ComStar's military force never had to undertake full-scale BattleMech production as it never incurred any significant losses. Any necessary replacements were easily filled from ComStar's vast inventory of Star League-era 'Mechs. Then came the Clan invasion and the horrors of Tukayyid.
       ComStar found itself facing massive losses to the ComGuards, not only from sheer battlefield losses, but from defections to the Word of Blake forces in the Free World's League as well. As a result of these combined drains on its resources, ComStar began a massive program of rebuilding factories to create a new generation of BattleMechs to replenish its losses.
       The Blankenburg Technologies facility on Terra was the first factory to be ready for full production. Rather than build age-old Star League designs, the facility would produce a new age of ComStar BattleMechs, led by the Grim Reaper.

       At the heart of the Grim Reaper long-range capabilities are a Holly LRM-20 rack, coupled with a Blankenburg Technologies extended range large laser. The goal of this design combination was to give the Reaper the ability to wear down any opponents at long ranges, while still providing long-range fire-support capabilities if needed.
       At short ranges the Reaper is even more menacing. It carries the proven Holly SRM-6 missile array mounted on its left arm, with the missile launch tubes surrounding its medium pulse laser. The missile ammunition is stored in the left torso, but both the torso and arm are equipped with CASE to prevent any stored or already loaded/armed missiles that explode from doing more than minimal damage to the internal structure.
       For defense the Grim Reaper is protected with a strong shell of StarGuard 3056 ferro-fibrous armor, manufactured in the Homer Plant just outside the Blankenburg factory. A McArthur II anti-missile system, an updated remanufacture of the Star League's standard AMS, sits in the 'Mech's neck region.

       Grim Reaper went into production only five months after the battle of Tukayyid, with shipment of the new 'Mechs beginning almost immediately. In a surprising move, ComStar has sold a number of Grim Reaper to the Draconis Combine. Most of these have been assigned to the First and Second Sword of Light regiments, replacing their losses. They can be found in the most numbers in the Free Rasalhague Republic, where the Corn Guards have begun a massive entrenchment effort, preparing for the inevitable Clan offensive toward Terra.