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 Armor materials: 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 May 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 on September 27, 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 in 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. In early C.E. 74, PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Gilbert Durandal orders the destruction of the Archangeland Freedom Gundam after their interference in several battles between the Alliance and ZAFT. Soon after, ZAFT then initiates "Operation Angel Down," and during that battle the Freedom Gundam is destroyed by Shinn Asuka's ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam.