Bird Hunt

This article is about an in-game mission. For the in-universe event, see First Battle of Tokyo.

Bird Hunt
Campaign Mission 2 Ace Combat: Joint Assault
Mission Order
Previous	Steel Axe
Next	Red and Black - Alpha Red and Black - Bravo
Mission Details
Focus	Air-to-Air
Objectives	Shoot down the Spiridus.
Time Limit	20 minutes
Character	Antares One
Focus	Air-to-air
Objectives	Destroy all targets.
Time Limit	20 minutes
Character	Antares One

"Tokyo is under attack!"

― SDF pilot at the beginning of the mission

Bird Hunt is the second mission of Ace Combat: Joint Assault.

Briefing

Burford: This is an emergency sortie, I'll keep the briefing short. The unknown armed force is already in Tokyo airspace. SDF have engaged them but the situation looks bad. We are to participate in the defense of Tokyo under the command of the Seventh Fleet. You might find the next piece of intel a little bit hard to believe. Hostiles have deployed a large aircraft with heavy firepower. It's the sole reason for the SDF's troubles. We must fly north from Tokyo Bay and draw the main force away from the city. Watch out for bandits. Rigel Squadron, Antares Squadron, be alert out there. That is all. Now get going!

Plot

Flying from Midway, Rigel and Antares Squadrons of Martinez Security arrive to Tokyo in response to a distress call, and find the city is under attack by an unknown armed forces. The backbone of the attack force is a giant combat aircraft called the Spiridus, which destroys part of a dock in Tokyo Bay using its on-board railgun.

Acting under the command of the United States Navy's Seventh Fleet, the two squadrons work with the Japan Self-Defense Forces to stop the Spiridus from firing its railgun, disabling its anti-air systems and striking its heat vent, eventually causing the Balaur's fire control system to malfunction, and the Spiridus was forced to flee the city. With the aircraft out of commission, its escorts are shot down by Martinez and the JSDF, ending the battle.

Enemy List

Initial

	Unit	Points	Count	Notes
	AA GUN	150	5
	HEAT VENT	1000	1
	HEAT VENT	1000	1
	AA GUN	150	2
	HEAT VENT	1000	1

Update

	Unit	Points	Count	Notes
	F-4E	280	4
	AA GUN	150	2
	F-4E	280	2
	F-4E	280	2

S Rank

Clear the mission within 5 minutes.

Named Aces

	Unit	Points	Count	Notes
	X-29A KATANA	760	1

Debriefing

Burford: Tokyo harbor took a major hit, but we eliminated enemy aircraft and drove away their main force. You did well, regardless of the tough situation. My thanks, Rigel Squadron, Antares Squadron. However, the large aircraft seems to carry stealth capabilities. We lost visual off the Izu Islands. We don't know what they want, but there is every possibility that they will attack Tokyo again. Both squadrons are to remain at standby at condition yellow.

Trivia

• The damage of the Spiridus' attack on Tokyo Bay is inconsistent through the story. In the opening scene, the impact sites appear as gaping holes on the terrain, yet the ending movie shows the craters as being just several meters wide.