"I can't believe how fast that pirate and the Butterfly Master move! ...I thought my craft was higher-spec." ― Nagase[1]

The ASF-X Shinden II (震電Ⅱ, "Magnificent Lightning") is a next-generation combat aircraft. In the Assault Horizon universe, the aircraft was a prototype for the active service variants, collectively known as the F-3 Shinden II, developed to protect Japan airspace.[2]

The ASF-X Shinden II was created by Shōji Kawamori, known as the creator of the Macross series, as exclusive downloadable content for Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. The aircraft was an attempt by Project Aces to bring together the futuristic style of Kawamori's work (most notably seen in his Variable Fighter designs) with modern flight technology.

Ace Combat Infinity, the next console release in the Ace Combat series following Assault Horizon, featured the ASF-X Shinden II as the aircraft of choice of the Ridgeback Squadron, an elite squadron under the United Nations Forces.[3] The aircraft's development history in the Infinity universe is still unknown.

The ASF-X Shinden II will make its Strangereal debut in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown as DLC, releasing in Autumn 2020, alongside the CFA-44 Nosferatu and XFA-27.[4]

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Design

Specifications

There are four ASF-X variants, each with their own specifications. All variants feature 2× turbofan engines.

ASF-X[5] F-3A[6] F-3B[7] F-3C[8] Length 19.5 m (63.98 ft) 17.6 m (57.74 ft) Wingspan 14.0 m (45.93 ft) 13.04 m (42.78 ft) Wing area 54.2 m2 (583.40 sq ft) 48.23 m2 (519.14 sq ft) Height[a] 3.56 m (11.68 ft) 3.43 m (11.25 ft) Weight 15,300 kg

(33,700 pounds) 13,300 kg

(29,300 pounds) 14,800 kg

(32,600 pounds) Combat radius 800 km

(500 miles) 720 km

(450 miles) 680 km

(420 miles) Top speed

(est.) Mach 1.6

(1,960 km/h; 1,218 mph; 1,058 kn) Mach 1.8

(2,205 km/h; 1,370 mph; 1,191 kn) Mach 1.6

(1,960 km/h; 1,218 mph; 1,058 kn)

History

Strangereal

The IUN-PKF is known to have a number of ASF-X Shinden IIs in their fleet.[9]

Assault Horizon universe

Following the September 11 attacks and the 2002 Japan unauthorized incursion incident, the Japanese military was determined to create a new aircraft to defend the country.[10][11] Development began in 2003. The aircraft was named the "Shinden II" due to some of the developers being interested in Imperial Japanese Navy technology (specifically the Kyūshū J7W1 Shinden).[10]

The Shinden II remained in development and testing until September 2018, when the Haneda Incident forced the Japanese government to equip four test units (known as ASF-X units) with live weaponry. They successfully thwarted a second NRF terrorist attack, and the Shinden II entered full service shortly afterward.[12][13]

A number of Shinden II models were developed for the United Kingdom.[14] In British service, the aircrafts were named the "F-3C-RN Magnificent Lightning". These units were later used in the West Africa civil war.[15]

Infinity universe

The ASF-X Shinden II was developed sometime after the Ulysses Disaster. It was adopted as the main aircraft of the United Nations Forces' Ridgeback Squadron, who customized them to achieve greater performance.[3]

In 2019, Ridgeback Squadron utilized the aircraft during Operations Fogbound[16] and Crusher.[17] During Operation Override, Slash's ASF-X was shot down by a QFA-44 being controlled by Camilla.[18] Following the outbreak of the USEAn War, the Ridgebacks continued to use the ASF-X during Operations Point Blanc,[19] Battle Axe,[20] and Bunker Shot.[21] A number of mercenaries allied with the UNF also flew Shinden IIs.[22]

Game Analysis

Trivia

↑ The height specification is with the landing gear down in the landing configuration, not in flight.