MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame

Standard version

Equipped with flight unit

Equipped with salvage unit

Equipped with Ddraig Head

Standard version

Equipped with flight unit

Equipped with salvage unit

Equipped with Ddraig Head

General and Technical Data

Model number: MBF-P02
Code name: Gundam Astray Red Frame
Unit type: prototype general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Morgenroete, Inc
Operator: Junk Guild
Rollout: 10 January C.E. 70
First deployment: 25 January C.E. 71
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.53 meters
Weight: max gross weight 49.8 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; optional flight unit; optional salvage unit; optional Power Loader mecha unit; optional Ddraig Head
Fixed armaments: 2 x “Igelstellung” 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, mounted on head; 2 x beam saber, power rating unknown, mounted on shoulders, hand-carried in use
Optional hand armaments: Type 71 beam rifle; “Caletvwlch” sword/gun; “Gerbera Straight” katana; shield, mounted on left forearm

Technical and Historical Notes

When the Earth Alliance began a project to build its own mobile suits, the initial work was done in conjunction with the Morgenroete research facility on the Orb space colony Heliopolis. While Orb assisted in the research, they had an ulterior motive: steal the data from the Alliance to build their own mobile suits. From the stolen data, Orb constructed five prototype Gundam Astray units. While Orb was able to copy the Alliance’s beam saber and beam rifle technology, they were unable to duplicate the Phase Shift armor and compensated by making the Astrays light and maneuverable. As with the Alliance suits, the Astrays were equipped with hand plugs to exchange energy and data with their carried weapons. The Alliance and Orb used different hand plugs, and only weapons designed for the Astray could be used without any modifications. However, the Red Frame was capable of emitting beam energy from its hand plugs for use as an emergency weapon. The development of the Astray project was interrupted when ZAFT attacked Heliopolis on January 25, C.E. 71. Orb desired to keep the Astray project secret and destroyed the Astray factory, but a Coordinator named Rondo Gina Sahaku was determined to save the units. To that end, he downloaded the data from all the Astray units into the Red Frame, including the latest version of the Astray operating system. The latest version of the Astray OS allowed a Natural to pilot the suit, similar to the OS developed later on by Kira Yamato for the mass produced MBF-M1 M1 Astray.

Following the destruction of the Astray factory, the Red Frame was discovered by Junk Guild merchant Lowe Guele. Although the Red Frame came armed with a beam saber and beam rifle, Lowe refrained from using these weapons because they drained energy from the Red Frame’s battery. Instead, he preferred to use the “Gerbera Straight” katana, which was created for him by an eccentric old man named Un No. After Lowe discovered the Red Frame, several parties made various attempts to capture the unit. In one such attempt, Orb test pilot Juri Wu Nien briefly stole the Red Frame to test if its operating system allowed a Natural to pilot a mobile suit. In his travels, Lowe also encountered the MBF-P01 Gundam Astray Gold Frame, piloted by Rondo. In one encounter, the Red Frame was damaged and forced to enter Earth’s atmosphere. Lowe repaired the destroyed right arm by replacing it with the Gold Frame’s right arm. At Orb’s Morgenroete facility, Lowe acquired a flight pack designed for the M1 Astray. He also utilized an underwater salvage unit built out of the upper frame from an amphibious UMF-4A GOOhN. Later on, Lowe created further upgrades for his suit.

Miscellaneous Information

Pilot(s): Lowe Guele, Marlin (aka Juri Wu Nien)
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY
Original mechanical designer(s): Junichi Akutsu (mobile suit), Yoshihiko Machida (flight unit and underwater gear)

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