Model number: GT-9600
Code name: Gundam Leopard
Unit type: heavy weapons mobile suit
Manufacturer: United Nations Earth
Operator: Vulture; United Nations Earth
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 16.8 meters
Weight: empty 8.5 metric metric tons; max gross weight unknown
Armor materials: lunar titanium alloy armor and frame
Powerplant: ultracompact fusion reactor, power output rating unknown
Equipment and design features: flash system, allows Newtype pilot to remote-control FT-9600 GT-Bit mobile bits; optional S-1 booster, provides underwater propulsion and mobility; sensors, range unknown
Fixed armaments: inner arm Gatling, mounted on backpack, fits over left arm when deployed; 2 x Gatling gun, fire-linked, mounted in chest; 2 x hornet missile, mountd in knees; 11-tube missile launcher, mounted on right shoulder; 2 x vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x cannon, fire-linked, mounted in head; 6 x grenade launcher, optional fire-link, mounted on right forearm; beam knife, stored in recharge rack in right leg, hand-carried in use
Optional fixed armaments: 4-tube missile pod, mounted on left leg

Technical and Historical Notes

During the 7th Space War, the United Nations Earth developed and deployed three advanced new mobile suit designs to counter the Space Revolutionary Army. One of these new units was the GT-9600 Gundam Leopard, and like its brethren GW-9800 Gundam Airmaster and GX-9900 Gundam X, it was equipped with a "flash system", enabling a Newtype pilot to mentally remote-control a large number of bit mobile suits (or "mobile bits") - in the Leopard's case, the FT-9600 GT-Bit. Although incapable of atmospheric flight, the Leopard was equipped with a set of gliding wheels in its feet, allowing it to "drive" on the ground at high speeds. The Leopard was also massive armored and armed, with its primary weapon being a large-caliber "inner arm Gatling" which was fitted over the left arm when in use. A multitude of additional armaments, including various missiles, grenade launchers, and shell-firing weapons, made the Gundam Leopard a literal walking fortress.

Although an unknown number of Leopards were manufactured, only one unit is known to have survived the war. This last remaining Leopard would find its way into the hands of Vulture mercenary pilot Roybea Loy, who operated this heavily-armed Gundam during the military chaos occuring in A.W. 0015. Later that same year, Kid Salsamille, the ingenious young mobile suit mechanic aboard the Vulture land battleship Freeden, developed an optional "S-1" booster, allowing the Leopard to operate underwater like an amphibious mobile suit. The unit would later be upgraded to the GT-9600-D Gundam Leopard Destroy after being heavily damaged in a battle with Milra Draido's NRX-010 Gable.

Miscellaneous Information

Pilot: Roybea Loy
Appearances: After War Gundam X; After War Gundam X: Under the Moonlight
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara

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