Kei Narutani and his boyhood buddy Song Minghua are Chinese exiles escaping the Zai, a mysterious group that terrorizes their nation and its people mercilessly. Fortunately, a weird red airplane saves them on their escape to Japan. Kei's infatuation with this aircraft leads him to meet his savior: Gripen, an adorable JAS-39F fighter aircraft piloted by a "Anima"—a girl who is a "Anima"—the pilot of a rare form of airplane called a "Daughter." Kei builds a relationship with Gripen and is later recruited by the Japan Self-Defense Force to assist Gripen in overcoming her flying difficulties. The squadron is later joined by Eagle, a careless F-15J-ANM, and Phantom, a proud RF-4EJ-ANM, and takes up weapons in order to safeguard mankind.