Operation SP

Operation SP: Operation X
ACX - Campaign Walkthrough

<insert map here>

Enemies: [? - A] [0 - G] [0 - N] [0 - TGT] [? - TOTAL]
Recommended Aircraft
- First Campaign: Modified XFA-27 w/ QAAM and Scarface part
- Other: ADF-01 Falken w/ TLS
1st time Rewards
- Finish Mission: ADF-01 Falken Aircraft
- Finish with S-rank: SP1 colour for XFA-24A, YR-302, XFA-27, XR-45, YR-99, X-02
- Destroy XFA-27 "SCARFACE ONE": Bragging Rights
- Destroy ADF-01 "Z.O.E.": Bragging Rights
  Destroy all but one targets as quickly as possible to spawn at opposite sides of the map

This is pure dogfighting haven and one of my favourite missions. There isn't much to say here but give it all you've learned so far. On Ace difficulty, this is quite easily one of the most difficult missions in Ace Combat history, especially if you're aiming for an S-rank... forget Tunnel Vision speed runs on the secret Very Hard mode or S-ranking Pasternak and his drones, there really is no "cheap" way through such conditions but to use the Falken.

My recommendation is to use a souped up XFA-27. Throw out any parts having anything to do with the fighter's defense, you won't need it because you're as fragile as a SAM to your enemies on Ace regardless of what you do. On the other hand, put in the Machine Gun auto-align and the Scarface parts (forgot the names, sorry), they'll make your life much easier. Now put everything you've got in Mobility and perhaps Stability.

Anyway, let's start. The first thing you want to do is destroy both targets ahead head-on. If you let even one of them go that's one more bandit to take care of and you might as well restart the mission. With an XFA-27 you can shoot two QAAMs at one, align yourself to the other and a moment after you get a missile lock, throw everything you've got at him. Missiles, guns, everything. Hopefully they're both off the chart now.

Now circle back and deal with the other duo behind you in the same manner, head-on and all. Soon another batch will join and at this point I reckon it'll get quite messy with the missile alerts. As is with any dogfight, the trick here is to keep a keen eye on the radar even when you're on the offensive. Try to keep your six vacant at all times and you should be safe. Predict your enemies' actions and counter with your own offensive maneuvers.

Soon enough when things are taken care of a nice set of X-02s will spawn. Again, nothing special here just keep an eye on the radar and sort out an offensive situation for yourself. Use a combination of guns and missiles to take them down.

This is the interesting part. Three Falkens should have spawned and they're not ashamed of using their lasers. Let me put it this way, if you let any of them slip into your six you will be eliminated but gladly the remedy is simple: don't. Hit your burners the whole time and unlike perhaps the first parts of the mission put defense as your top priority. Try to take one of them out when they're still spread over the battle zone to make your life easier.

Once you take two of them down, and if you've arrived at this stage quickly enough the AC2 aces, Scarface One and Z.O.E. will spawn in opposite corners of the map in an XFA-27 and yet another Falken respectively. There's no price on their heads but you might as well take them down for points' sake. They're a tad harder than the rest of the bunch you've fought so far and Scarface will occasionally fire four missiles at you simultaneously but so should you... Eliminate the final ADF-01 to finish the mission.