ACE COMBAT 8 Aircraft Tree & Roles

MRP earned in missions unlocks additional aircraft. Open the in-game Aircraft Tree before spending: compare the aircraft available from your current position, the cost shown and the special weapons you can equip. Treat a new airframe as one part of your sortie, alongside parts and weapon choice.

The reference below covers the official displayed roster and roles. For connected branches, prerequisites and exact prices, use the current in-game tree; the checked official pages do not supply a complete branch-and-price diagram.

Use the role as a first filter, then compare your unlocked loadouts. For example, a ground-heavy sortie calls for checking surface-target weapons before buying a fighter simply because it appears later in the tree.

These are the 29 aircraft displayed on Bandai Namco’s aircraft page when checked on October 4, 2026. The publisher signals that more aircraft may follow; this table is a roster reference rather than a claim about the final total.

1. 1Read the next mission briefing and identify its main target type.
2. 2Compare the aircraft already unlocked with the next reachable option in your current tree. Check the displayed prerequisite and cost.
3. 3Inspect the available special weapons. Favor a usable target match over a role label alone.
4. 4Choose upgrade parts for the actual mission demands, then confirm the full loadout before launching.
5. 5If the sortie fails, identify the limiting factor—handling, target coverage or ammunition—before buying another aircraft.

What buys new aircraft? Mission-earned MRP is the aircraft-unlock currency described by the official walkthrough.

Are special weapons and parts the same as buying a plane? No. Aircraft choice, special-weapon selection and aircraft upgrades are distinct sortie-preparation decisions.

Are these 29 the final aircraft count? The official roster points to further aircraft, so use it as the displayed list on the checked date.

Can I find every MRP price here? Use your in-game Aircraft Tree for exact current prices and connected prerequisites. This page supplies the official role reference.

Does Campaign progression carry into Online? The launch announcement describes Online as having its own progression system; check that mode’s requirements separately.