Ace Combat 8 aircraft list: launch roster, roles and access

Publisher aircraft catalog by role

The official catalog provides these names and roles. A role is a starting filter, not a measured ranking. Weapon availability and the mission objective still matter.

Choose for the task, then check access

• Need a campaign clear? Compare the reported configurations for Mission 8 or Mission 28, rather than purchasing a jet solely because it is later in a tree.
• Missing an online plane or second weapon? Read online aircraft levels and cap upgrades. A campaign unlock does not document online ownership.
• Want the preorder Tomcat? The F-14A entitlement guide separates the DLC from the F-14D.
• Looking for Pixy’s plane? See ADFX-02 Morgan access; the campaign completion gate matters.

The launch additions beyond the publisher catalog

The community launch list adds F/A-18E Super Hornet, FA-36 Game, EA-36 Barricader and X-40 Nightmare beyond the 29 entries in the publisher table. Morgan adds another content aircraft; F-14A is already present in that table. This yields 32 base aircraft plus two content entries, without counting an enemy sighting as player ownership.

For the three fictional aircraft, see reported Mission 30 unlocks. For budgeting, use squad-copy purchases, and for a loadout decision compare aircraft by task.

Why an enemy aircraft may not have an unlock route

A current YF-23 discussion asks why an aircraft seen as an enemy is not selectable. It supplies no verified unlock method or DLC date. Its absence from the publisher catalog is not proof that it will never be added. We therefore do not give a fabricated branch, mission reward or release date.

Community Mission 28 reports also name FA-36 and EA-36 setups outside this published catalog. Their successful loadouts remain attributed in the mission guide. The community roster now supplies a separate launch-list check; use the YF-23 availability page for that missing aircraft. For any missing aircraft, first record whether you are viewing the campaign tree, an online purchase menu, an enemy target or DLC ownership.