ASF-X Shinden II

ASF-X Shinden II
Role	Multirole
Variants	MQ-90 Quox
DLC / Special Variants
ASF-X -Ridgebacks- ASF-X -Happy New Year- ASF-X -Nagase- ASF-X -Experimental-
Appearances
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Ace Combat: Ikaros in the Sky Ace Combat Infinity

"I can't believe how fast that pirate and the Butterfly Master move! ...I thought my craft was higher-spec."

― Nagase

The ASF-X Shinden II (震電Ⅱ, "Magnificent Lightning") is a next-generation combat aircraft. In the Assault Horizon universe, the aircraft was a prototype for the active service variants, collectively known as the F-3 Shinden II, developed to protect Japan airspace.

The ASF-X Shinden II was created by Shōji Kawamori, known as the creator of the Macross series, as exclusive downloadable content for Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. The aircraft was an attempt by Project Aces to bring together the futuristic style of Kawamori's work (most notably seen in his Variable Fighter designs) with modern flight technology.

Ace Combat Infinity, the next console release in the Ace Combat series following Assault Horizon, featured the ASF-X Shinden II as the aircraft of choice of the Ridgeback Squadron, an elite squadron under the United Nations Forces. The aircraft's development history in the Infinity universe is still unknown.

History

Assault Horizon universe

For a full timeline of events related to this aircraft's development and service in the Assault Horizon universe, see ASF-X Shinden II/Timeline.

Following the September 11 attacks and the 2002 Japan unauthorized incursion incident, the Japanese military was determined to create a new aircraft to defend the country. Development began in 2003. The aircraft was named the "Shinden II" due to some of the developers being interested in Imperial Japanese Navy technology (specifically the Kyūshū J7W1 Shinden).

The Shinden II remained in development and testing until September 2018, when the Haneda Incident forced the Japanese government to equip four test units (known as ASF-X units) with live weaponry. They successfully thwarted a second NRF terrorist attack, and the Shinden II entered full service shortly afterward.

Some export models of the Shinden II that were sent to the United Kingdom were used in the West Africa civil war. One Shinden II successfully shot down a CFA-44 Nosferatu near the end of the war.

Infinity universe

In the Infinity universe, the ASF-X was developed by Japan after the Ulysses Disaster, likely to fulfill a similar role to its original incarnation. It was adopted as the main aircraft of the United Nations Forces' Ridgeback Squadron, who customized them to achieve greater performance.

During Operation Eternal Liberation, the Shinden II was mass-produced and given to mercenaries allied with the UNF.

Game Analysis

• Ace Combat Infinity
• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

Ace Combat Infinity

"This fictional state-of-the-art support fighter has a variable airframe that provides stable flight performance at any speed, making it ideal for a variety of missions such as attacking hostile fleets in territorial waters, engaging enemies attempting to land, and providing support during mountain defense operations. Boasting a variable, forward swept wing configuration, its outstanding maneuverability provides excellent close-range combat abilities. It has a unique two-tiered engine, allowing it to be a VTOL aircraft as well. It is known widely as "Shinden II" (Magnificent Lightning II)."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

The ASF-X Shinden II can be purchased from the Aircraft Tree for 432,000 credits.

Lv.	Cst	Price	GUN	MSL	6AAM	LASM	GPB	SP	MO	ST	AA	AG	DF
1	725	432,000	129	120	18	–	–	E+	C	C	C+	C	E
2	768	67,500	141	122	22	–	–	D	C+	C+	C+	C	E+
3	811	102,600	154	124	26	–	–	D+	B	C+	B	C	D
4	854	151,200	167	126	30	15	–	D+	B	B	B	C+	D+
5	897	259,200	180	128	34	16	–	C	B+	B	B	C+	C
6	940	675,000	193	132	38	18	–	C+	B+	B	B	B	C+
7	983	297,000	206	134	42	20	16	C+	A	B+	B+	B	B
8	1026	513,000	219	136	46	22	18	B	A+	B+	B+	B+	B+
9	1069	756,000	232	138	50	24	20	B	A+	B+	B+	B+	A
10	1112	1,080,000	246	142	54	26	22	B+	S	A	A	B+	A+
11	1159	2,160,000	259	146	56	27	23	B+	S	A+	A	A	S
12	1206	2,322,000	272	150	58	28	24	A	S+	A+	A	A	S+
13	1253	3,375,000	285	154	60	29	25	A+	S+	A+	A+	A	S+
14	1300	4,725,000	298	158	62	30	26	S	S+	S	A+	A	S+
15	1347	5,481,000	312	162	66	32	28	S+	S+	S	A+	A+	S+
16	1411	8,019,000	325	164	68	33	29	S+	S+	S	A+	A+	S+
17	1470	9,180,000	338	166	70	34	30	S+	S+	S+	S	A+	S++
18	1529	10,314,000	351	168	72	35	31	S+	S+	S+	S	S	S++
19	1588	13,176,000	364	170	74	36	32	S+	S+	S+	S	S	S++
20	1647	16,605,000	378	172	78	38	34	S+	S+	S+	S+	S	S++

Part Slots

At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 32 BODY, 32 ARMS, and 32 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: Sea Lightning
• Lv.10: Ridgebacks
• Lv.15: Icarus
• Lv.20: Super Felix

Skins

• Default
• Event Skin #01: ; available as a random drop from January 1 - February 1, 2016 and in the Special Supply catalogue for 100.
• Event Skin #02: ; available at the Skilled Pilot Medal Exchange for 200.

Gallery

Skin Galleries

• Default
• Event Skin #01
• Event Skin #02

Description

Gray body

Gallery

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Description

Ocean blue top, gray nose & light gray bottom with JASDF roundels on forward fuselage and wings

Availability

• Limited-Time Drop (January 1–February 1, 2016)
• Purchase from the Special Supply catalogue for 100 (August 1, 2016–permanent)

Gallery

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  Hangar view

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  Flyby

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  Flyby

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  Flyby

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  Flyby

Description

JASDF ocean blue camouflage

Availability

• Purchase from the Skilled Pilot Medal exchange for 200 (August 1, 2016–permanent)

Gallery

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

ASF-X Shinden II
PlayStation Network
Release Dates	October 25-27, 2011 (depending on region)
Prices	¥ 960 $7.99
Xbox LIVE
Release Dates	October 25-27, 2011 (depending on region)
Prices	$7.99

Description

This fictional state-of-the-art support fighter has a variable airframe that provides stable flight performance at any speed level making it ideal for a variety of missions such as attacking hostile fleets in territorial waters, engaging enemies attempting to land, and providing support during mountain defense operations. Boasting a variable, forward swept wing configuration, its outstanding maneuverability provides excellent close range combat abilities. It has a unique two-tiered engine allowing it to be a VTOL aircraft as well. It is known widely as "Shinden II" (Magnificent Lightning II).

How to Unlock

The ASF-X Shinden II must be purchased and downloaded for the game through PlayStation Network or Xbox LIVE. It comes for free (like most other DLC) on the Steam version.

Statistics

Weapons

• Gun: 20 mm JM61A1 six-barrel rotary cannon
• Missile: AAM-3
• 6 Target Air-to-Air Missile: AAM-4
• Rocket Launcher: JLAU-3A
• Long-Range Air-to-Ground Missile: XASM-3

Colors

• Color 1: Dark gray camouflage with Japan Air Self-Defense Force markings.
• Color 2: Metallic blue with JASDF markings.
• Color 3: Darker grey with gold tips, featuring Project Aces and 19th Task Force emblems.

Gallery

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  Color 1

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  Color 2

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  Color 3

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  Cockpit view.

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  The ASF-X Shinden II

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  The ASF-X with the 19th Task Force "ACES" Paint Scheme.

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  Another view of the 19th Task Force "ACES" Paint

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  Official poster

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  Scale model of the ASF-X

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  Mr. Kono inspecting a Scale model of the ASF-X Shinden II.

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  An official 1/72 Scale Model of the ASF-X.

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  Hasegawa Creator Works 1/72 Model Kit Box Art

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  Hasegawa Creator Works 1/72 Model Kit Box Art "Kei Nagase Color"

• Master file low res (1).jpg
• Master file low res (2).jpg
• Master file low res (3).jpg
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  Sketches

Trivia

The ASF-X Shinden II as a guest character in Taiko no Tatsujin: V Version

• This aircraft, along with the AV-8B Harrier II, is capable of holding the nose level through a stall, likely as an attempt to simulate VTOL capabilities to a limited extent.
• The ASF-X Shinden II will appear as a guest character in the upcoming PlayStation Vita game Taiko no Tatsujin: V Version. The game also features "Comona" from the Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies Original Soundtrack.