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C-88 Medea

Transport aircraft developed by the Earth Federation Forces as an improved variant of the standard Medea.
Jenxi Seow Published 23 Jun 2025 Updated 23 Jun 2025
C-88 Medea

The C-88 Medea was a transport aircraft developed by the Earth Federation Forces as an improved variant of the standard Medea transport plane. It featured a redesigned fuselage and cargo section, along with more powerful jet engines for enhanced performance.

The “C-88” designation indicated it was a cargo transport variant developed late in the One Year War, representing the Federation’s ongoing efforts to improve their logistics capabilities.

History

The Earth Federation Forces developed the C-88 Medea as a late-production variant of the standard Medea transport aircraft. Unlike the larger predecessor, the C-88’s container was merged with the fuselage, creating a more streamlined and aerodynamically efficient design. This modification sacrificed some cargo capacity in exchange for superior aerial combat and flight abilities.

The C-88 first saw service during the later stages of the One Year War, when several units were stationed at the Federation’s Arctic Base. On 9 December UC 0079, the base came under attack by the Principality of Zeon’s special forces Cyclops Team. During the assault, team member Gabriel Ramirez Garcia destroyed the cockpit of one C-88 Medea with his MSM-03C Hygogg, searching unsuccessfully for the RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 “Alex” in its cargo hold.

The C-88 remained in Federation service well beyond the One Year War. In UC 0083, during the Delaz Conflict, three C-88 Medea units landed at Torrington Base in Australia on 14 October, carrying reinforcements and supplies from Jaburo. These aircraft transported two units of RGC-83 GM Cannon II, along with pilots Alpha A. Bait, Bernard Monsha, and Chap Adel.

When the Federation leadership believed Jaburo was the target of the Delaz Fleet’s colony drop on 13 November UC 0083, multiple C-88 Medea units participated in an emergency evacuation from the base. However, the colony Island Ease passed over Jaburo at 0013 hours (local time 2013 hours), revealing it was not the intended target.

The C-88 also saw service with specialised units, including a modified version equipped with bomber capabilities that was operated by the Federation black ops unit Slave Wraith. This variant demonstrated the aircraft’s adaptability for different mission profiles beyond standard transport duties.

Design

The C-88 Medea represented a significant evolution from the standard Medea design, prioritising speed and aerodynamic efficiency over maximum cargo capacity. The most notable change was the integration of the cargo container with the main fuselage, eliminating the detachable container system used by the original Medea. This modification created a more streamlined profile that reduced drag and improved flight performance.

The aircraft was powered by eight jet engines, a substantial increase from the standard Medea’s propulsion system. Each wing was fitted with an additional jet engine, contributing to the total of eight powerplants that provided superior thrust and speed compared to the original design. This enhanced propulsion system enabled the C-88 to achieve better performance in both atmospheric flight and aerial combat situations.

The C-88’s aerodynamic improvements came at the cost of VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) capability. Unlike the standard Medea, which featured rotors for vertical operations, the C-88 relied entirely on conventional jet propulsion. This trade-off limited the aircraft’s operational flexibility but significantly improved its speed and fuel efficiency for long-range transport missions.

Despite its smaller cargo capacity compared to the standard Medea, the C-88 could still accommodate two mobile suits, making it valuable for mobile suit transport operations. The aircraft was generally used for transporting important personnel and equipment in secured airspace, where its superior speed and aerial combat ability could be fully utilised.

The C-88 lacked the defensive armament found on the standard Medea, which carried twin anti-air machine guns. This reflected the aircraft’s intended role in secured areas where escort protection was available, prioritising cargo space and performance over self-defence capability.

Known pilots

  • Edward Lee

Behind the scenes

Yutaka Izubuchi was the original mechanical designer for the C-88 Medea, creating it as part of the redesigned vehicles for Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. The design represented a more realistic approach to military transport aircraft compared to the original series.

The C-88’s name was initially written as ミディア instead of ミデア in the concept art for 0080, but this was corrected back to ミデア in subsequent 0083 concept art, maintaining consistency with the original Medea nomenclature.

The C-88 represented the design philosophy of 0080, which sought to create more realistic and practical military equipment. The trade-offs inherent in the design—sacrificing VTOL capability and defensive armament for speed and efficiency—reflected real-world aircraft design considerations.

Appearances

See also