Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II costs 550,000 MRP for the aircraft itself, but reaching it from the starting F/A-18C Hornet requires more purchases. The cheapest route currently documented by a community Aircraft Tree calculator totals 1,495,000 MRP, including 14 prerequisite nodes.
You can also unlock the F-35C by going through the Mirage 2000-5, but that costs more on a fresh tree. Below is the full purchase order, both route totals, the weapons available for the F-35C and the requirements for the aircraft it helps unlock later.
Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II: How to Unlock It
The Campaign Aircraft Tree becomes available after Mission 02: Nomad. You start with the free F/A-18C Hornet and spend Military Result Points (MRP) to unlock connected aircraft, parts and extra special weapons. The F-35C is near the end of a Multirole and Electronic Warfare branch, so its 550,000-MRP price is only the final purchase.
The direct route passes through the F/A-18E Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. You must buy the upgrades leading to both aircraft and the two parts after the Growler before the F-35C becomes available. There is no need to buy a pre-order aircraft, an Ace Pass or an online version of the plane.
Bandai Namco lists the Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II as a Multirole aircraft with stealth capabilities. It is carrier-based and suited to a mixture of air-to-air and ground attack objectives, which makes it useful beyond its role as an unlock prerequisite.
Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II: All 15 Aircraft Tree Nodes and Costs
The table follows the route published by the AC8 MRP calculator, updated for the October 2026 launch build. It is the cheapest documented route in that community map, not a lowest-price route independently certified by Bandai Namco. Check the connections in your game if an update changes the tree.
| Step | Buy this node | MRP | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aileron Auxiliary Pressurization Device | 7,500 | 7,500 |
| 2 | Lightweight Blisk | 7,500 | 15,000 |
| 3 | Flap Auxiliary Pressurization Device | 10,000 | 25,000 |
| 4 | Takeoff Weight Augmentation (MSL) | 15,000 | 40,000 |
| 5 | Reinforced Mount (Air-to-Ground MSL) | 20,000 | 60,000 |
| 6 | Air-to-Air Electronic Optical Hybrid Sight | 35,000 | 95,000 |
| 7 | Bomb Noise Filter | 30,000 | 125,000 |
| 8 | Superior Maneuverability | 45,000 | 170,000 |
| 9 | F/A-18E Super Hornet | 240,000 | 410,000 |
| 10 | Directional Proximity Fuse (MSL) | 50,000 | 460,000 |
| 11 | Anti-Stealth Microwave Radar | 40,000 | 500,000 |
| 12 | EA-18G Growler | 350,000 | 850,000 |
| 13 | Surface Target ID Accelerator (SP. W) | 50,000 | 900,000 |
| 14 | Long-Range Terrain Scan Accelerator | 45,000 | 945,000 |
| 15 | F-35C Lightning II | 550,000 | 1,495,000 |
Buy the first eight upgrade parts, then the F/A-18E Super Hornet at step 9. At this point, you have spent 410,000 MRP. The Directional Proximity Fuse and Anti-Stealth Microwave Radar then connect to the EA-18G Growler, taking the cumulative bill to 850,000 MRP.
After purchasing the Growler, buy Surface Target ID Accelerator (SP. W) and Long-Range Terrain Scan Accelerator. These two parts cost 95,000 MRP together, bringing your total to 945,000 MRP. Buy the final F-35C node for 550,000 MRP to reach the 1,495,000-MRP total.
That Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II route contains 1,140,000 MRP in aircraft and 355,000 MRP in parts. If you already have the Super Hornet, Growler or some upgrades, only the missing nodes cost you anything. Follow the links on your own tree before grinding the entire sum.
Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II: Do You Need the Mirage 2000-5?
Not on the cheapest currently documented route. Several early walkthroughs describe a path through the Mirage 2000-5 before the Super Hornet. That path works, but the newer calculator shows a parts-only approach to the F/A-18E from the starting Hornet.
The full Mirage route costs 1,587,500 MRP on the same calculator. That’s 92,500 MRP more than the direct route from an untouched tree. In return, you get another Multirole plane earlier in the campaign, which may be useful if you want to fly it rather than saving for the F-35C.
For an existing save, the cheapest remaining Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II route depends on which branches you’ve already bought. If you own the Mirage and most of its parts, follow those connections instead of starting the Super Hornet route from scratch. Our Aircraft Tree guide explains how prerequisites and branching purchases work.
Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II: Special Weapons and Part Slots
The Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II includes LACM as its default special weapon. HCAA and 8AGM are optional purchases at 55,000 MRP each. LACM works well for longer-range attacks on fixed targets, HCAA favours repeated fighter engagements, and 8AGM can hit several ground targets during a single pass.
| Special weapon | Price | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| LACM | Included | Long-range strikes on surface targets |
| HCAA | 55,000 MRP | Sustained air-to-air engagements |
| 8AGM | 55,000 MRP | Multiple ground targets |
Launch aircraft records list 150 standard missiles, 20 LACMs, 36 HCAAs, 32 8AGMs and four flares. The F-35C has five Body, seven Arms and three Misc part slots. These figures come from the game’s aircraft records collected by community guides, rather than an official aircraft loadout sheet.
Neither extra special weapon is required for the Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II unlock. You can buy both later for another 110,000 MRP. See our Special Weapons guide and Upgrade Parts guide before spending more on the loadout.
Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II: Wingman Copies and Total Budget
After buying your first F-35C, a duplicate for a Joker Flight wingman costs 68,750 MRP, one eighth of the plane’s first-copy price. The first aircraft purchase is enough to use the F-35C yourself; wingman copies are optional.
| Purchase | MRP |
|---|---|
| Direct documented route | 1,495,000 |
| Both extra special weapons | 110,000 |
| One wingman copy | 68,750 |
| Total with both extras and one copy | 1,673,750 |
This 1,673,750-MRP budget covers the route, both extra special weapons and one additional aircraft copy. It doesn’t include unrelated branches or more wingman copies. Budgeting for the Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II itself is cheaper if you only want the plane and its included LACM.
What Does Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II Unlock Next?
After you complete Mission 30: Song of Wings, owning the F-35C qualifies you for the FA-36 Game and X-40 Nightmare branches. An F-22A Raptor or Su-57 Felon can meet those prerequisites too, so you don’t need this specific plane if you’ve already invested in another high-end fighter.
Campaign purchases also remain available in Free Mission. Ace Combat Online uses separate progression, however, so buying the Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II with Campaign MRP does not unlock it automatically in multiplayer. The two modes have their own aircraft ownership systems.
Why Is Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II Still Locked?
If you have 550,000 MRP but can’t buy the jet, look for missing connecting purchases. On the direct route, you need the EA-18G Growler, Surface Target ID Accelerator (SP. W) and Long-Range Terrain Scan Accelerator before the final aircraft node. Having the right amount of currency alone won’t unlock a disconnected branch.
If you can’t open the Aircraft Tree at all, finish Mission 02. If you’re short of MRP, return to completed Campaign sorties in Free Mission once that option is available. Our MRP Farming guide covers repeatable routes for earning currency.
Purchasing Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II also contributes to the aircraft collection needed for the Patron of the Parts trophy. Check our Trophies and Achievements guide for the other aircraft, weapons and parts you’ll need.
Related Guides
The Ace Combat 8 F-35C Lightning II unlock is straightforward once you can see all 15 paid nodes. Follow the cheaper Super Hornet and Growler route if you’re starting fresh, or use the parts you’ve already purchased on another branch. Save the optional weapons and wingman copies for later if your immediate goal is getting the F-35C into your hangar.
Official game source: Bandai Namco Entertainment’s aircraft roster. Route costs and prices: AC8 MRP Calculator. Aircraft weapon data: Ace Combat Wiki.
