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Fake EASA X-02

- question from name withheld

As you imply in your question, the aircraft you speak of is nothing more than the creation of video game developers in Japan. The so-called X-02 is an aircraft that can be flown in the game Ace Combat 4 on the Sony Playstation 2.

X-02 fighter from Ace Combat 4

According to the game's documentation, the X-02 is also called the YF-25A and was developed by a company called EASA as a replacement for the US Navy's F-14 Tomcat. In actuality, there is of course no aircraft manufacturer called EASA and the replacement for the F-14 is the F-18E/F Super Hornet.

Model of the X-02

The description of the X-02 provided by the game goes on to include other details that reveal it as a non-existent plane. In particular, the game is set in the future and uses the past tense to refer to events that have not yet occurred. For example, "During testing, [the aircraft] recorded a supercruise of mach 1.87 and a top speed of over mach 2.5. Successful testing of EASA's new revolutionary switchblade configuration was successful. May 2005 brought the successful testing of the 3D vectored nozzles and the test launch of the AAAMs."

Another X-02 model in a different configuration

The game goes on to describe several variable geometry features of the aircraft such as "switchblade wings and variable trapezoidal ruddervators similar to those seen on the earlier YF-23 prototype that flatten out during supersonic cruise."

X-02 model kit

A model kit of the X-02 has been manufactured in Japan, but that is as "real" as this aircraft will ever be.

We have received a number of questions about where the model shown above can be purchased. We believe the model kit was sold by the Japanese company Hawegawa, but it appears to no longer be in production.
- answer by Molly Swanson, 5 September 2004

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