General and Technical Data
Model number: ZGMF-X10ACode name: Freedom GundamUnit type: prototype assault mobile suitManufacturer: Integrated Design BureauOperator(s): ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty); Three Ships AllianceFirst deployment: 5 May C.E. 71Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torsoDimensions: head height 18.03 metersWeight: max gross weight 71.5 metric tonsArmor materials: unknownPowerplant: ultracompact nuclear fission reactor, power output rated at 8826 kWEquipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Phase Shift (PS) armor; Neutron Jammer CancelerFixed 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
Design
Freedom was designed by Kunio Okawara, who puts heavy emphasis on anime/toy features for his designs rather than looking pretty. According to the Interview of Kunio Okawara, before even Freedom design process was started, Bandai already planned to sell Freedom as toys. Freedom's gimmicks was planned to be simple. This simple designs are to keep toy products cheaper as complicated designs cost more.
The interview also explains the design process of Gundam SEED Mobile Suits. As basis for Freedom's design, Mitsuo Fukuda, the director of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, gave instruction to make Freedom looks like GAT-X105 Strike Gundam with the ability of aile, launcher, and sword Striker Packs all together. However, it was hard to settle on a design with all of the three abilities. Using one of his old game character design, Kunio Okawara give idea of a Gundam with wings and cannon. Fukuda agreed on this firepower-focused Gundam design which totally changed the original concept.
According to the same interview, a paper model was made by Okawara in the process of completing Freedom design in order to think the wing and cannon features. Okawara wanted to avoid any structural transformation mistakes and complicated transformations that are undetectable via two dimensional art. This model also helped the animators and model/toy division by making things simpler, which lowers costs.
As many mobile suits in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, Freedom has features that resemble famous systems from mobile suits of the other previous Gundam metaseries.
One of the most noticeable feature resembling famous systems from mobile suits of the other previous Gundam metaseries, is the twin cannons mounted in Freedom wings, which mounted over shoulders in use. This is similar to GX-9901-DX Gundam Double X which has Twin Satellite Cannons which function in similar manner except the Twin Satellite Cannons is folded and hanging freely on Double X's back rather than folded inside the wings as Freedom.
There are many more similarities to other famous features of the other previous Gundam metaseries, however, it also has the series's original features, the capability to lock on to multiple enemies, which later also inherited to ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam.
A rather popular joke among fans is the idea of the Freedom with a mono-eye head. Since Freedom's design is a radical departure from ZAFT's traditional mono-eye design, ZAFT would have never built the Gundams as logically, Freedom should have looked more like a GuAIZ.
This idea was seen in the sidestory manga Gundam SEED Astray R, in which the main character, Lowe Guele, had the idea of replacing the damaged Freedom's head with a GINN's. He later equips the YMF-X000A Dreadnought Gundam with a GuAIZ head in Astray X. This idea is similar to Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, in which the Zeta Gundam's head is destroyed and replaced with a Zaku's
The interview also explains the design process of Gundam SEED Mobile Suits. As basis for Freedom's design, Mitsuo Fukuda, the director of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, gave instruction to make Freedom looks like GAT-X105 Strike Gundam with the ability of aile, launcher, and sword Striker Packs all together. However, it was hard to settle on a design with all of the three abilities. Using one of his old game character design, Kunio Okawara give idea of a Gundam with wings and cannon. Fukuda agreed on this firepower-focused Gundam design which totally changed the original concept.
According to the same interview, a paper model was made by Okawara in the process of completing Freedom design in order to think the wing and cannon features. Okawara wanted to avoid any structural transformation mistakes and complicated transformations that are undetectable via two dimensional art. This model also helped the animators and model/toy division by making things simpler, which lowers costs.
As many mobile suits in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, Freedom has features that resemble famous systems from mobile suits of the other previous Gundam metaseries.
One of the most noticeable feature resembling famous systems from mobile suits of the other previous Gundam metaseries, is the twin cannons mounted in Freedom wings, which mounted over shoulders in use. This is similar to GX-9901-DX Gundam Double X which has Twin Satellite Cannons which function in similar manner except the Twin Satellite Cannons is folded and hanging freely on Double X's back rather than folded inside the wings as Freedom.
There are many more similarities to other famous features of the other previous Gundam metaseries, however, it also has the series's original features, the capability to lock on to multiple enemies, which later also inherited to ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam.
A rather popular joke among fans is the idea of the Freedom with a mono-eye head. Since Freedom's design is a radical departure from ZAFT's traditional mono-eye design, ZAFT would have never built the Gundams as logically, Freedom should have looked more like a GuAIZ.
This idea was seen in the sidestory manga Gundam SEED Astray R, in which the main character, Lowe Guele, had the idea of replacing the damaged Freedom's head with a GINN's. He later equips the YMF-X000A Dreadnought Gundam with a GuAIZ head in Astray X. This idea is similar to Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, in which the Zeta Gundam's head is destroyed and replaced with a Zaku's
Characteristics and features
In the anime, Freedom features high firepower and high mobility and excels as medium range mobile suit, as it has various range weapons and high speed. In medium range combat, a beam rifle and twins railguns are available. For long range, there are twin plasma beam cannons, which is wing-mounted and mounted over shoulders in use. For defensive purpose, a large shield can be equipped on left arm. The shield is similar to its companion's shield, the ZGMF-X09A Justice which excels in close combat. Despite its excels as medium range mobile suit, Kira often use it as close combat mobile suit, using Freedom's high speed and the combinable beam saber, aside from the CIWS, which also can be utilized.
Additionally, Freedom is compatible with METEOR (Mobile suit Embedded Tactical EnfORcer) weapon system to augment its already impressive firepower. This METEOR is a large mobile weapons platform with powerful thrusters and an even more powerful armament of battleship-caliber beam cannons, large beam swords, and dozens of heavy missile launchers that is designed specifically for the Freedom and its brother unit, ZGMF-X09A Justice.
The "trademark" feature of Freedom is that it has capability to lock onto multiple units. This multi lock capability allows the pilot, to target several enemies at once with multiple weapons salvo firings. This ability is known as "Full Burst Mode" in the master grade model kit manual and Arcade/PlayStation 2 video game, Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. and Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED Destiny: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. II Plus. This ability is also shared by the Strike Freedom, as well as the MVF-M12A Ootsukigata. Also, the ZGMF-X09A Justice and ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice also have this capability for use with the METEOR weapon system.
Freedom's high mobility come from a set of ten wings housed on its backpack/thruster array. These wings give the Freedom HiMAT (High Maneuver Aerial Tactical) mode capability for superior speed, mobility and agility. The Freedom's HiMAT's special effects (which show blue or red, sparkling gas coming off the trailing edges of the wings when in flight) is similar to the concept of real world altitude compensating nozzles of Aerospike engine.
Freedom is powered by Ultracompact Nuclear Fission reactor. This reactor provides an effectively unlimited energy supply for its Phase Shift Armor and its weapons and give significant advantage to other battery-based mobile suit in terms of endurance. Kira Yamato once said in episode 34 of TV series anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, that the Freedom has four times output capability of GAT-X105 Strike Gundam. However, because of the effects of the N-Jammers, Freedom is equipped with Neutron Jammer Canceller to allow the mobile suit using nuclear reactor.
Additionally, Freedom is compatible with METEOR (Mobile suit Embedded Tactical EnfORcer) weapon system to augment its already impressive firepower. This METEOR is a large mobile weapons platform with powerful thrusters and an even more powerful armament of battleship-caliber beam cannons, large beam swords, and dozens of heavy missile launchers that is designed specifically for the Freedom and its brother unit, ZGMF-X09A Justice.
The "trademark" feature of Freedom is that it has capability to lock onto multiple units. This multi lock capability allows the pilot, to target several enemies at once with multiple weapons salvo firings. This ability is known as "Full Burst Mode" in the master grade model kit manual and Arcade/PlayStation 2 video game, Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. and Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED Destiny: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. II Plus. This ability is also shared by the Strike Freedom, as well as the MVF-M12A Ootsukigata. Also, the ZGMF-X09A Justice and ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice also have this capability for use with the METEOR weapon system.
Freedom's high mobility come from a set of ten wings housed on its backpack/thruster array. These wings give the Freedom HiMAT (High Maneuver Aerial Tactical) mode capability for superior speed, mobility and agility. The Freedom's HiMAT's special effects (which show blue or red, sparkling gas coming off the trailing edges of the wings when in flight) is similar to the concept of real world altitude compensating nozzles of Aerospike engine.
Freedom is powered by Ultracompact Nuclear Fission reactor. This reactor provides an effectively unlimited energy supply for its Phase Shift Armor and its weapons and give significant advantage to other battery-based mobile suit in terms of endurance. Kira Yamato once said in episode 34 of TV series anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, that the Freedom has four times output capability of GAT-X105 Strike Gundam. However, because of the effects of the N-Jammers, Freedom is equipped with Neutron Jammer Canceller to allow the mobile suit using nuclear reactor.
In Gundam SEED Destiny
After the Bloody Valentine War (main plot of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED), the Freedom is repaired and hidden in a secret underground base in Orb, where it remains for more than a year.
It returns to action in December CE 73, shown in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, after an assassination attempt against Lacus Clyne. Kira launches in Freedom and manages to defeat the assassins' UMF/SSO-3 ASH mobile suits. Later on, the Freedom was used by Kira in two failed attempts to stop the battling between Orb and ZAFT forces. It also destroyed the GFAS-X1 Destroy in Berlin, killing Stella Loussier. Shortly thereafter, Freedom was destroyed by the ZGMF-X56S Impulse, piloted by Shinn Asuka, during a ZAFT attack against the Archangel. Kira shuts down Freedom's nuclear reactor before losing consciousness, and is rescued by the MBF-02 Strike Rouge, piloted by his sister Cagalli Yula Athha
It returns to action in December CE 73, shown in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, after an assassination attempt against Lacus Clyne. Kira launches in Freedom and manages to defeat the assassins' UMF/SSO-3 ASH mobile suits. Later on, the Freedom was used by Kira in two failed attempts to stop the battling between Orb and ZAFT forces. It also destroyed the GFAS-X1 Destroy in Berlin, killing Stella Loussier. Shortly thereafter, Freedom was destroyed by the ZGMF-X56S Impulse, piloted by Shinn Asuka, during a ZAFT attack against the Archangel. Kira shuts down Freedom's nuclear reactor before losing consciousness, and is rescued by the MBF-02 Strike Rouge, piloted by his sister Cagalli Yula Athha
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 Archangel and 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 Archangel and 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.
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 Archangel and 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 Archangel and 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.
