Kei Nagase (Ikaros)

This article describes Nagase from the novel Ace Combat: Ikaros in the Sky''. For other characters with similar names, see Kei Nagase.''

Kei Nagase was a fighter and test pilot of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), where she was assigned to the Joint Test Flying Evaluation Squadron during the development of the ASF-X Shinden II. Along with Wataru Asano, Nagase is one of the main characters in the novel.

History
With the goal of becoming a fighter pilot, Nagase first joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) around the time the ASF program was announced because at the time the JASDF did not employ women as fighter pilots. While in the JMSDF, Nagase became a helicopter pilot and was later transfered to the JASDF for fighter pilot training with the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Komatsu Air Base. During her stay with the Golden Eagles squadron, Mishima instructed Nagase on flying the F-15J and it was there were the first met Asano. Upon completion of her fighter pilot training, Nagase was transferred to the 19th Air Force in order to get some scrambling experience.

Due to her flying skills and training as both a fighter and helicopter pilot, Nagase was chosen to become a test pilot during the development of the ASF program.

Personality
Nagase is very competitive, specially when another pilot threatens to break one of her records.

Trivia
The depictions of Nagase in the novel follow the same art style from Project Nagase.