ORX-005 Gaplant

Model number: ORX-005
Code name: Gaplant
Unit type: prototype general purpose transformable mobile armor
Manufacturer: Augusta Research Institute
Operator: Titans
First deployment: UC 0087
Accommodation: pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso
Dimensions: mobile suit mode: overall height 25.2 meters, head height 19.8 meters; mobile armor mode: overall length 20.3 meters; mobile armor mode equipped with booster: overall length 31.6 meters
Weight: empty 50.7 metric tons; max gross 94.2 metric tons (mobile suit mode), 94.7 metric tons (mobile armor mode), 274.2 metric tons (mobile armor mode with booster); mass ratio 1.63 (mobile suit mode, mobile armor mode), 3.53 (mobile armor mode with booster)
Armor materials: Gundarium alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 3,040 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 22,000 kg, 7 x 12,000 kg, 7 x 11,000 kg; booster additional rocket engines: 19,000 kg, 2 x 12,000 kg, 2 x 8,800 kg; vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 18
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 13,000 meters; optional booster for mobile armor mode, provides extended fuel capacity and flight range
Fixed armaments: 2 x beam saber, power rated at 0.6 MW, stored in recharge racks in hip armor, hand-carried in use; 2 x beam rifle, power rated at 3.0 MW, mounted on arms

An experimental transformable mobile armor developed at the Earth Federation Forces’ Augusta Research Institute and tested by the Titans during the Gryps War, the ORX-005 Gaplant was originally designed to operate as a space combat unit, although its design proved to be just as effective in atmospheric combat. Test flown at the Augusta Newtype Laboratory on Earth, its extremely high acceleration in its mobile armor mode made the Gaplant one of the fastest and most agile mobile weapons of its time. It also mounted a pair of pivoting active thruster units which allowed the Gaplant to change directions during flight without changing the direction of its nose (a feature inspired by the RX-121 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel] High Mobility Type. However, the Gaplant suffered from two disadvantages: the G-forces it endured meant that the Gaplant could only be operated either by genetically engineered Cyber Newtypes or the toughest pilots; and the high fuel consumption meant that it needed to be equipped with an external booster in mobile armor mode for long, extended flights. Several Gaplant units were constructed: one operated by Cyber Newtype Rosamia Badam on Earth, one flown by Titans pilot Yazan Gable in space and a customized unit used by Cyber Newtype Erisia Nocton. A variant unit, the Gaplant TR-5, was fielded by the Titans Test Team and served as the base for the hulking ORX-005+LRX-007X Gaplant TR-5 [Fiver]. Further development led to the creation of additional test units.

Pilot(s): Rosamia Badam, Yazan Gable, Eliard Hunter, Wes Murphy, Carl Matsubara, Audrey April, Erisia Nocton, Valenstein, Kawase, Ingrid 0
First appearance: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Original mechanical designer(s): Kazumi Fujita (Zeta Gundam version), Kenki Fujioka (Advance of Zeta version)

Beam rifles (Version 1)

Beam saber (Version 1)

Cockpit hatch (Version 1)

Head (Version 1)

Rear view (Mobile suit mode, Version 1)

Rear view (Mobile suit mode, Version 2)

Rear view (Mobile armor mode, Version 1)

Rear view (Mobile armor mode, Version 2)