UAV-45

For the drones that support the QFA-44 Carmilla, see MQ-90L.

UAV-45
Role	UAV
Appearances
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

"Damn, I'm out of Malgebolgs. This is where I get serious."

― Ilya Pasternak

The UAV-45, more commonly referred to as Malgebolg or Malebolge, was an unmanned combat aircraft developed by Albastru-Electrice, a leading Estovakian weapons manufacturing firm. They were designed to support the CFA-44 Nosferatu in large numbers.

Etymology

Malebolge (roughly meaning "evil ditches") is the term Dante Aligheri used in his Inferno to refer to the eighth circle of hell, represented by a series of trenches. Dante and his guide, Virgil, attempt to cross the area by using bridges, but many of them are collapsed. This is mirrored in-game with the collapse of the King's Bridge.

In relation to the aircraft being a remote-controlled drone, Malbolge is also the name of a very complicated programming language.

Design

UAV-45s have an incredibly small airframe 3.1 m (10 ft) long, which is equipped with variable sweep wings, twin vertical stabilizers, and a top-mounted air intake. They bear a slight resemblance to the ADF-01 FALKEN. Their weaponry is limited to a single machine gun, since they are too small to carry missiles; likewise, they have very little armor. Individually, one UAV-45 is highly vulnerable to enemy attack.

However, the lack of offensive and defensive power is compensated by the fact that UAV-45s are deployed by the dozens, easily swarming enemy fighters. They also have high maneuverability, able to perform post-stall maneuvers that defy the laws of aerodynamics and physics. Their primary purpose is to act as 'pickets' for the CFA-44; due to their networking capabilities, the CFA-44 can obtain targeting information and threat data from a UAV-45 and respond with the appropriate weaponry. They can also mimic the CFA-44's radar reflection, effectively acting as decoys.

The CFA-44 Nosferatu has a "master unit" that controls the UAV-45s. This control unit is highly vulnerable to combat damage suffered directly by the CFA-44; consistent damage could cause a temporary loss of functionality or a self-destruct command to activate on some of the drones. If the master unit completely fails or is entirely destroyed, all remaining UAV-45s self-destruct. They are also capable of being folded up and stored in a CFA-44's internal weapons bays for long-range deployments, while three can be carried on each of the CFA-44's four external pylons.

History

In June 2005, Albastru-Electrice began developing the CFA-44 Nosferatu as an airborne arsenal ship intended to work in tandem with numerous Malebolge UAV-45s. It is presumed development of the drones started alongside the CFA-44. While attempts to equip the Malebolge with an electron beam system to reduce weight and increase efficiency failed, the UAV-45 successfully completed development.

Their only known combat deployment was during Operation Free Gracemeria, when a massive swarm of UAV-45s was utilized by Ilya Pasternak as he used a CFA-44 to attempt to hold off the Republic of Emmeria Air Force. All of the Malebolges present were destroyed by Garuda Team and other Emmerian squadrons.