The Ixion, (イクシオン/Ikushion), designation XTF-1, is the sole new fighter in Raiden Fighters Jet. It serves as an important plot device in the game.
Design[]
The Ixion is a jet fighter with forward-swept wings, a configuration in which the quarter-chord line of the wing has a forward sweep. This wing can give the aircraft excellent agility and maneuverability. In each of these is a gun and pylons for its missiles. It also uses canards for stability.
Role in the story[]
The Ixion was developed as part of the XTF project. It was to be operated only in a state of emergency. The XTF Project trained prospective pilots using a simulator that grades them on their performance. Only those who received excellent scores would be qualified to operate the Ixion.
When the remnants of the former dictatorship's military occupied a nearby allied city and took over its weapons factory, the Ixion saw combat, as the XTF project facility was the closest to the enemy. The weapons factory in question was developing a high-tech supersonic bomber, which the enemy captured and equipped with a tactical nuclear cruise missile. The enemy was going to commit an act of nuclear terrorism.
The Ixion fought through severe resistance by the enemy in the weapons factory on its way to the stolen bomber. The bomber took off, carrying the cruise missile. The Ixion chased down the bomber, destroyed it, and shot down the cruise missile it launched out of spite towards a nearby city center.
After the mission, the enemy was dealt a crushing blow and the weapons factory was retaken, though with great damage. In addition, the real-world battle data gathered from this mission provided useful information and experience to the XTF project, contributing greatly to its future development.
Gameplay[]
The Ixion has a rapid-firing main gun that has a small spread to give it decent screen coverage. It has a fast movement speed.
Unique weapons[]
When selecting a Gun Dogs fighter for the simulator, the Ixion inherits the chosen fighter's weapons for the final two Real Battle missions. When selecting the Ixion itself or any other non-Gun Dogs fighters at the start of the game, it comes equipped with its own weapons.
Its unique Missile weapon is the Search Missile, which behaves similarly to the Dark Sword's Missile weapon, and includes a charged attack.
Its unique Laser weapon is the Gravity Laser. Energy spheres are generated and float in front of the Ixion. These energy spheres each shoot a straight laser beam forward. The charged attack of this Laser weapon generates four large energy orbs that fire more powerful versions of the regular Laser weapon while slowly converging towards the Ixion's center line.
Trivia[]
- The Ixion's overall appearance is based on the real-life Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut Russian experimental fighter.
- In Greek mythology, Ixion was king of the Lapiths, the most ancient tribe of Thessaly, and a son of Ares or Antion or the notorious evildoer Phlegyas.
Gallery[]
Fighters | ||
Fighting Thunders | Raiden | Raiden II | Fighting Thunder ME-02 | Azuma | Spirit of Dragon | Moulin Rouge | |
1st Generation Gun Dogs Fighters | Aegis | Beast Arrow | Devastator | Chaser | Endeavor | |
2nd Generation Gun Dogs Fighters | Aegis IV | Chaser 2000 | Beast Wing | Death Header | Flying Ray | Eraser | Griffin | Hell Diver | Aegis II-c | |
Other | Ixion | Judge Spear | Blue Javelin | Dark Sword | Miclus | Fairy | Slave | |
Caladrius ships | Sword Ifurita | Valkyrie Lance | Lightning Justitia | Howl Loreley | Crawling Grudge | Divine Bird's Amulet | Eihwaz Virtue | Simorgh Striscia |