Model number: ZGMF-X10A Code
name: Freedom Gundam Unit type:
prototype assault mobile suit Manufacturer:
Integrated Design Bureau Operator(s): ZAFT
(Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty); Three Ships
Alliance First deployment: 5 May C.E.
71 Accommodation: pilot only, in standard
cockpit in torso Dimensions: head height 18.03
meters Weight: max gross weight 71.5 metric
tons Construction:
unknown Powerplant: ultracompact nuclear fission
reactor, power output rated at 8826 kW Equipment and
design features: sensors, range unknown; Phase Shift (PS)
armor; Neutron Jammer Canceler Fixed armaments:
2 x MA-M01 "Lacerta" beam saber, stored on hips, hand-carried in
use; 2 x MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS, fire-linked, mounted on head; 2
x M100 "Balaena" plasma beam cannon, stored in wings, mounted over
shoulders in use in HiMAT mode; 2 x MMI-M15 "Xiphias" rail cannon,
folded underneath hips, spread out in use in HiMAT (High Mobility
Aerial Tactics) mode, shield, mounted on left arm
Optional fixed armaments (docked with METEOR):
2 x 120cm high-energy beam cannon, 2 x 93.7cm high-energy
beam cannon, 2 x MA-X200 beam sword , 77 x 60cm "Erinaceus"
anti-ship missile launchers (22 per pod, 12 per arm unit, 9 on tail
fin) Optional hand armaments: MA-M20 "Lupus"
beam rifle, power rating unknown
Technical and Historical
Notes
After
successfully stealing four of the Earth Alliance's prototype Gundam
mobile suits, ZAFT reverse engineers them and incorporates new
technologies such as Phase Shift armor and beam sabers into their
own mobile suits. With these new technologies, ZAFT also builds
several Gundams of their own under the direction of leader Patrick
Zala. Unlike previous Gundam designs, these new units feature a
dangerous new technology: the N-Jammer Canceler. ZAFT originally
develops the N-Jammer to prevent the Alliance from using nuclear
weapons, but this also means that mobile suits have to be powered by
short life energy batteries. By creating the N-Jammer Canceler, a
mobile suit can use a nuclear fission reactor and function for a
nearly unlimited amount of time even with Phase Shift armor
activated. Unfortunately, the N-Jammer Canceler technology proves to
be a Pandora's Box that falls into the wrong hands.
The ZGMF-X10A
Freedom Gundam is one of the new Gundam designs built by ZAFT. The
Freedom Gundam is equipped with a wide variety of powerful weapons
for use in its HiMAT (High Mobility Aerial Tactics) mode. One of
these weapons is the twin "Balaena" plasma beam cannons, which are
stored in the wings and mounted over the shoulders during use. The
Freedom Gundam's other main armament consists of twin hip-mounted
"Xiphias" rail cannons. Other standard armaments include head
vulcans, twin beam sabers and a beam rifle. The Freedom Gundam is
also capable of using something far more powerful: the METEOR
support system. This mobile weapons platform is designed
specifically for use by the Freedom Gundam and ZGMF-X09A
Justice Gundam and is stored aboard the support ship Eternal.
By using the METEOR,
the Freedom Gundam can deliver a blitzkrieg attack utilizing various
cannons, missile launchers and two long beam swords.
The Freedom
Gundam is first used in late C.E. 71 when Kira Yamato steals it with
the help of Lacus Clyne. Kira uses his new suit to travel to Earth
and join the battle between ZAFT and the Alliance at Alaska.
Following the battle, Kira rejoins his comrades on the Archangeland travels to Orb after Murrue Ramius decides to defect from
the Alliance. There, Kira fights to protect Orb from the Alliance
and is later joined by his old friend and former enemy Athrun Zala
piloting his new ZGMF-X09A
Justice Gundam. Following the defeat of Orb, Kira returns to
space and is joined by Lacus Clyne and her stolen support ship Eternal,
which provides Kira with his METEOR
support system. Along with Athrun, Kira uses his METEOR
to save the PLANTs from destruction by nuclear missiles. At the
war's end, the Freedom Gundam is heavily damaged in a battle against
Rau Le Creuset's ZGMF-X13A
Providence Gundam. After the war, the Freedom Gundam is secretly
repaired and hidden at Orb. In late C.E. 73, the Freedom Gundam is
reactivated by Kira to fight off a squad of UMF/SS0-3
ASH mobile suits used by a group of special ops Coordinators
sent to assassinate Lacus. After interfering in several battles
between ZAFT and the Alliance, the PLANT Supreme Council declares
the Archangeland Freedom Gundam as menaces which must be destroyed. ZAFT
then initiates "Operation Angel Down", and during that battle the
Freedom Gundam is destroyed by Shinn Asuka's ZGMF-X56S/α
Force Impulse Gundam.