ADF-01 FALKEN

"Just what is that red aircraft? 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, namely Ace Combat 2 in 1997. It was also the first aircraft in Strangereal history to feature COFFIN technology, as well as the first aircraft to be flown in combat by a computer program, namely Zone of Endless.

The ADF-01 FALKEN has been featured in various games since 2, including Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War and Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as its main appearances on consoles. Its appearance in The Unsung War 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 about 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 at a slight cost of defense. It is still a very powerful aircraft, and features high speed and air-to-air output. The aircraft's distinctive angular body provides limited stealth capabilities as well, something the Morgans did not feature. A popular aspect of the FALKEN is its implementation of Connection for Flight Interface, also known as COFFIN, the first known aircraft to use the technology. Instead of instruments and controls, the cockpit of an ADF-01 comes with two armrests on either side. These armrests are equipped with Electro-Neuron-Synapse-Interface sensors that allow the pilot to fly the aircraft using only their thoughts. The entire interior of the cockpit is built in such a way to allow the pilot to lay down with their arms and legs extended. 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, in addition 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.

Notable of the FALKEN is its Tactical Laser System, which has also been 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 stabilizer below the aircraft. 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.

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 the destruction of the ADFX-02 Morgan by Cipher, Gründer Industries decided to make a new aircraft to improve upon some aspects of the Morgan models. 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 TLS on the additional vertical stabilizer below the aircraft. This FALKEN, along with other Z.O.E.-equipped aircraft, somehow 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; 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 North Point. It is also unknown if any more 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 its laser pod would be integrated inside the body. This would become the standard design of the aircraft from then on.

Sometime after the Second Usean Continental War, Yuktobania and Erusea established a three-way trade with Gründer Industries as a middleman, in which Erusea would provide plans for their X-02 Wyvern to Gründer, who would apply their cost-cutting techniques to Erusea's blueprints and produce some models to be delivered to Yuktobania. Following the success of this sale, Gründer offered to sell the ADF-01 FALKEN's blueprints to Yuktobania, who would be able to develop their own FALKEN models (likely as part of the Gray Men's plan to arm both countries with weapons for their staging of the Circum-Pacific War). Yuktobania accepted, and split the development among multiple facilities in their country - two in the Jilachi Desert, one in Sonza, and one in a secret facility north of Lake Dama.

Yuktobania became very close to manufacturing their first FALKEN model by early November of 2010. However, due to the development taking place during the Circum-Pacific War, in which Osea quickly invaded the country, Yuktobania could not complete a model by the time Osea raided all of their facilities. No FALKENs were produced by Osea during the rest of the war, likely due to Gründer still holding a part of the blueprints in their facility 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 their own FALKENs for use among the Osean Air Defense Force. One such FALKEN was featured during an airshow at November City alongside a Morgan as well as 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 has been confirmed to appear in Infinity, it is unlockable through the aircraft tree.

Colors
 * Default: "Sperber" scheme: Black body
 * Event Skin #01: Red body (Z.O.E livery)
 * Event Skin #02: "Luft-T3" scheme: digital blue camouflage

Gallery

Trivia

 * The word "falken" is German for "falcon". At an angle, its 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 ENSI armrests feature the acronym "Z.O.E".
 * 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.
 * 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.