The base-game roster contains 32 playable base-game aircraft in ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE. They cover four published roles—Fighter, Attacker, Multirole, and Electronic—plus several fictional aircraft whose roles are not confirmed in the published classification. The ADFX-02 Morgan -PIXY- is tied to the Season 1 Premium Ace Pass, while the F-14A Tomcat was offered separately as a preorder aircraft and is not counted among the 32 base-game planes.
This distinction matters when checking whether a plane is actually available to you. Campaign and ACE COMBAT ONLINE use the same general playable roster, but they have separate progression and save data. Unlocking or buying an aircraft in Campaign does not automatically acquire it online. Some campaign sorties also limit your selection to carrier-capable aircraft, so a plane appearing in the roster does not guarantee that it can launch in every mission.
For purchases, use the Aircraft Tree route guide and MRP budget method. For a mission-led shortlist, see best aircraft by role.
Version scope — October 7, 2026: This page was edited from supplied research. No numbered game build or independent playtest is recorded for this guide. Check the current in-game descriptions and your platform before applying build-sensitive conditions.
Complete Ace Combat 8 playable aircraft list
The sortie screen shows several playable aircraft in the roster.
The role labels below follow the published official aircraft descriptions where those labels are available. “Not specified” means the current information confirms the aircraft as playable but does not provide a reliable role classification. It should not be treated as a guessed role.
| Aircraft | Published role | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|---|
| A-6E Intruder | Attacker | A carrier-based attacker built around precise attacks and low-altitude approaches. |
| A-10C Thunderbolt II | Attacker | A durable close-air-support aircraft with strong low-speed agility and air-to-ground armament. |
| EA-6B Prowler | Electronic | An electronic-warfare aircraft used for interference, reconnaissance, and support against defensive networks. |
| EA-18G Growler | Electronic | An electronic-warfare derivative of the F/A-18F that retains self-defense capability. |
| EA-36 Barricader | Not specified | A fictional playable aircraft; the published roster does not establish its official role. |
| F-2A | Attacker | A compact aircraft suited to maritime interdiction while remaining capable in aerial combat. |
| F-4E Phantom II | Multirole | A large fighter variant with fixed armament and broad mission utility. |
| F-14D Super Tomcat | Fighter | A carrier-based fighter associated with long-range air-to-air combat and variable-sweep wings. |
| F-15C Eagle | Fighter | An air-superiority aircraft combining speed, maneuverability, and endurance. |
| F-15E Strike Eagle | Attacker | A durable strike aircraft that retains the F-15 family's fundamental air-combat ability. |
| F-15J Eagle | Fighter | An F-15C variant with updated avionics and support for newer guided missiles. |
| F-16C Fighting Falcon | Fighter | A lightweight fighter noted for dexterity, stability, and fly-by-wire controls. |
| F/A-18C Hornet | Multirole | A carrier-capable aircraft able to use air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship weaponry. |
| F/A-18E Super Hornet | Not specified | Confirmed in the playable base roster, but its role is not confirmed in the published classification. |
| F/A-18F Super Hornet | Multirole | A twin-seat carrier strike fighter redesigned for greater range and payload capacity. |
| F-22A Raptor | Fighter | A stealth air-superiority aircraft with internal weapon bays and high maneuverability. |
| F-35C Lightning II | Multirole | A carrier-based stealth aircraft configurable for both air and ground missions. |
| FA-36 Game | Not specified | A fictional playable aircraft without a supported role classification in the current information. |
| Gripen E | Multirole | A small, lightweight design intended for air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance. |
| MiG-21bis Fishbed | Fighter | A light fighter with demanding controls and strong maneuverability. |
| MiG-29A Fulcrum | Fighter | A mid-sized fighter whose turning ability favors close-range engagements. |
| MiG-31B Foxhound | Fighter | A high-speed interceptor equipped for long-range air-to-air engagements. |
| Mirage 2000-5 | Multirole | A stable, balanced delta-wing aircraft with good speed and maneuverability. |
| Rafale M | Multirole | A carrier aircraft designed for air superiority, interdiction, reconnaissance, and air support. |
| Su-25SM Frogfoot | Attacker | A heavily protected close-air-support aircraft built for survivability during ground attacks. |
| Su-33 Flanker-D | Multirole | A carrier-based Flanker with strong low-to-mid-speed stability and maneuverability. |
| Su-34 Fullback | Attacker | A fast, armored fighter-bomber with substantial weapons capacity and air-to-air self-defense. |
| Su-35S Flanker-E | Multirole | A thrust-vectoring aircraft suited to dogfighting as well as longer-range engagements. |
| Su-47 Berkut | Multirole | A fictionalized forward-swept-wing design distinguished by its unusual shape and maneuverability. |
| Su-57 Felon | Fighter | A stealth fighter with thrust-vectoring nozzles and high control authority. |
| Typhoon | Fighter | A delta-wing fighter with stable handling and armament suited to multiple target types. |
| X-40 Nightmare | Not specified | A fictional playable aircraft whose role is not confirmed in the published classification. |
How the four aircraft roles differ
A role describes an aircraft's intended emphasis, not an absolute restriction. Special weapons, installed parts, mission objectives, launch conditions, and your preferred handling can all make two aircraft in the same role perform very differently.
Fighters
Fighters emphasize air-to-air work. The list ranges from lightweight dogfighters such as the F-16C and MiG-21bis to interceptors and high-end air-superiority aircraft such as the MiG-31B, F-22A, and Su-57. Their published descriptions highlight different strengths: the MiG-29A favors turning combat, the MiG-31B emphasizes speed and interception, and the F-14D combines carrier operation with long-range air-to-air capability.
Do not read the Fighter label as “best aircraft.” A late-tree fighter may offer impressive aerial performance but still be a poor fit when a sortie contains large numbers of ground or naval targets. Its available special weapons matter more than its role name alone.
Attackers
Attackers concentrate on ground, sea, or strike missions. The A-10C and Su-25SM emphasize close air support and survivability, while the A-6E is a carrier-based precision attacker. The F-15E and Su-34 retain meaningful air-combat capability despite their strike focus, and the F-2A is particularly associated with maritime interdiction.
An Attacker can be the efficient choice when the briefing clearly prioritizes fixed targets, ships, or dense ground formations. That does not guarantee an easy mission: you still need enough air-to-air flexibility to handle unexpected aircraft or later mission phases.
Multirole aircraft
Multirole aircraft trade narrow specialization for broader mission coverage. The F/A-18C can carry weapons for aerial, ground, and anti-ship targets, while the F-35C combines carrier operation with air-to-air and ground-attack configurations. The Rafale M covers an especially broad set of mission profiles, and the Gripen E is presented as a compact aircraft intended for several different tasks.
This role is a practical starting point when the briefing suggests a mixed target set or when later objectives are uncertain. It still does not mean every multirole plane has the same weapons. Check the actual special-weapon choices before spending MRP or starting the sortie.
Electronic aircraft
The EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler are the two aircraft explicitly classified as Electronic in the official descriptions. Their purpose is support through electronic interference and related battlefield effects rather than simply maximizing direct weapon output. The Growler also carries air-to-air weapons for self-defense, while the Prowler is described as capable of working against enemy defense networks.
Electronic aircraft can support your squadron, but the roster evidence does not justify promising a fixed outcome for every mission. Their value depends on the targets, your equipment, and how effectively you use their support functions.
Aircraft without a published role
The EA-36 Barricader, FA-36 Game, and X-40 Nightmare are included in the base-game playable list, but the current information does not establish dependable role labels for them. The F/A-18E is also confirmed as playable without a matching official role entry in the official aircraft descriptions. Their names or visual designs are not enough to infer a classification.
Additional aircraft outside the base-game list
Two playable aircraft need separate access notes:
- ADFX-02 Morgan -PIXY-: A Season 1 Premium Ace Pass aircraft. Official material identifies it as the Level 1 Premium reward and says Premium access can be redeemed with the Deluxe Edition voucher or purchased separately. It can be used in Campaign only after all campaign missions have been completed. Online and Campaign acquisition rules remain separate.
- F-14A Tomcat: Official material identifies this as a preorder aircraft. It is a Fighter and the earlier model in the family that leads to the F-14D Super Tomcat. Check the exact edition and store offer before buying; a new purchase should not be assumed to include a preorder reward.
Neither aircraft should be silently counted as an ordinary base-tree unlock. The Morgan also should not be described as a cosmetic reward: it is a playable aircraft.
Campaign and ACE COMBAT ONLINE use separate progression
The campaign and ACE COMBAT ONLINE share the same general playable-aircraft roster, but online mode is a standalone experience with its own save data and progression. Aircraft used in the campaign must be acquired again through rewards earned as an online mercenary pilot. Likewise, online progression does not replace campaign purchases or unlocks.
This separation is especially important when checking an aircraft list after seeing a plane in another player's online hangar. Its presence confirms that the aircraft is playable, but it does not prove that your campaign save has unlocked it or that the same acquisition condition applies in both modes.
The Premium Ace Pass is also an online progression system. Its aircraft rewards can have additional campaign conditions, as shown by the Morgan's requirement to complete all campaign missions before campaign use.
How to choose an aircraft from the list
Treat the following as selection advice, not guaranteed mission outcomes:
- Read the briefing before buying a plane. Identify whether the expected targets are mainly aerial, ground, naval, or mixed. A specialized aircraft is useful only when its weapons and launch conditions match the sortie.
- Check carrier eligibility. Some campaign missions launch from a carrier and restrict which aircraft you can use. The aircraft tree marks carrier-capable planes, so verify the icon before committing MRP to a plane intended for the next mission.
- Inspect special weapons, not just the role. Aircraft in the same category can offer very different attack options. A Fighter with the wrong special weapons may be less useful than a Multirole aircraft that directly addresses the objective.
- Account for parts and squadron purchases. Aircraft are only one part of campaign spending. Weapons, upgrade parts, and additional planes for squadmates can compete for the same resources, so buying every nearby branch may delay the aircraft you actually want.
- Choose a focused route when you have a clear target aircraft. Moving deeper along one portion of the aircraft tree can reach advanced planes sooner than purchasing widely across unrelated branches. This is budgeting advice, not a claim that one branch is universally optimal.
- Keep at least one flexible option available. A carrier-capable Multirole plane can reduce the chance that a new mission leaves you without an appropriate aircraft, but no single plane is guaranteed to cover every target mix.
Before purchasing, inspect the connecting nodes and total route cost in your Aircraft Tree; appearing in the roster does not mean an aircraft is immediately available. This page is the roster reference: use it to identify what is playable, understand the published roles, and avoid confusing base aircraft with pass or preorder access.
Aircraft that appear but are not playable
The wider game includes aircraft and aerial units that are enemies, support craft, mission targets, or online-only opponents rather than player-controlled planes. The available unplayable list includes the A-50, AV-8B Harrier II plus, B-1B Lancer, B-2A Spirit, C-130 Hercules, Celaeno, DM-2, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, Il-78, Ladon, Mi-24 Hind, MQ-19, MQ-52C, MQ-99, Podarge, SV-11, Tu-95 Bear, Tu-160 Blackjack, H-9, and V-22.
The ADF-11F Raven, Arsenal Bird, MQ-101, and YF-23 Black Widow II also appear in ACE COMBAT ONLINE contexts but are not listed as player aircraft. Seeing one of these names in footage or a mission does not make it part of the playable aircraft roster.