ADF-01 FALKEN

ADF-01 FALKEN
Role	Fighter
Variants	ADA-01 ADLER ADFX-01 Morgan ADFX-02 Morgan ADF-01 "Fox"
Appearances
Ace Combat 2 Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion Ace Combat: Joint Assault Aces At War: A History Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Ace Combat Infinity Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy +

"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 Connection for Flight Interface (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 appearance on consoles. Its appearance in The Unsung War is notable for requiring the destruction of special hangars before it can be unlocked.

In 2015, the ADF-01 FALKEN is slated to make its first console appearance in almost a decade, in Ace Combat Infinity. It was shown during the Operation Future Prospect trailer released during Tokyo Game Show 2014, but no other details have been provided.

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 rudimentary implementation of COFFIN technology. While it does not feature any of the technology that allows pilots to fly with neural connections such as Electro-Neuron-Synapse-Interface, the FALKEN is the first known aircraft to have implemented a "closed" cockpit concept (giving COFFIN its acronym). Instead of a see-through glass canopy, sixteen miniature cameras and sensors surround the cockpit on the surface of the aircraft. These devices are capable of picking up numerous electromagnetic wavelengths in addition to visible light, from infrared to radio waves. 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. Rather than being equipped on an external pod, the TLS is now located 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 model of the 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, and it is unclear if any more models were built by the company, but the plans were never scrapped.

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 in possession of 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

• Infinity
• Legacy +
• Joint Assault
• Skies of Deception
• The Belkan War
• The Unsung War
• Ace Combat 2

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, but it is not yet available to unlock.

Lv.	Cst	Price	GUN	MSL	TLS	HVAA	4AAM	SP	MO	ST	AA	AG	DF
1			520	130		–	–	B+	B	D+	A	D	D+
2						–	–
3						–	–
4							–
5							–
6							–
7
8
9
10
11				–							F
12				–							F
13				–							F
14				–							F
15				–							F
16				–							F
17				–							F
18				–							F
19				–							F
20				–							F

Part Slots

At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 28 BODY, 28 ARMS, and 28 MISC part slots. See Tuning § Slot Expansion for further information.

Colors

• Standard: Black body.

Gallery

• 

  A showcase of the FALKEN during the Future Prospect trailer

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy

Note that this tab also applies to Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy +.

""

― Hangar

Gallery

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• ADF-01 (8).jpg
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  The ADF-01 "Fox"

Ace Combat: Joint Assault

""

― Hangar

How to Unlock

The ADF-01 FALKEN is unlocked as soon as the player completes Special Mission 2. The aircraft costs 1,696,600 Credits.

Statistics

Special Weapons

• Tactical Laser System
• Fuel-Air Explosive Bomb
• Advanced Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile
• Omnidirectional Multi-Purpose Missile

Colors

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.

Statistics

Special Weapons

• Tactical Laser System
• Fuel-Air Explosive Bomb
• Advanced Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile

Named Aces

• Z.O.E. - Found in Operation X.

Colors

• Standard: Solid red.
• Leasath: "Sperber" digital blue camouflage.
• Special 1: Solid black. Unlocked by destroying the "Z.O.E." ace during Operation X.
• Special 2: Olive drab camouflage. Unlocked by filling the aircraft's Kill Rate Gauge.

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 made available for purchase after earning 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, one for each medal.

Alternatively, if the player already has an Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War save file on the same memory card being used by Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, the player will still have to complete the Campaign three times on all three different Ace Styles, but 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

Special Weapons

• Tactical Laser System
• Fuel-Air Explosive Bomb (137,600 Credits)
• Advanced Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile (206,400 Credits)

Colors

• Standard: Solid red.
• Mercenary: "Sperber" digital blue camouflage. Unlocked by completing the Campaign under the Mercenary Ace Style.
• Soldier: Solid black. Unlocked by completing the Campaign under the Soldier Ace Style.
• Knight: Olive drab camouflage. Unlocked by completing the Campaign under the Knight Ace Style.
• Special: Solid black. Unlocked by completing the Campaign under Ace difficulty.

Gallery

• 

  The FALKEN blurred out in the hangar

• 

  The FALKEN firing its TLS

• 

  The FALKEN's built-in TLS system

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.
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.
3. Mission 16A, Desert Arrow - This hangar is located next to a small river that flows between the airbase 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.
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.
5. Mission 27, ACES - This hangar is located in the eastern part of Sudentor, near a Gun Tower.

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 826,000 Credits.

Statistics

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

Special Weapon

• Tactical Laser System

Colors

• OS: Solid red with OADF livery.
• RZ: Solid black with Razgriz Squadron livery.
• SP: "Sperber" digital blue camouflage. Unlocked by completing all missions under Expert difficulty (regardless of Clear Ranks).

Gallery

• 

  The "Sperber" special paint scheme

• 

  The Bandai model kit of the FALKEN

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  The Bandai model kit of the FALKEN

• 

  A review of the FALKEN in Model Graphix

• 

  A FALKEN flying alongside a Morgan and Wyvern over November City in 2011

• 

  An OADF Falken, as seen in Aces At War: A History

• 

  An Osean FALKEN inside a hangar

Ace Combat 2

Information

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

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-15 S/MTD "Z.O.E. General" during Kingpin
5. Destroying the 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 Aces

• Z.O.E. Commander

Gallery

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Trivia

• The word "falken" is German for "falcon". At an angle, its design features similarities to that of a falcon.
• In March 2006, Bandai 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 acronym "Z.O.E." appears in the FALKEN's dashboard.
• 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.