Manufactured by the Erusean Air Space Administration (EASA), the X-02 is the pinnacle of Erusean aircraft design. It combines stealth technology, forward swept inner folding swing wings, variable geometry (45 degree-horizontal) vertical stabilizers, 3D thrust vectoring, multiple weapons bays and new flight systems which keeps this extremely unstable aircraft design flying. Also its original configuration allowed it to operate from Nimitz class aircraft carriers, making its combat deployment capabilities extremely versatile. It is officially known as the Wyvern, but many pilots know it as the "Switchblade". It may possibly be the best original plane in the series.
Description & History
The X-02 was first seen in use by the Independent States Allied Forces (ISAF) against the Federal Erusean Armed Forces (FEAF) during the end of the Usean Continental War of 2003-2005. The ISAF had obtained, through questionable means, three models of the X-02. With no official name, they were known as the Switchblade.
After the war the aircraft was put through extensive testing to measure the limit of its capabilities. An official name from the EASA was confirmed. Though the Switchblade name had stuck with ISAF pilots, it was officially called the Wyvern. After months of testing, the ISAF HQ believed they had one of the most combat capable aircraft in existence.
In 2006, during the attack against the ISAF by the "Free Erusean" forces, ISAF ace Mobius One was engaged by multiple X-02's (up to six, depending on which path was taken). The Wyverns were destroyed after an extended engagement that resulted in much additional combat data being gathered on the aircraft's performance.
The X-02 was then put into mass production with the first buyer being Osea, a neutral Usean ally. In 2010, when Osea was thrown into war, the X-02's were deployed once again into combat. However, these models were not equipped for naval operations and had limited weapons capabilities. This slightly restricted their effectiveness in air-to-air combat but the limitations during air-to-ground engagements was now noticeable. This version of the X-02 was also exported to Yuktobania as an aggressor aircraft.
Aurelia also deployed the X-02 during the Leasath-Aurelia War in 2020. These aircraft were manufactured to the original model's specifications and were operated from Nimitz class aircraft carriers on the frontline.
Unlock Methods
- Ace Combat 04: Finish all Normal-difficulty missions with an S rank.
- Ace Combat 5: Finish a mission after having bought all aircraft (except the ADF-01 Falken). Free Mission is acceptable.
- Ace Combat X: Finish any Griswall mission twice.
- Ace Combat Zero: Complete story mode twice using a different ace style each time. (Difficulty level is irrelevant) / Have Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies save data on your PS2 memory card and finish a mission.
- Ace Combat X2: Complete Operation X (Complete All ACX2 Missions on hard difficulty to unlock this stage).
Armament
Standard Weapons
- Gun: 1x 20mm M61A2 Lightweight Vulcan Cannon
- Standard Missiles: 2x AIM-9M Sidewinder
- HACM: 2x AIM-9X Sidewinder (ACX2)
Special Weapons
- BDSP: JP223 Anti Runway Submunitions Pod (AC4/ACX)
- XLAA: AIM-54C Phoenix (AC4/AC5/ACZ/ACX/ACX2)
- QAAM: AIM-9X Sidewinder (AC4/ACZ/ACX2)
- XAGM: AGM-65G Maverick (ACZ/ACX)
Statistics:
Ace Combat 04 stats
- Speed: 100
- Mobility: 100
- Stability: 90
- Defense: 67
- Air to Air: 99
- Air to Ground: 92
Ace Combat Zero/5 Stats
- Speed: 78
- Mobility: 99
- Stability: 90
- Defense: 67
- Air-to-Air: 94
- Air-to-Ground: 67
Ace Combat X (default stats)
- Speed: 84
- Air-to-Air: 54
- Air-to-Ground: 57
- Mobility: 90
- Stability 84
- Defense: 66
Gallery
- X-02.jpg
A pair of Wyverns in flight over a mountain range.
- X02-1.jpg
Ventral view of an X-02 in flight.
- X02m6xz9.jpg
An X-02 in the colors of the 118th TFW.
- X-02 SP.jpg
X-02 SP Paint Scheme. It's very similar to the F-4E Phantom II's SP paint in Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
Trivia
- The name "Wyvern" refers to a flying serpent that is often depicted in family crests and national coats of arms in many European countries. It is often characterized as having a pair of bird-like legs, one pair of wings, and a barbed tail.
- The X-02 shares its name with the real Westland Wyvern, a post-WWII British carrier-borne turboprop aircraft that saw limited action during the Korean War and Suez Campaign.
- The X-02 is frequently mistaken for being a real aircraft, as shown in this article from Aerospaceweb.org [1]
- Elements from the F-22A Raptor, YF-23A Black Widow II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon, Su-37 Terminator, and Su-47 Berkut are notable on the X-02.
- The X-02 uses two F100-PW229 engines.
- Model company Hasegawa made a limited edition plastic model kit of the X-02.