Another notable aspect of the FALKEN is its Tactical Laser System, which was also improved upon since the Morgan models. The first-generation model of the FALKEN, utilized by the Usean Rebel Forces in 1998, featured an external pod on the vertical canard below the aircraft. This first-generation model also placed the cockpit close to the aircraft's nose. A second-generation model was created soon afterward to place the TLS within the nose of the aircraft, which splits apart to fire the laser and closes again to obscure it from view or damage. It still features the ability to recharge even while firing. Due to this, the cockpit was placed further behind the aircraft, closer to the middle of the body.

The aircraft's specifications are as follows:
 * Length: 24.00m (78.74ft)
 * Width: 15.92m (52.23ft)
 * Height: 5.64m (18.50ft)
 * Weight: 23,300kg (23.3 metric tons)
 * Max Speed: Mach 2.2 (2,695 km/h or 1,674 mph)

History
Following Cipher's destruction of Larry Foulke's ADFX-02 Morgan in December 1995, Gründer Industries recovered the ADFX-02's remains. They used the aircraft's flight recorder data to determine what aspects of the Morgans required improvements. Within two to three years, Gründer had a working prototype of the ADF-01 FALKEN, and concurrent development of the Zone of Endless AI program led to a fully working model of the FALKEN with Z.O.E. as well as jamming and backwards-fire technology. This first-generation model of the FALKEN featured its laser system on the additional vertical canard below the aircraft. This FALKEN, along with other Z.O.E.-equipped aircraft, soon made it into the hands of the Usean Rebel Forces.

On September 18, 1998, the Z.O.E.-equipped FALKEN engaged in battle against Scarface Squadron over Fortress Intolerance; regardless of its technological superiority, Phoenix managed to best it, resulting in the aircraft's destruction. It is unclear if Gründer managed to recover the aircraft's remains from the fortress, or if any other first-generation models were built by the company, but the plans were never scrapped. Instead, Gründer began working on a second version of the aircraft, where the laser pod would be integrated inside the body. This would become the standard design of the aircraft from then on.

Sometime after the Continental War, Gründer appeared to offer the ADF-01 FALKEN's blueprints to Yuktobania, which would then develop its own FALKEN models, likely as part of the Grey Men's plans to secretly arm Yuktobania for the Circum-Pacific War. Yuktobania split the FALKEN's development among multiple facilities in the country. The main development factory was in Sonza and some parts were also stored at two facilities in the Jilachi Desert and one secret facility north of Lake Dama.

Yuktobania got very close to manufacturing its first FALKEN model by early November of 2010. However, due to the development continuing into the Circum-Pacific War, during which Osea quickly invaded the country, Yuktobania could not complete a model by the time Osea raided all of the facilities. Gründer was still holding a part of the blueprints in the company's headquarters in Sudentor. Following the Battle of Sudentor, during which the loyalist Oseans invaded the last FALKEN facility, Osea became the only country to possess all of the FALKEN blueprints. The country would later go on to develop its own FALKENs for use among the Osean Air Defense Force. One such FALKEN was featured during an airshow at November City alongside a Morgan and an X-02 Wyvern.

Game Analysis
Ace Combat Infinity====Ace Combat Infinity=== "A large air supremacy fighter developed by a certain country. Based on its predecessor, the "ADFX-01 Morgan" prototype fighter, it features an array of monitors arranged in a 360-degree sphere within the cockpit. This is known as the "COFFIN" system. The aircraft also features new technology, including a 2DCD thrust vectoring nozzle, vertical canards and stealth capabilities. The "TLS" (Tactical Laser System) is stored within the body of the aircraft which transforms upon using the weapon. Its abilities are beyond anything that conventional aircraft are capable of and can be considered to be the ultimate forward swept wing aircraft featuring canards. Its nickname is "Falken"."

- Hangar

How to Unlock
 * The ADF-01 FALKEN is unlockable through the Aircraft Tree.

Skin Galleries {{#tag:tabber| {{InfinitySkin
 * name = Default
 * description = "Sperber" black body
 * gallery =

Trivia

 * The word "falken" is German for "falcon". At a certain angle, the FALKEN's design features similarities to that of a falcon.
 * In March 2006, released a 1/100 scale model of the ADF-01 as part of the "EX-Model" series.
 * In both Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War and Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, the cockpit armrests feature the acronym "Z.O.E".
 * If the player fires the TLS in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War immediately before a landing sequence begins, the TLS will be larger in size and tinted yellow.
 * In Ace Combat 5, if one equips the Razgriz Squadron with the FALKEN, Nagase's FALKEN will have the vertical canard deployed, albeit inside the ground.
 * In Ace Combat Zero, the FALKEN's take-off speed is approximately 420km/h (260mph), higher than the 300km/h (190mph) required by most aircraft, likely due to its weight.

ADF-01 Falken