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"There's nothing on it in our databases. And there's no way the Rebel Forces could've developed it on their own. Who the hell's behind it?!"
Ulrich Olsen[1]

The ADF-01 FALKEN (sometimes referred to as the ADF-01F[2][3]) is a powerful fighter aircraft and the first production model in the Advanced Dominance Fighter series. It was chronologically the first aircraft in Strangereal history to feature a fully enclosed cockpit, and one of the first to be flown in combat by an autonomous artificial intelligence.

The ADF-01 FALKEN initially appeared as an unplayable enemy aircraft in Ace Combat 2, making it one of the first original aircraft in the franchise, alongside the XFA-27. It made its first playable appearance in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War after undergoing a slight visual redesign, requiring players to destroy five special hangars to unlock it.

The ADF-01 FALKEN later appeared in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War and various handheld games including the remake of Ace Combat 2, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy, this time as a playable aircraft in its Ace Combat 5 design. It made its first console appearances after Zero in Ace Combat Infinity and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, the latter as part of the DLC ADF-01 FALKEN Set released on June 26, 2019.[4]

Etymology[]

The name "FALKEN" comes from the word falken, which is German for falcon. At certain angles, the FALKEN's design features similarities to a falcon.

Design[]

AC7 FALKEN Front Camera

The FALKEN's front camera

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;[5][6] compared to those units, the FALKEN has improved mobility and stability, albeit with slightly reduced armor. It remains a very powerful aircraft, and features high speed and excellent air-to-air capabilities.[7] The aircraft's distinctive angular body provides limited stealth capabilities as well, something the two Morgan models did not feature.[5][6]

AC7 FALKEN Cockpit With TLS

The cockpit of an ADF-01 FALKEN with its TLS port open in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

AC7 FALKEN Cockpit

The cockpit of an ADF-01 FALKEN in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

A prominent aspect of the FALKEN is its implementation of Connection For Flight Interface (COFFIN). Instead of instruments and controls, the cockpit of a FALKEN features two armrests on either side, allowing the pilot to lay down with their arms and legs extended.[8] However, the FALKEN's COFFIN system did not have neurological connections, which were not developed until the 2020s. Instead, pilots had to control the FALKEN using eye movement and voice commands.[9]

The FALKEN, unlike most conventional aircraft, does not have a 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 to visible light.[10][6] The data is then transferred 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.[8]

Another notable aspect of the FALKEN is its chemical-based Tactical Laser System (TLS), which was also improved upon since the Morgan models. The first-generation model of the FALKEN, utilized by the Usean Rebel Forces in 1998, did not feature the weapon, however. This first-generation model also placed the cockpit closer to the aircraft's nose.[11] A second-generation FALKEN model was created by the time of the Circum-Pacific War, however. This model integrated the TLS cannon within the nose of the aircraft, which splits apart to fire the cannon and closes again to maintain stealth capabilities. Its laser features the ability to recharge even while firing.[12] Due to this, the cockpit was placed further behind the aircraft, closer to the middle of the body.[11]

The aircraft's specifications are as follows:[5][13]

  • Length: 24.00 m (78.74 ft)
  • Wingspan: 15.92 m (52.23 ft)
  • Height: 5.64 m (18.50 ft)
  • Weight: 23,300 kg (51,400 pounds)
  • Engines: 2× WWX-GD-425
  • Top speed: >Mach 2.2 (2,695+ km/h; 1,675+ mph; 1,455+ kn)
  • Aerial refueling: Flying boom system

History[]

Following the loss ADFX-02 Morgan to enemy action in December 1995, Gründer Industries recovered the aircraft's remains. They used the aircraft's flight recorder data to determine what aspects of the Morgan required improvements.[5][14] 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-operational unmanned FALKEN equipped with jamming and the ability to fire missiles and guns backwards. This FALKEN, along with other Z.O.E.-equipped aircraft, soon made it into the hands of the Usean Rebel Forces.[1]

On September 18, 1998, the Z.O.E.-equipped FALKEN engaged in battle against Scarface Squadron over Fortress Intolerance; despite its technological superiority, Phoenix managed to best it, resulting in the aircraft's destruction.[1] It is unclear if Gründer managed to recover the aircraft's remains from the fortress, or if any other 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, wherein a tactical laser pod would be integrated inside the body. This would become the standard design of the aircraft from then on.

Sometime after the Continental War, Gründer appeared to offer the ADF-01 FALKEN's blueprints to Yuktobania, which would then develop its own FALKEN models, likely as part of the Grey Men's plans to secretly arm Yuktobania for the Circum-Pacific War. Yuktobania split the FALKEN's development among multiple facilities in the country. The main development factory was in Sonza[15] and some parts were also stored at two facilities in the Jilachi Desert[16][17] and one secret facility north of Lake Dama.[18]

Yuktobania got very close to manufacturing its first FALKEN model by early November 2010.[15] However, due to the development continuing into the Circum-Pacific War, during which Osea quickly invaded the country, Yuktobania could not complete a model by the time Osea raided all of the facilities.[15][16][17][18]

Gründer was still holding a part of the blueprints in the company's headquarters in Sudentor, and had planned to mass-produce unmanned ADF-01s to use in their final offensive against the two countries.[19] Following the Battle of Sudentor, during which the loyalist Oseans invaded the last FALKEN facility, however, Osea became the only country to possess all of the FALKEN blueprints.[20] One FALKEN was produced and featured during an airshow at November City alongside a Morgan and an X-02 Wyvern.[21]

At some point in time, the FALKEN's TLS received an upgrade program that successfully increased its emission power and accuracy.[22]

Game Analysis[]

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown[]

image
Before the two planes take off, capture both of them in one shot. Got it?
This article or section may require more images or images of better quality.
"A large fighter developed by North Osea Gründer Industries. A product of international conspiracy, the aircraft and its design were largely influenced by Belkan ideologies. All weapons, including the chemical laser in its nose, are loaded inside the craft, and the cross-section is designed to reduce detection from radars, granting the aircraft excellent stealth capabilities, albeit at the cost of wingspan.[sic] Its air-combat capability arises from the combination of its canards and forward-swept wings, and together with its stealth capabilities, makes it the once-dominant Belkan Air Forces' extreme answer to modern warfare.
The aircraft has a unique look born of its cockpit, designed for wind protection,[sic] and its canopy, which is tightly fit with armor. To compensate for the pilot's inability to see the outside the[sic] craft, the ADF-01 comes with an AI system called "Z.O.E.," which provides information to the pilot via sensors all over the aircraft, far more effective than a co-pilot. The aircraft is currently operated by the TLS Unit[sic], and has been fitted with the unit's latest cutting-edge laser technology that increases both laser power and accuracy. The fighter's nickname is "Falken.""
Hangar

How to Unlock

Acquire the ADF-01 FALKEN Set DLC pack (purchasing the Season Pass or the DLC pack individually).

Statistics

ADF-01 FALKEN Stats

Weapons

  1. GUN x2400 ( on Easy/Normal)
  2. MSL x150
  3. Special Weapon
  4. FLR x2

Part Slots

BODY: 32
ARMS: 32
MISC: 32

Skins

  1. Osea - "Sperber" Sparrowhawk dark grey coating[23][13]
  2. Erusea - "Candy Coating" two-tone green camouflage[23][13]
  3. Special - Zone of Endless red
  4. Mage - Osea skin with Mage Squadron markings
  5. Spare - Osea skin with Spare Squadron markings
  6. Strider - Osea skin with Strider Squadron markings
  7. Wardog - Special skin with Wardog Squadron decals

Gallery

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 is unlockable through the Aircraft Tree.
Lv. Cst Price GUN MSL TLS HVAA 4AAM SP MO ST AA AG DF
1 825 810,000 520 130 4 B+ B D+ A D D+
2 874 70,200 590 132 6 A B+ C A D+ C
3 923 121,500 660 134 8 A+ A C A+ D+ C+
4 972 162,000 730 136 9 15 A+ A C S D+ B
5 1021 243,000 800 138 10 16 S A+ C+ S D+ B+
6 1070 688,500[a] 856 140 11 18 S+ S C+ S C A
7 1119 459,000 912 142 12 20 48 S+ S+ C+ S+ C A+
8 1168 669,600 968 144 13 22 52 S+ S+ B S+ C S
9 1217 918,000 1024 146 14 24 56 S+ S+ B S+ C S+
10 1266 1,350,000 1080 148 15 26 60 S+ S+ B S+ C S+
11 1317 2,700,000 1136 152 16 27 62 S+ S+ B+ S+ C S+
12 1368 4,860,000 1192 156 17 28 64 S+ S+ B+ S+ C S+
13 1419 7,830,000 1248 160 18 29 66 S++ S+ B+ S+ C+ S+
14 1470 12,150,000 1304 164 19 30 68 S++ S+ A S+ C+ S++
15 1521 16,605,000 1360 168 20 32 72 S++ S++ A S+ C+ S++
16 1591 21,708,000 1416 170 21 33 74 S++ S++ A S++ C+ S++
17 1654 24,786,000 1472 172 22 34 76 S++ S++ A+ S++ C+ S++
18 1717 27,891,000 1528 174 23 35 78 S++ S++ A+ S++ B S++
19 1780 35,640,000 1584 176 24 36 80 S++ S++ S S++ B S+++
20 1843 44,955,000 1640 178 25 38 84 S++ S++ S S++ B S+++
Part Slots
At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 28 BODY, 28 ARMS, and 28 MISC part slots. See Tuning § Slot Expansion for further information.
Nicknames
Upgrading this aircraft to these levels unlocked the respective nicknames for use at any time.
  • Lv.3: Eye of Argus
  • Lv.10: Lightning Bird
  • Lv.15: Beam of Light
  • Lv.20: Deus Ex Machina

Skin Galleries

Description

"Sperber" Sparrowhawk dark grey coating[23][13]

Gallery

ADF-01 Event Skin -01 Icon

Description

Red body (Z.O.E livery)

Availability

  • Limited-Time Drop
    • February 20–24, 2015
    • December 22, 2015–January 12, 2016
  • Purchase from the Special Supply catalogue for Special Supply Ticket - Icon 100 (January 15, 2017–permanent)

Gallery

ADF-01 Event Skin 02 Icon

Description

"Luft-T3" digital blue camouflage[23][24]

Availability

Gallery

ADF-01 Event Skin 03 Icon

Description

"Candy Coating" two-tone green camouflage[23][13]

Availability

Gallery

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy[]

"Developed as a top secret project, this aircraft is the pinnacle of state of the art technology."
Hangar

How to Unlock

Shoot down 15 aces OR complete all Campaign missions, Survival Missions and Extra Missions. Costs 288,000 credits.

Statistics

ADF-01 stats

Weapons

Colors

  • C: 01: Gray body
  • C: 02: "Candy Coating" two-tone green camouflage[23][13]
  • C: 03: Zone of Endless red body
  • C: 04: Two-tone teal camouflage
  • C: 05: Black body
  • C: 06: Two-tone white camouflage

Named Pilots

Gallery

Ace Combat: Joint Assault[]

"Developed as a top secret project, this aircraft is the pinnacle of state of the art technology."
Hangar

How to Unlock

The ADF-01 FALKEN is unlocked by completing Special Mission 2: Ace of Aces. The aircraft costs $1,298,000.

Statistics

ACJA FALKEN stats

Weapons

Colors

C01: Solid red
C02: "Luft T-3" digital blue camouflage[23][24]
C03: Solid black livery
C04: "Candy Coating" two-tone green camouflage[23][13]
C05: Bright yellow livery
C06: White livery

Gallery

Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception[]

"A 360-degree view cockpit system gives the pilot an immense advantage in combat."
Hangar

How to Unlock

The ADF-01 FALKEN is unlocked as soon as the player completes Operation X for the first time. Costs 148,500 credits.

Statistics

ACEX Statistics FALKEN

Weapons

Named Pilots

Skins

  • Aurelia: Solid red
  • Leasath: "Luft T-3" digital blue camouflage[23][24]
  • Special 1: Solid black livery; unlocked by completing the campaign on Ace difficulty
  • Special 2: "Candy Coating" two-tone green camouflage;[23][13] unlocked by filling the aircraft's Kill Rate Gauge

Gallery

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War[]

"Cutting-edge fighter aircraft incorporating the latest technologies developed by Grunder Industries. Its 360-degree view cockpit system gives its pilot an immense advantage in combat."
Hangar

How to Unlock

The ADF-01 FALKEN is available for purchase after completing one of the following two methods:
  1. Earn the Supreme Mercenary, Supreme Soldier, and Supreme Knight medals. These medals require the Ace Style gauge to be all the way to the right, directly in the middle, and all the way to the left (respectively) by the end of three different campaign playthroughs.
  2. If the player has an Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War save file on the memory card in slot 1, complete the campaign three times with three different Ace Styles. The Supreme medals are not required.
The FALKEN costs 430,000 Credits.

Statistics

  • Speed: 83
  • Mobility: 99
  • Stability: 82
  • Defense: 67
  • Air-to-Air: 99
  • Air-to-Ground: 93

Weapons

Colors

  • Standard: Solid red.
  • Mercenary: "Luft-T3" digital blue camouflage;[23][24] unlocked by completing the campaign as a Mercenary
  • Soldier: "Sperber" Sparrowhawk dark grey coating;[23][13] unlocked by completing the campaign as a Soldier
  • Knight: "Candy Coating" two-tone green camouflage;[23][13] unlocked by completing the campaign as a Knight
  • Special: Solid chrome black; unlocked by completing the campaign on ACE difficulty

Gallery

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War[]

"Cutting-edge fighter aircraft incorporating the latest technologies developed by Grunder Industries. Its 360-degree view cockpit system gives its pilot an immense advantage in combat."
Hangar

How to Unlock

The ADF-01 FALKEN is unlocked by destroying the five FALKEN hangars hidden throughout the campaign missions. They do not show up on radar until the player gets close to them. They are located in:
  1. Mission 12A, Powder Keg - After the mission starts, the player should follow the river until it splits into two; follow the river that goes east, towards the right edge of the radar. The hangar will be located near the river, protected by one SAM launcher and one fighter.[18]
  2. Mission 12B, Four Horsemen - After bypassing the radar net, the hangar will be located to the northeast of the production facility, near the smokestacks. This hangar does not actually show up on radar and cannot be locked onto until some of the TGTs in the facility are destroyed. However, if the player sees it beforehand, they can still destroy the hangar with unguided fire.[15]
  3. Mission 16A, Desert Arrow - This hangar is located next to a small river that flows between the air base and the field HQ. It will be easiest to encounter after the field HQ bombing run is completed, before the ground forces reach the airfield.[16]
  4. Mission 16B, Desert Lightning - This hangar is located north-northwest of the oil facility, near the river the player flies over during the Mission Update.[17]
  5. Mission 27, ACES - This hangar is located in the eastern part of Sudentor, near a Gun tower.[20]
If the player destroys a specific hangar for the first time, the debriefing screen will display "Acquired part of enemy prototype aircraft." Destroying a hangar will also cause AWACS Thunderhead (or AWACS Oka Nieba, during ACES) to say, "Mechanical parts discovered in destroyed enemy facility. We'll have the ground forces retrieve them later."
The player can destroy the hangars on any difficulty and can do so in Free Mission rather than repeatedly playing the Campaign.
After the fifth hangar is destroyed, the debriefing screen will inform the player that a new aircraft is available, and the FALKEN will be available for purchase. Each unit costs Ƶ826,000.

Statistics

  • Speed: 83
  • Mobility: 99
  • Stability: 82
  • Defense: 67
  • Air-to-Air: 99
  • Air-to-Ground: 93

Weapons

Colors

Gallery

Ace Combat 2[]

How to Unlock

The ADF-01 FALKEN is not available to the player in Ace Combat 2.

Boss Encounter

Nicknamed "Z.O.E. Commander", the FALKEN enemy unit can only be encountered by fulfilling the following:
  1. Shooting down the F-14D "Z.O.E. Captain" during Sledgehammer
  2. Shooting down the F/A-18E "Z.O.E. Major" during Seagull
  3. Shooting down the YF-22 "Z.O.E. Colonel" during Power Play
  4. Shooting down the F-15S "Z.O.E. General" during Kingpin
  5. Destroying the cruise missile ("SLBM") during Last Resort
The FALKEN is worth 45,000 points, more than any other unit in the entire game, and requires three missile hits to destroy rather than two. The FALKEN will additionally fire backwards, so the player must remain on guard at all angles. Like with the other Z.O.E. units, destroying the FALKEN will award the player with a Z.O.E. medal.

Named Pilots

Gallery

Trivia[]

  • In March 2006, Bandai released a 1/100 scale model of the ADF-01 as part of the "EX-Model" series.[2] The same model kit was re-released in June 2019.[26]
  • In Ace Combat 5, Ace Combat Zero and Ace Combat 7, the cockpit armrests feature the acronym "Z.O.E".
  • In Ace Combat 5, if one equips the Razgriz Squadron with the FALKEN, Nagase's FALKEN will have the vertical fin deployed, albeit inside the ground.
  • In Ace Combat Zero, the FALKEN's take-off speed is approximately 420 km/h (260 mph), higher than the 300 km/h (190 mph) required by most aircraft, likely due to its weight.
  • The FALKEN, along with the ADF-11F Raven, appears in the PS4 "It's Time to Play" ad, flying over the crowd approximately 55 seconds in.[27]

Footnotes[]

  1. Players could use one Nonstandard Upgrade Request Form instead of credits for the Lv.6 upgrade.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fighter's Honor, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
  2. 2.0 2.1 EX MODEL 1/100 ADF-01F FALKEN. Bandai. March 2006. Click here for scan.
  3. Model Graphix magazine. Volume 259. June 2006. "Character Customization" column. Click here for scan.
  4. https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/ace-combat/news/ace-combat-7-skies-unknown-reveal-of-the-3-first-dlcs-of-the-season-pass
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Aces At War: A History, page 57.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 48.
  7. Hangar statistics of the ADFX-01 Morgan and ADF-01 FALKEN. Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Cockpit of an ADF-01 FALKEN in any featured game.
  9. ACE COMBAT X Website.
  10. Aces At War: A History, page 66.
  11. 11.0 11.1 ADF-01 -Z.O.E.- 4 Star Aircraft model and description.
  12. Confirmed during TLS gameplay with the ADF-01 FALKEN in any featured game.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 13.9 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 49.
  14. Aces At War: A History 2019, page 18.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 FALKEN hangar and dialogue in Four Horsemen. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 FALKEN hangar located in Desert Arrow. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 FALKEN hangar located in Desert Lightning. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 FALKEN hangar located in Powder Keg. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
  19. Aces At War: A History, page 49.
  20. 20.0 20.1 FALKEN hangar located in ACES. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
  21. Aces At War: A History, page 09.
  22. Japanese Hangar description in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
  23. 23.00 23.01 23.02 23.03 23.04 23.05 23.06 23.07 23.08 23.09 23.10 23.11 23.12 23.13 Aces At War: A History, page 69.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 19.
  25. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Perfect Guide, page 174.
  26. https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10047724
  27. https://youtu.be/_--zg6Ycnvs
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