OVERVIEW

F-22A loadout swap inspired by Ace Combat 7 - Announcement Trailer from 2015 and featuring customized weapons: 1-lock 4-launch 360 degree lock QAAM for main weapon, dual standard EML, 8-lock XSDB, and non-stacking 8AAM. Alternative version uses EW1 Mako by ApriliaBelka in place of EML. Loadout can be applied to slots provided by Additional Skin Slots mod by sincerity2103.



DETAILS

This mod brings a customized loadout for F-22A Raptor inspired by Ace Combat 7 - Announcement Trailer from 2015.

FEATURES



1-target 4-launch 360 degree lock Quick Maneuver Air-to-Air Missile replacing MSL as main weapon. As seen in the trailer, the F-22A had one lock on the enemy Su-30 before the Flanker pulled a Cobra and got behind the Raptor. Despite that, the Raptor still fired, releasing 4 Sidewinders with slight delay between each, which all pulled 180 degree upwards turn and hit their target. This is implemented as the loadout's main weapon. Launching 4 missiles at once costs only 1 ammo. Side weapon bays usually used for MSLs are not used. HUD will still show "MSL" in-game.


Pod-Only Non-Stacking 8-Target Air-to-Air Missile replacing 8AAM. In the trailer, the F-22A fired 8 AMRAAMs at different UAVs only from the pods. None of them were launched from the center bay (which was occupied by Sidewinders for main weapon). The only differences with classic 8AAM from base game Raptor are the placement (none from center bay in this mod), non-stacking property (base game 8AAM can stack 4 locks at one target), and slight target leading (base game 8AAM doesn't have it) to improve capability to obliterate a drone swarm coming head-on.


8-target Advanced Small Diameter Bombs replacing XSDB. As the center weapon bay is occupied by main weapon, XSDB is moved to weapon pods and given increased salvo count.



Dual Wing-Mounted Standard EML replacing QAAM. With main weapon already possessing QAAM capability, QAAM Special Weapon is replaced by Dual Standard EMLs mounted on the wings. Stats are identical to standard EML used by F/A-18F and Su-33, but can be fired two at once.


EW1 Mako Compatibility Patch. As alternative option, Special Weapon 1 can instead be replaced by EW1 Mako instead of Dual EML. [Requires ApriliaBelka/CipherBravo's EW1 Mako Mod, Weapon Module]

INSTALLATION

This mod comes with 5 choices for installation. For simple installs, Vanilla and Mako compatibility are separate downloads. Choose one that works for you:

SIMPLE INSTALL, ALL SLOTS, VANILLA VERSION (EML SPW1) - If you want the vanilla 2015 Trailer Loadout to apply to all skin slots of F-22A. [One file install]

1. In the Files section of the mod page, download the "Simple Install All Slots" archive file.
2. Extract the .pak file contained within to your game's ~mods folder
    The folder should be placed in <ACE COMBAT 7>/Game/Content/Paks/

SIMPLE INSTALL, ALL SLOTS, MAKO VERSION (EW1MAKO SPW1) - If you want the 2015 Trailer Loadout with EW1 Mako for SpW1 to apply to all skin slots of F-22A. [One file install + Requirement]

1. In the Files section of the mod page, download the "Simple Install All Slots" archive file.
2. Extract the .pak file contained within to your game's ~mods folder
    The folder should be placed in <ACE COMBAT 7>/Game/Content/Paks/

SIMPLE INSTALL, ONE SLOT, VANILLA VERSION (EML SPW1) - If you want the vanilla 2015 Trailer Loadout to apply to only one skin slot (your choice) of F-22A. [One file install]

1. In the Files section of the mod page, download the "Simple Install One Slot" archive file.
2. Extract the .pak file for the skin slot you want contained within to your game's ~mods folder
    The folder should be placed in <ACE COMBAT 7>/Game/Content/Paks/

SIMPLE INSTALL, ONE SLOT, MAKO VERSION (EW1MAKO SPW1) - If you want the 2015 Trailer Loadout with EW1 Mako for SpW1 to apply to only one skin slot (your choice) of F-22A. [One file install + Requirement]

1. In the Files section of the mod page, download the "Simple Install One Slot" archive file.
2. Extract the .pak file for the skin slot you want contained within to your game's ~mods folder
    The folder should be placed in <ACE COMBAT 7>/Game/Content/Paks/

ADVANCED INSTALL - If you want to have both versions of 2015 Trailer Loadout to apply (on different skin slots) of F-22A. [Multiple files install]

1. In the Files section of the mod page, download the "Advanced Install" archive file.
2. Extract the .pak file with "(Base)" in its name to your game's ~mods folder
3. Extract the .pak file(s) for the skin slot(s) you want (the ones with "Skin <number>" in its name) to your game's ~mods folder
            Skin selector file for Vanilla version is indicated by "(Vanilla)" filename
            Skin selector file for Mako version is indicated by "(EW1Mako SpW1)" filename
    The ~mods folder should be placed in <ACE COMBAT 7>/Game/Content/Paks/

*For Simple Install One Skin and Advanced Install options, Skin 1 is unavailable as choice due to technicalities of the game. All slots version also does not apply to Skin 1 for a similar reason.
**Skin slots 13-22 requires Additional Skin Slots mod by sincerity2103

! ! ADDITIONAL STEPS FOR EW1 MAKO COMPATIBILITY ! ! - Required only if installing Mako versions - simple or advanced install.

• Download EW1 Mako mod if you haven't
• Ensure the Mako Weapon Module (APR_PLWP_EW1_Mako_P.pak or one of the two alternatives - APR_PLWP_EW1_Mako_Gründer_P.pak or APR_PLWP_EW1_Mako_LockMart_P.pak) is present in your mod folder.
  Other modules of that mod aren't necessary for this mod's Mako Version to work.
• Ensure the Mako Weapon Module file is higher priority than this mod (has more "~" in front of its filename)
  If none of the mentioned files is present, or the file's priority is lower than this mod, SpW 1 will instead be a dud missile with 0 damage and 3s lifetime. This can be seen in hangar when selecting Special Weapon - the shown model will be a sidewinder model half-clipping into the floor with no weapon rack.
  
  
  
  
  

INCOMPATIBILITY NOTES

• Not compatible with weapon swap mods for F-22A unless explicitly stated
• Unlikely to be compatible with model swap mods, as this mod uses base game Raptor's model for customized weapon pod/bay configuration.
• Pylon for EML does not follow skin selection and remain the same for any skin
  This is due to the model using F/A-18F's model and material without skin selection override. May or may not return to fix.

If you find any issues, please report them to me through this mod page

CREDITS

• Project Aces, for making the game
• Get Home, Be Home, Stay Home, a Discord server lead by xBlazededge as a place for modding and hanging out, for all knowledge shared and
  assistance given (come join us and help us grow Ace Combat modding!)
• ApriliaBelka/CipherBravo/SIrchby, for permission to have EW1 compatibility patch
• You, for reading and giving this mod a chance.
  

AUTHOR NOTES

Putting 4-launch missile as main weapon was a rather odd choice. Originally, this was to have a salvo/stack switching feature with MP Radio Button input (up/down - adjust stack limit, left/right - adjust salvo size & target limit). However, initial tests were unsuccessful and HUD would have needed alteration to indicate current choice. Idea may or may not be revisited in a different mod.

This mod also serves as a test platform for dummy file as error-preventing method, to gauge user feedback.

No UE4 Blueprint (specifically EventGraph editing) was done for this mod - only classical UAssetGUI editing & Blender + UE4 cooking, and for once in a while the loadout in the mod does not feature droptank-triggered (auxiliary) weapon.