- "The B-2s are difficult to detect on radar, they're stealth."
- ― AWACS SkyEye
The B-2A Spirit is a bomber aircraft featured repeatedly throughout the Ace Combat series. Its distinctive features are its potential for heavy bombing while maintaining a high degree of stealth.
History
Strangereal
During the Belkan War, the Belkan Air Force used B-2As to spearhead the invasion of their surrounding neighbors.[1] They were used again by Belka in Operation Cannibal to destroy the industrial city of Hoffnung as part of their scorched earth policy.[2] Two B-2A pilots (one from Belka and another from Osea) defected to A World With No Boundaries with their aircraft, and flew as escorts for the XB-0 Hresvelgr, but were shot down along with the cruiser by Galm Team.[3]
B-2As saw action during the Usean coup d'état. A B-2A was first seen by Phoenix over Mt. Lambert, this was the ace pilot "Cosmic". They were next encountered over Anchorhead Bay, where they were attempting to bomb the city.
The B-2A was used by the Federal Erusea Air Force during the Continental War. They were only seen approaching Comona Islands in an attempt to bomb the base that was launching a rocket into space. Mobius 1 succeeded in shooting them all down before they could complete their objective.
During the Circum-Pacific War, B-2A Spirits were used by the Yuktobanian Air Force to launch Cruise Missiles at the Mass Driver during their attack on Basset Space Center during their attempt to stop the SSTO Space Module from taking off from the mass driver to join with the Arkbird, the Spirits failed and were shot down and their cruise missiles destroyed.
During the Lighthouse War, the Osean Air Defense Force deployed B-2As to Sierraplata to bomb Erusea's IRBM silos.[4] They were later used in a saturation attack on the Arsenal Bird Justice, where they launched cruise missiles.[5]
During the Aurelian War, B-2As saw limited use by the Leasath Air Force. Two were deployed at Terminus Island to destroy the Aurelian submarine Naiad but were shot down by Gryphus One. Another three were stationed at Sachana Air Base at the time of Gryphus One's surprise attack on the base, of which they were destroyed by the former.
Joint Assault universe
The Golden Axe Plan Private Army utilized three B-2As during the final attack on San Francisco.[6]
Assault Horizon universe
NATO's Task Force 108 had one B-2A Spirit ready for use by Janice Rehl.[7]
Infinity universe
B-2As were used by both the USEA Federation and the United Nations Forces during Operation Eternal Liberation. USEA Spirits were seen over Comona Base and the Adriatic Sea.
Game Analysis
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
How to Unlock
- This aircraft is not available to the player.
Gallery
OADF B-2As
Ace Combat Infinity
- "A stealthy strategic bomber that is able to penetrate enemy territory without being detected by radar and can carry out large-scale bombing raids. A flying wing aircraft, it has no tail, which makes it more difficult for radar to detect. Its maneuvering performance has been exchanged for increased stealth performance, so it can penetrate radar nets more safely. The number of manufactured aircraft is extremely low, so each individual aircraft is given a unique name comprised of the nickname "Spirit" and the name of a geographic territory."
- ― Hangar
| Lv. | Cst | Price | MGPB | MUGB | MSOD | MAGM | SP | MO | ST | AA | AG | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 750 | 3,011,580 | 132 | 104 | – | – | F | F | S | F | S+ | S++ |
| 2 | 795 | 2,021,760 | 134 | 112 | – | – | F | F | S | F | S+ | S++ |
| 3 | 840 | 2,779,920 | 136 | 120 | – | – | F | F | S+ | F | S+ | S++ |
| 4 | 885 | 3,538,080 | 138 | 128 | 28 | – | F | F | S+ | F | S+ | S++ |
| 5 | 930 | 5,054,400 | 140 | 136 | 30 | – | F | F | S+ | F | S+ | S+++ |
| 6 | 975 | 10,108,800[a] | 142 | 140 | 32 | – | F | F+ | S+ | F | S+ | S+++ |
| 7 | 1020 | 5,265,000 | 144 | 144 | 34 | 22 | F | F+ | S+ | F | S+ | S+++ |
| 8 | 1065 | 6,528,600 | 146 | 148 | 36 | 24 | F | F+ | S+ | F | S+ | S+++ |
| 9 | 1110 | 7,160,400 | 148 | 152 | 38 | 26 | F+ | F+ | S+ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 10 | 1155 | 8,424,000 | 150 | 156 | 40 | 28 | F+ | F+ | S+ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 11 | 1202 | 8,845,200 | 154 | 158 | 41 | 29 | E | F+ | S+ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 12 | 1249 | 10,530,000 | 158 | 160 | 42 | 30 | E+ | F+ | S+ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 13 | 1296 | 12,004,200 | 162 | 162 | 43 | 31 | D | E | S++ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 14 | 1343 | 13,899,600 | 166 | 164 | 44 | 32 | D+ | E | S++ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 15 | 1390 | 15,163,200 | 170 | 168 | 46 | 34 | C | E | S++ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 16 | 1456 | 17,711,460 | 172 | 170 | 47 | 35 | C+ | E | S++ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 17 | 1515 | 20,259,720 | 174 | 172 | 48 | 36 | B | E | S++ | F | S++ | S+++ |
| 18 | 1574 | 22,786,920 | 176 | 174 | 49 | 37 | B+ | E | S++ | F | S+++ | S+++ |
| 19 | 1633 | 29,104,920 | 178 | 176 | 50 | 38 | A | E | S++ | F | S+++ | S+++ |
| 20 | 1692 | 36,707,580 | 180 | 180 | 52 | 40 | A+ | E | S++ | F | S+++ | S+++ |
- Part Slots
- At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 35 BODY, 35 ARMS, and 29 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: A Wish Fulfilled
- Lv.10: Soul of a Sky Pirate
- Lv.15: Obsidian Angel
- Lv.20: Secluded Beauty
Colors
- Default
Gallery
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Named Pilots
- Cosmic — Appears in "Easy Money". Spawns with the E-767 after all F-4E Phantom IIs are shot down prior.
Gallery
Cosmic
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
- "A stealthy strategic bomber that is able to penetrate enemy territory without being detected by radar and can carry out large-scale bombing raids. A flying wing aircraft, it has no tail which makes it more difficult for radar to detect. Its maneuvering performance has been exchanged for increased stealth performance, so it can penetrate radar nets more safely. The number of manufactured aircraft is extremely low, so each individual aircraft is given a unique name comprised of the nickname "Spirit" and the name of a geographic territory."
- ― Hangar
Colors
- Color 1: Pitch black with "Spirit of America" text
- Color 2: Grey digital camouflage
Gallery
Spirit Front
Gameplay - bombing run
Front profile
Underside view during bomb release
B-2 Spirit deploying flares.
Color 2 in Ace Combat Assault Horizon
Ace Combat: Joint Assault
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Gallery
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Gallery
Leasath B-2A
Leasath B-2A on the ground
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Named Pilots
- Amy Pitt
- Vulkan
Gallery
Vulkan
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Gallery
Yuktobanian B-2A
Yuktobanian B-2A popping flares
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Gallery
Federal Erusea Air Force B-2A
Ace Combat 2
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Gallery
Air Combat
How to Unlock
- The B-2A is not available to the player in this game.
Gallery
Trivia
- The tail code on both colors of the B-2 in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, WM, indicates that these B-2s are from the 509th Bomb Wing, based at Whiteman Air Force Base.
- Yuktobanian B-2s in Ace Combat 5 bear the OADF roundels, implying that the developers wanted the B-2 as a friendly aircraft, but the idea was scrapped in the final product and was reused as an enemy aircraft without modifications. The model is reused in later titles, thus it still bears the Osean markings.
- Interestingly in AC5, they will always appear on radar regardless of the direction the player is facing.
Footnotes
- ↑ Players could use one Nonstandard Upgrade Request Form instead of credits for the Lv.6 upgrade.
References
- ↑ Cutscene 02: "A Record of The Belkan War", Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ The Inferno, Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ The Talon of Ruin], Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ "Bunker Buster", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ "Lighthouse", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Reprisal, Ace Combat: Joint Assault.
- ↑ Launch, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.
