ARX-014S Silver Bullet Suppressor
Quasi-psycommu test mobile suit developed by the Republic of Zeon.
The ARX-014S Silver Bullet Suppressor was a quasi-psycommu test mobile suit developed by the Republic of Zeon based on an Anaheim Electronics design. It was a heavily modified version of the ARX-014 Silver Bullet.
The “ARX” prefix indicated it was an experimental mobile suit based on Anaheim Electronics technology, “014” denoted its development number, and the “S” suffix stood for “Suppressor”, referring to its function of deterring hostile organisations.
History
The ARX-014S Silver Bullet Suppressor was created from a Silver Bullet testbed unit stored aboard the Magallanica. The “Suppressor” in its name referred to its function of deterring/suppressing hostile organizations. The Suppressor dropped the incoms featured in the original Silver Bullet, and its head and backpack were substantially redesigned.
The Silver Bullet Suppressor was piloted by Banagher Links after the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam was sealed within the Magallanica. In UC 0097, it intervened in the combat that took place at the Helium-3 storage base, saving the RX-9/C Narrative Gundam C-Packs’ Core Fighter from being destroyed by the NZ-999 II Neo Zeong. This single action of Silver Bullet Suppressor triggered a change in the course of the battle.
Design
The ARX-014S Silver Bullet Suppressor was a remodeled version of a ARX-014 Silver Bullet stored in the Magallanica. The main reason for the remodeling was to enable it to use the RX-0 series’ beam magnum. To accomplish this, its right arm is modified to be exchangeable, its backpack is changed to one that stores four replacement arms and an arm exchange system consisting of a crane and rail is installed on the rear waist armor.
These measures allowed the exchange of the right arm after each shot of the beam magnum, countering the malfunctions that occurred to the arm due to its intense recoil. Other notable modifications include its face being greatly different, the number of antennas are increased to a total of six, modified knees and new feet. All of the modifications were possible due to the high extensibility of the original Silver Bullet. The colours of the mobile suit have also been changed to a black colour scheme.
The mobile suit maintained the same ultracompact fusion reactor as the base Silver Bullet, generating an output of 5,250 kW. It also retained the quasi-psycommu system that allowed non-Newtype pilots to conduct all-range attacks.
Armaments
The Silver Bullet Suppressor’s standard weapons were two vulcan guns for close-range defence, two beam cannons for ranged attacks, and two beam sabers for melee combat. Its most distinctive feature was its ability to use the RX-0 series’ beam magnum.
Beam magnum
The beam magnum was the Silver Bullet Suppressor’s primary weapon, though not originally designed for it. Due to the beam magnum’s heavy recoil, the right forearm holding it was damaged and rendered inoperable after a single shot. To compensate for this problem, the Suppressor’s backpack mounted four replacement right forearms, and a crane and rail system automatically replaced the right forearm after each beam magnum shot.
The beam magnum was one of the most powerful handheld beam weapons available, capable of destroying multiple mobile suits with a single shot. Originally designed for the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, it required the special materials and construction of Gundam-type mobile suits to handle its recoil.
60 mm vulcan guns
A pair of 60 mm vulcan guns were mounted in the Silver Bullet Suppressor’s head. These rapid-fire weapons were used primarily against light-armored support units and for missile defence. They provided close-range defensive capabilities when the main weapons were unavailable.
Beam cannons
Two beam cannons were mounted in the backpack binders. Each cannon had a power rating of 4.2 MW. These weapons provided medium-range firepower and could be used independently or in conjunction with other weapons systems.
Beam sabers
The Silver Bullet Suppressor carried two beam sabers stored in recharge racks in the hip armor. These weapons were used for close-quarters combat when ranged weapons were ineffective.
The beam sabers used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level. This meant that the beam saber could cut through almost any material.
Grenade launchers
A pair of grenade launchers were stored in the lower chest section of the Silver Bullet Suppressor. When in use, the grenade launchers slide down from the bottom of the chest armor. These weapons provided area-effect damage capabilities against multiple targets or fortified positions.
Quasi-psycommu system
The quasi-psycommu system was developed to allow the use of remote weaponry by non-Newtypes. This system actively scans the pilot’s brainwaves and then translate the thoughts into commands for the remote weapons. Using the quasi-psycommu, even non-Newtypes can control simple wire-guided remote weapons, such as INCOMs.
Known pilots
Behind the scenes
Eiji Komatsu was the original mechanical designer. The Silver Bullet Suppressor was designed specifically for the film Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative as a way to show Banagher Links participating in the conflict after the Unicorn Gundam was sealed away.
Appearances
External links
- ARX-014S Silver Bullet Suppressor on MAHQ
- ARX-014S Silver Bullet Suppressor on the Gundam Wiki