Arkbird

The Arkbird (アークバード Ākubādo) was a spacecraft built by Osea and Yuktobania as an ICBM and asteroid interception weapon. ^[1]

History

Development

During the Cold War, the arms race between Osea and Yuktobania was marked by the constant evolution of long-range ballistic missiles and missile interceptor systems. In response to the growing threat, Osea developed SBL (Satellite-Based Laser) and ASAT (Anti-Satellite Laser) energy weapons to destroy hostile missiles in flight. However, the fears of increasingly stealthy attack submarines prompted the Osean Department of Defense to submit plans for a "Maneuverable Orbiting Spacecraft" under the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), paving the way for the construction of the Arkbird. ^[2]

The Cold War ended in 1995 as both countries fought against Belka in the Belkan War together ^[3], the concept remaining unrealized until the imminent Ulysses 1994XF04 Asteroids' impact in 1999. Both Osea and Yuktobania built the Arkbird to engage asteroid fragments lingering on the atmosphere, next to Stonehenge in San Salvacion, Usea ^[4] and the Chandelier in Estovakia, Anea. ^[5] The ship used energy weapons made in both countries, including a ventral beam laser system made in Yuktobania. Years after the Ulysses disaster, it succeeded in clearing 80% of the atmospheric debris.

The Arkbird was later considered as a base for further spacecraft developments and the construction of an international space station. It was the site of the G7 Summit in 2008, which included several heads of state from Osea and Usea, where the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and START 2 were signed. ^[6]

Circum-Pacific War

In 2010, the Osean military authorized the deployment of the Arkbird in the Circum-Pacific War in response to the Scinfaxi submarine's sinking of two Osean aircraft carriers OFS Buzzard and OFS Vulture at the Eaglin Straits. ^[7] The Basset Space Center used its mass driver to send an SSTO craft loaded with an A-SAT laser module to the ship on October 3, a plan nearly halted by a Yuktobanian aerial attack on the base. ^[8]

The following day the Arkbird was deployed during a Yuktobanian amphibious attack on Sand Island to stop the Scinfaxi from attacking Osean aircraft with ballistic missiles. The submarine was pierced by the laser, causing it to lose its submerging capability and leading to its destruction at the hands of the Wardog Squadron. ^[9] Some time after the Sand Island incident, the Arkbird was disabled by an SSTO shipment loaded with explosives. Between October and December, the spacecraft was seized by Belkan operatives, the Grey Men, who installed combat drone launchers on the hull of the ship.

Towards the end of the year a V1 nuclear weapon stolen from Mount Schirm was loaded onto the ship, which the Grey Men planned to detonate on Okchabursk to escalate the war. On December 19 the OFS Andromeda intelligence vessel intercepted a Belkan message signaling the start of the attack. Under direct authorization from President Vincent Harling, the Wardog Squadron, acting as the "Ghosts of Razgriz", launched from Kirwin Island and intercepted the Arkbird over the Ceres Ocean, sinking it along with the nuclear weapon. ^[10]

Design

The Arkbird is a large space-borne craft, with a sweeping aerodynamic design. It has a vaguely triangular shape, with the fuselage gradually widening and flattening as it goes rearwards. The central fuselage houses a fast firing laser unit on a circular mounting on the dorsal section, with AAM launchers flanking it. UCAV launch units and another more powerful laser are fitted on the ventral section. Upwards sweeping wings reminiscent of bird's wings complement the design, and provide most of the craft's maneuvering capabilities. The Arkbird has at least six main engines, four in two mountings on each side on the ventral rear, two large combined cycle engines on the dorsal rear and with one large auxiliary engine in the center of the dorsal fuselage section.

Trivia

The Arkbird is featured in the mobile game Ace Combat: Northern Wings. In the game's plot, it is revealed that Nordennavic secretly supported the development of the Arkbird. In addition, the ship makes a few appearances in gameplay itself.
- In the Osean campaign, Grendel 1 assumes control of the A-SAT cannon to attack the invading Yuktobanian fleet during the siege of Sand Island. Later on, the Grendel unit chases the Belkan-controlled Arkbird during the attack on Okchabursk (in the events of "White Bird (Part II)") and attacks it together with the Ghosts of Razgriz, in a clear contradiction of established canon.
Sometimes on higher difficulties when the player must destroy the final engine, a glitch causes the Arkbird to start moving around like a standard plane. It was possibly this glitch that inspired the Orgoi of Ace Combat: Joint Assault. ^[11]
Namco's Ridge Racer series features a car parts manufacturer by the name of Arkbird. The Arkbird logo is also commonly found on car decals and billboards.
The Arkbird is currently the only superweapon that has ever supported the player on a mission. It is also the only superweapon that has been controlled by the player during the campaign as seen in Ace Combat: Northern Wings.
The concept and design of the Arkbird are based off of the Nazi concept of the "silver bird (Silbervogel)" the first concept of a suborbital super-weapon.

Gallery

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Arkbird surrounded by two F-22s and two YF-23s over the Ceres Ocean.
Arkbird in flight
Arkbird being escorted by a squadron of four F-4E Phantom IIs
Arkbird Diagram
Arkbird Diagram
Arkbird gameplay in Ace Combat: Northern Wings
The Arkbird as seen in Ace Combat: Northern Wings
John Harvard and his capsule over the Ceres Ocean, the Arkbird's crash site on the horizon