P-1112 Aigaion

The P-1112 'Aigaion' Aerial Aircraft Carrier is a large aerial assault command craft capable of launching and recovering massive amounts of smaller aircraft, including the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Strigon". Because of its size, it runs on limited fuel and requires mid-flight refueling by six tankers, which prevents its systems from shorting out, and also temporarily disabling its radar, rendering the Aigaion almost unable to detect movement in front of it.

History
The P-1112 Aigaion's initial construction began during the Estovakian Civil War. The technologies needed to create the Aigaion were not developed within the Federal Republic of Estovakia, but were brought in by Belkan defectors from the Belkan War. Some of these defectors were also former members of the insurgent group A World With No Boundaries. Some of this unknown technology had also became the deciding factor of the Estovakian Civil War, which ended in victory for the Eastern Faction.

The Aigaion was the first of all P-111X models to be completed and became the centerpiece of the Estovakian Aerial Fleet. After "The Generals" took power in Estovakia, the Aigaion was used to successfully push out all Emmerian Forces from the Emmerian capital city, Gracemeria. After this victory, the Aigaion and its escorts commenced multiple operations within the Republic of Emmeria in 2015 to 2016. These operations also included attacking Emmerian Troops as they passed through the Peak of Selumna, and an Emmerian assault on San Loma, with Nimbus Air Burst Cruise Missile, guided by Remote-Controlled Drones.

However, with the recovery of Cavalia Air Force Base and San Loma itself, the Emmerian Military launched an attack on the P-1112 Aigaion and its P-1113 and P-1114 escorts. With a combined force of the Emmerian Navy's 2nd Carrier Air Wing, 2nd Strike Fighter Squadron, Northern Region Air Defense 3rd Air Division, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron and the Eastern Region Air Defense 8th Air Division's 15th and 28th Tactial Fighter Squadrons, an attack on the Heavy Command Cruiser was launched. Thanks to information gathered by multiple Emmerian operatives within the Estovakian Military, the attack was launched during a time when the Aigaion was being refueled by six KC-10 Extender Tanker Aircraft. Because these aircraft were in front of the Aigaion, the Aigaion's early warning radar was blinded.

The Emmerian strike force caught the Estovakian Aerial Fleet by surprise. The 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Strigon" was launched from the Aigaion in an attempt to intercept the Emmerian aircraft, but were soon shot down. Eventually, the entire air fleet was destroyed, with the Aigaion's final blow being accredited to Garuda One on the 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron. With no support from the Aigaion, the Estovakian Military found itself under a heavy counter-attack during the following months.

Information
The Aigaion Aerial Aircraft Carrier is capable of launching and recovering mass amounts of aircraft, including the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Strigon". This allows it to act as a moving, forward deployed "airfield" which can travel great distances. Along with this function, it is capable of launching the new and powerful Nimbus Missile, from a set of missile launchers in the front of the aircraft. The Aigaion is also designed with safety in mind; its construction can withstand missile, bomb, rocket and cannon fire and can even operate with only 1/4 of its engines operational. A similar craft appeared in Ace Combat Zero named "XB-0 Hresvelgr" but was shot down by Galm One near Valais Air Base.

Weapon Information
* Purpose: Frontline Mobile Air Base/Aircraft Carrier/Missile Carrier


 * Manufacturer(s): Estovakia/Belkan defectors who supplied the technology


 * Date Started: Unknown outside Estovakian Military, believed to be late 2000's, early 2010's, during the Estovakian Civil War


 * Date Completed: Believed to be around 2013

Armaments

 * Nimbus Missile Launcher, Flak cannons, AA guns, AAM launchers.


 * Firing Range: Unknown

Engines: 32x unknown engines
 * Energy Source: possible nuclear with advanced turbine engines that run off of JP
 * Estovakian Central Military District Air Force 370th Air Wing, 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron&quot;Strigon Squadron&quot; (Escorts)

Dimensions

 * Height: 102.39m


 * Width: 963.77m


 * Length: 433.3m


 * Weight: Unknown

Trivia

 * The Aigaion, when observed from a bird's eye view, looks a little like a manta ray, owing to the massive "mouth" from which aircraft can take off and land.


 * One of the Belkan defectors mentioned in the Assault Records is Lorenz Riedel, who flew as Gault 7 during the Belkan War. Due to the squadron's leader being AWWNB founder Anton Kupchenko, it is highly likely that the unknown technology mentioned in the Assault Records is actually derivated from the XB-0 Hresvelgr, a superbomber developed by the Belkans during the war. but was never put into action due to the Belkan surrender.


 * The capabilities of the Aigaion to launch both aircraft and long-range missiles is reminiscent of the Scinfaxi-class submarines in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
 * Out of all the airborne fortresses in the Ace Combat Series, this is the largest ever built.
 * Out of two airborne frotresses is able to launch aircraft (the other one is the Orgoi).

Related Aircraft

 * P-1113 Kottos-Electronic Warfare Platform
 * P-1114 Gyges Fire Support Platform