X-49 Night Raven

The X-49 Night Raven is a prototype super-fighter that first appeared in Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere.

Description
In 2032, the X-49 Night Raven was the ultimate fighter of General Resources Limited's Darkness of Enigma Skunk Works. Using advanced technologies, such as Aeon Particle Turbines (APTs), six Pulse Detonation Jet Engines(PDEs), and heavy laser ordnance, the X-49 easily outclassed any other aircraft in existence. Its Laser Cannon's power can be raised to extreme levels thanks to the utilization of the Aeonosphere. The Night Raven also has sophisticated jamming abilities, making it almost invisible to all types of sensors at long range. After it was stolen in 2045 by the terrorist group Ouroboros, it was discovered that General Resource was making a test to launch the X-49 into space, and therefore turning it into a spaceborne fighter, using only its Aeon Particle Turbines - this test was carried out with the purpose to destroy any of Neucom Inc.'s space facilites, but became Ouroboros' main weapon, carried and launched from the UI-4053 Sphryna airborne carrier.

The X-49 features a bi-wing ("box") hypersonic flying wing design with an immensely powerful on board LASER cannon. It draws its amazing power directly from it's new propulsion system, boosted (along with performance) when in the vicinity of high output Aeon Generators (Self Awareness). This system capitalized on the existence of an aeonosphere caused by the global use of Aeons for air purification. It was also specially designed to be piloted by Rena Hirose with a custom-fit COFFIN system, who was the General's young test pilot and experiment. This is a prototype V4, featuring the Optical Neuron Synapse Interface (ONSI) which is a direct connection to the pilot's nervous system via the base of the neck. The location of the COFFIN is another departure from a typical fighter. Upon inspection of the Raven's snub nose, you will find the cockpit nestled (and facing) aft between the two Aeon turbines.

In 2045, during the Corporate War, Rena Hirose had defected to the Ouroboros and flew the X-49 against UPEO forces. The Night Raven is responsible for completely destroying Megafloat, using just one strafing run with its heavy laser to nearly cut Megafloat in half. After a betrayal within the Ouroboros itself, the X-49 was later shot down by a Pilot A.I., codenamed "Nemo".In Ace Combat 3, the Night Raven is a playable aircraft.

Specs

 * Width: 30.11m


 * Length: 17.20m


 * Height: 3.82m


 * Weight: 39940 kg


 * Max Speed: 4593 km/h


 * Damage Tolerance: Heavy

Pilots

 * Rena Hirose (during Ouroboros desertion)

Armaments

 * Heavy Laser Cannon
 * Short Range Missile
 * Standard Missile (AIM-9M Sidewinder)
 * MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle)

Trivia

 * The X-49 Night Raven bears resemblance to Ace Combat X2: Joint assaults' Spiridusdue to it's unusual wing design.
 * The XR-900 Geopelia and the X-49 Night Raven may have the same the same power and very similar appearance, but Night Raven is faster, since it has 8 engines when the Geopelia only has 6.