Missile

Missiles are the most common weapons in the Ace Combat series, being featured in all games. A common characteristic of missiles is their high ammunition count, ranging from 50 to over 300, which varies with each game.

Missile range varies with each game; for example, in Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies, missiles lock on within 800 feet, whereas those in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War lock on at 1,100 feet. Their performance can be affected negatively of positively depending on several factors, such as firing angle and shooter-target distance. In Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, missile performance can be enhanced by Electronic Support Measures (ESM).

All standard missiles in each game vary in model according to their aircraft (for example, the F-16C Fighting Falcon uses the AIM-9 Sidewinder), however they all function in the same way.

Missile variants
Ace Combat: Joint Assault introduces several new variants of missiles.

Standard Missile (STDM)
Normal missile with a balance between destructive power and speed.

Lightweight Missile (LGWM)
A missile centered on a light design, increasing speed and ammuniton load at the expense of damage.

Heavyweight Missile (HVWM)
A missile armed with an upgraded warhead, with a smaller payload as a tradeoff for greatly increased destructive power.

High Accuracy Missile (HACM)
Missile with a CPU that provides higher firing accuracy, at the expense of shorter range.

Short Range Aerial Suppression Missile (SASM)
A special missile with a warhead designed for air suppression duties, detonating in the target's proximity.