The MiG-44, codenamed Falcon, is an advanced fighter developed in the Union of Yuktobanian Republics. (Image is of the prototype, which lacks COFFIN)
Development
In 2019, after the end of the Erusian Civil War and upon seeing the performance of the joint Osean-General Resources-Neucom XF-22C Raptor II prototype, Yuktobania was in need of a new high-performance fighter, and fast; no expense was spared, as they wanted the aircraft to be built and in production as soon as possible. A major company known as Okchabursk Technologies (the Ace Combat analogue to the Mikoyan-Gurevich, or MiG bureau) was contracted to build it, and came up with a design that was simply a modified MiG-1.44. By doubling the power of the engines, incorporating three-dimensional thrust vectoring and an advanced COFFIN flight computer based on the ZOE computer used in the original ADF-01A, this new aircraft, the MiG-44, became the premier fighter of the Yuktobanian Air Force along with the Su-47 and Su-50. Codenamed 'Falcon' by the Oseans for its high speed, the MiG-44 can hit speeds of Mach 4 at 70,000 feet, and with the addition of a lift fan, became an extremely versatile fighter.
However, it has its vices; even with the COFFIN system, the aircraft was extremely difficult to handle, mainly because pilots were not accustomed to the v2.0 COFFIN's neural interface, which required a pilot's total concentration. Despite this, the first squadron to recieve the fighter, Kvant, reported it to be a joy to fly once one got use to its quirks.
Deployment
Actual use of the aircraft was limited, the first time it was used being the Leaseth-Aurelia War. The only squadron known to use it was the 119th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Aurelian Air Force, better known as 'Draco'. The lead pilot, named Ezio Martinez (in truth, this was the alias of the wanted war criminal and top ace, Erik Felsen), reported that 'this aircraft, although certainly not perfect, is Aurelia's best counter to the advanced Leasath fighter, the Fenrir, as its performance is similar, if not superior to the Leasath aircraft'.
Ace Squadrons
- 119th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Draco" (AAF)
Stats
Speed: 100
Mobility: 84
Stability: 50
Defense: 70
Air-to-Air: 100
Air-to-Ground: 40
Missile Count: 86
Special Weapons: XLAA (16), QAAM (18), SOD (14)