The Tool Desk
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Best first unlock by mission type
Bandai Namco groups operations around dogfights, air support for ground troops, and air-to-sea sorties. Its guidance is to match your aircraft and special weapon to the objective, rather than rely on one aircraft for every mission. Bandai Namco’s game overview describes those operation types; the official aircraft roster provides role descriptions.
| Mission type | Role to prioritize | Roster examples | What to check before unlocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dogfights | Fighter or air-combat-capable multirole aircraft | F-22A Raptor; Su-35S Flanker-E | Whether its available special weapon suits the sortie and whether the aircraft fits your preferred way of fighting. |
| Ground support | Attacker or strike-capable multirole aircraft | A-10C Thunderbolt II; F-15E Strike Eagle | Whether the special weapon can engage the specific ground targets in the briefing. |
| Naval strikes | An aircraft compatible with the launch restrictions and sea-target requirements in the briefing | Rafale M is a carrier aircraft; confirm its available weapons suit the mission. | Whether the sortie limits selection to carrier-capable aircraft and whether your special weapon fits the target. |
The official roster describes the F-22A as a stealth fighter emphasizing maneuverability and air-combat superiority. It identifies the Su-35S as a multirole aircraft with strong dogfighting ability and both air-to-air and air-to-ground armaments. These are sensible role matches, but the published descriptions do not establish that either is the earliest aircraft you can unlock or the best value for your MRP.
Dogfights: prioritize air-combat ability
For a sortie focused on enemy aircraft, start by looking for a fighter or a multirole plane with strong air-combat capability. The F-22A and Su-35S illustrate those options: the former is presented as a fighter, while the latter combines dogfighting ability with broader armament. Pick based on the mission’s weapon needs and your preferred playstyle, not the aircraft name alone.
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Ground support: prioritize strike capability
For air support against ground targets, look for an attacker or a strike-capable multirole aircraft. Bandai Namco describes the A-10C as a durable close-air-support attacker and the F-15E as a strike fighter with baseline air-combat capability and more weaponry than a standard fighter. Before committing MRP, confirm that the special weapon you can equip addresses the actual target mix; a role label by itself does not guarantee a good fit for every objective.
Ground-attack aircraft may also be useful outside missions explicitly labeled as ground support. PC Gamer’s launch review describes score-target annihilation missions and says air-to-ground-specialized aircraft were viable for much of the campaign. That is one reviewer’s campaign assessment, not a guarantee for every sortie, difficulty, or target mix.
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Naval strikes: check launch compatibility first
For an air-to-sea mission, first check which aircraft the briefing permits, then match a suitable special weapon to the ship or other sea target. The Rafale M is a carrier aircraft, and the official roster lists roles including air superiority, interdiction, reconnaissance, and air support. Its carrier status may make it relevant when launch restrictions apply, but the role list alone does not prove that its available weapons suit a particular naval objective.
Tom’s Guide’s review, published October 3, 2026, reports that some mid-game missions restricted aircraft selection to carrier-capable planes. That is a practical warning from one review, not evidence that every naval sortie—or every mid-game mission—has the same restriction.
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How to choose before spending MRP
The official walkthrough says that additional fighter jets are unlocked with MRP earned in missions, and recommends choosing aircraft according to mission objectives and playstyle. It also recommends selecting special weapons and combining upgrade parts to tailor an aircraft. Read Bandai Namco’s official walkthrough and inspect the in-game briefing before each sortie.
- Read the briefing. Identify the main objective and target mix, then note any aircraft or launch restrictions.
- Match the role. Favor air-combat ability for dogfights and strike capability for ground targets; for naval sorties, make launch compatibility part of the decision.
- Check the special weapon. Make sure the weapon available on the aircraft can address the objective. A broad role description is not a substitute for checking the actual loadout.
- Consider the MRP trade-off. Spend on an aircraft when it solves a real mission need, rather than assuming a higher-tier plane is automatically the best purchase.
MRP also goes toward weapons and upgrades, according to Tom’s Guide, whose reviewer describes upgrades as expensive and the tech tree as large. The available sources do not provide reliable aircraft prices or a complete unlock-order table, so they cannot support a precise MRP-efficiency ranking. Keep enough flexibility for weapons and upgrades that make your current aircraft work for upcoming objectives.
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Use role examples, not a fixed aircraft ranking
Bandai Namco’s published material establishes aircraft roles and recommends adjusting aircraft and weapons to each mission; it does not publish a complete unlock-cost or unlock-order table. The F-22A, Su-35S, A-10C, F-15E, and Rafale M are therefore examples of roles to look for, not verified first purchases. The EA-6B Prowler is listed as an electronic-warfare aircraft, but the available information does not establish it as a general first unlock for dogfight, ground-support, or naval-strike missions.
Choose from the aircraft available to you by objective, weapon fit, and any launch restriction in the briefing. Reassess when the target mix changes instead of treating your first unlock as a permanent answer for every mission.
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- Magnetic contactless sensors provide smooth, accurate input and long‑lasting durability
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