Master Ace Combat Radio Jargon to Enjoy the Game 100x More

■ AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System)

Early warning and control aircraft. A large plane equipped with a massive disc-shaped radar. It monitors airspace across the entire theater, providing enemy information, route instructions, and control to friendly aircraft—essentially an "air command tower".

"Couldn't bases or carriers just do that?" If you thought that, you have good instincts. Actually, because the Earth is round but radar waves travel in straight lines, flying a plane with a very powerful radar high up in the sky is the optimal solution!

It is extremely expensive and there are few of them. Without it, you are effectively blindfolded and deafened, fighting enemies without support. Therefore, hearing "AWACS is under attack!" is synonymous with "Our wealthy family's estate is about to be set on fire!" so you should deal with it urgently. Please stop using confusing analogies.

■ IFF (Identification Friend or Foe)

Friend-or-foe identification system. A system that determines whether targets captured on radar are allies or enemies. In sci-fi works, phrases like "An unidentified aircraft is approaching!" are standard tropes, so remembering this will make you popular at parties.

■ Bogey

A provisional term for an unidentified aircraft in IFF recognition.

■ Bandit

A provisional term used when a Bogey is identified as a hostile force (enemy aircraft).

■ Break

Hard turn. The instruction "Break!" is an emergency order for all aircraft to perform hard turns and disengage immediately to evade enemy missiles or attacks. Because sudden ambushes by enemies happen frequently, this is the most frequent word in Ace Combat due to plot developments.

■ RWR (Radar Warning Receiver)

Radar warning receiver. An alarm device that beeps when illuminated by enemy radar or locked onto by a missile.

■ SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile)

Surface-to-air missile. Refers to missile launchers targeting aircraft from the ground. In the AC series, they seem to be placed everywhere as easy targets, but in reality, you cannot deploy air power effectively until cruise missiles or stealth aircraft clear them out first. They are the nemesis of fighter jets.

■ SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses)

Destruction of enemy air defense networks. An extremely dangerous attack mission where you take the lead in destroying or neutralizing the enemy's surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), anti-aircraft guns, and warning radars mentioned earlier. Because it is dangerous, the protagonist is usually forced to do it, making this another frequent term in AC alongside "Break".

■ UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)

Refers to unmanned aerial vehicles including drones. While military-purpose ones were often called UAVs, recently cases of commercial products being repurposed for military use have increased, making the definition quite vague.

■ VTOL / STOVL

Refers to Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft. These are amazing planes that can take off and land from small ships or short runways, defying conventional airplane norms. The latest F-35B, which Japan's Self-Defense Forces also operate, is one of these.

They are central to naval operations on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships where runways are often destroyed. Buy Ace Combat now!