The September 11 attacks were coordinated terrorist attacks against the United States of America on September 11, 2001.[1] Terrorists hijacked four airliners and crashed three of them into major U.S. buildings. 2,977 victims died and thousands more were injured.[2] The attacks directly resulted in a heightened state of alert across the world.[1]
In the Assault Horizon universe, the real-life period following the September 11 attacks provides the geopolitical backdrop that led to the development of the ASF-X Shinden II.[3]
Assault Horizon universe[]
In May 2002, two unidentified aircraft flew over Japan at low altitude before disappearing. Their intrusion wasn't detected on United States or Japan Self-Defense Forces radars. The event was considered a blunder for Japan's national defense, especially since it occurred less than a year after the September 11 attacks at a time when the world was on alert for such activity. Both the United States and Japanese governments were subsequently forced to re-evaluate their air defense systems.[4]
Private business jets saw a surge in popularity since they were less likely to be targets of terrorism compared to the commercial airliners used in the attacks.[note 1] Taiga Heavy Industries, which had acquired Fore Jet in late 2002, developed the TFJ-01 GoldStar private airliner featuring canards and forward-swept wings. The TFJ-01 saw over a hundred orders after its first flight was announced.[3]
Following the 2002 airspace intrusion, the president of Taiga immediately thought of developing a new fighter aircraft to succeed Japan's F-4EJs. By summer 2003, Taiga's development of the TFJ-01 GoldStar continued in tandem with preliminary development on a new fighter aircraft, borrowing design elements from the TFJ-01. By 2008, the Japan Self-Defense Forces formally agreed to purchase the new fighter aircraft, now named "ASF-X", for official military use.[3]
Real world[]
Battleship Tanager sinking in Comberth Harbor; note the lack of harbor buildings
The September 11 attacks had a significant impact in the entertainment industry and Ace Combat was no exception. The attacks occurred two days before the official release of Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies in Japan; while the game's release was not delayed, Namco suspended the broadcast of a Japanese TV spot for the game.[6]
The original image of the Erusean battleship Tanager sinking near Comberth Harbor's skyline, designed for "THE DAYS OF SHATTERED SKIES", looked similar to the Twin Towers burning in New York's skyline. The harbor buildings were removed from the image, which explains why the image looks like a battleship is sinking in a port with no buildings.[7]
Footnotes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Master File, page 032.
- ↑ "September 11th Fast Facts". CNN. Published on 27 March 2015. Retrieved on 14 May 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Master File, page 024.
- ↑ Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Master File, page 026.
- ↑ https://www.flightglobal.com/9/11-legacy-business-aviation/69351.article
- ↑ "Ace Combat 4 TV Ad Suspended". IGN. Published on 12 September 2001. Retrieved on 21 September 2020.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/PROJECT_ACES/status/112897733567856640