METEOR

Model number: N/A
Code name: METEOR
Unit type: Mobile suit Embedded Tactical EnfORcer (METEOR)
Manufacturer(s): Verne, Wells Design Bureaus
Operator(s): ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty); Three Ships Alliance; Serpent Tail
First deployment: 26 September C.E. 71
Dimensions: overall length 99.46 meters; overall width 60.12 meters
Weight: 552.42 metric tons (not including mobile suit)
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown (original units; some later units modified to run on nuclear power)
Propulsion: unknown
Fixed armaments: 2 x 120cm high-energy beam cannon; 2 x 93.7cm high-energy beam cannon; 2 x MA-X200 beam sword; 77 x 60 cm “Erinaceus” anti-ship missile launchers (22 per pod, 12 per arm unit, 9 on tail fin)

ZAFT’s Mobile suit Embedded Tactical EnfORcer (METEOR) was a mobile weapons platform designed for use by the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam and ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam. Although both units were already well-armed, the METEOR units made them the equivalent of a mobile fortress. The METEOR’s extensive armament included four high energy beam cannons, two beam swords and 77 missile launchers located all across the main body. The beam cannons and missile launchers were effective weapons against ships and mobile suits, and the beam swords could slice into a battleship and easily destroy it. As the METEOR units were intended for mobile suits with nuclear reactors, they were equipped with energy batteries. However, two later METEOR units were modified to run on nuclear energy, allowing non-nuclear mobile suits to use them.

The original METEOR units were stored aboard the transport ship Eternal, which was also designed to support the two Gundams. Pilots Athrun Zala and Kira Yamato used their METEOR units near the Bloody Valentine War’s end to prevent another Earth Alliance nuclear attack on the PLANTs. In the final battle in September C.E. 71, Athrun abandoned his METEOR unit to penetrate the GENESIS doomsday weapon, while Kira’s METEOR was destroyed by Rau Le Creuset’s ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam. The METEOR’s design was also the basis of another ZAFT unit, the 35A/MPFM Multipurpose Flight Module. Just before the start of the Second Bloody Valentine War, two METEOR units were used by Serpent Tail mercenaries Gai Murakumo and Elijah Kiel. During the war’s last battle in C.E. 74, the METEORs again played an important role in the battlefield, this time for Athrun’s ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice Gundam and Kira’s ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam. One year later, two METEOR units were used by Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman to suppress a coup d’état within ZAFT launched by Defense Committee Chairman Hari Jagannath in support of the Kingdom of Foundation’s attempt to reimpose the Destiny Plan on the world.

First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara

Rear view