FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam – MechaBay

The FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam was a prototype general purpose transformable mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics as an upgrade to the MSZ-010S Enhanced ZZ Gundam. It was operated by the AEUG during the final stages of the First Neo Zeon War.

The “F” in the model code stood for “Federation” and the “A” indicated it was an experimental mobile suit. The “010” in the model code denoted it was developed from the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam line, and the “S” suffix indicated it was the “Special” or enhanced version.

History

Despite its high power and performance, the AEUG’s MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam suffered from one critical flaw: its complicated construction and transformation systems made it somewhat structurally weak. During the last days of the First Neo Zeon War, it was decided that a full armor option was needed to address this problem, but some minor improvements to the ZZ Gundam were required before the full armor components could be applied.

Based on the earlier FA-010A FAZZ, this form was called the FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam, and it was comprised of the Enhanced ZZ Gundam with lots of heavy external armor components – many containing missile launchers, as well as a powerful hyper mega cannon on the torso armor component.

The Full Armor ZZ Gundam was deployed during the final battle of the internal conflict within Neo Zeon. It fought against Ple Two’s NZ-000 Queen Mansa, before Glemy Toto was sniped by Roux Louka in her MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam. The added armor was removed following this sortie, reverting the mobile suit to the Enhanced ZZ Gundam.

Design

Anaheim Electronics constructed a Full Armor System for the Enhanced ZZ Gundam, adding many missile launchers and an extra beam cannon for higher firepower. It also received additional armor with anti-beam coating, enabling it to withstand standard output beam shots for around 3 seconds.

The Full Armor ZZ Gundam retained the same basic frame and powerplant as the Enhanced ZZ Gundam, with a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 7,860 kW. However, the additional armor and weaponry significantly increased its gross weight from 71.6 metric tons to 87.2 metric tons.

While the Full Armor upgrade solved many of the ZZ Gundam’s problems, a new problem was introduced in the form of the armor’s restrictive bulk, which inhibited transformation. In order to transform into G-Fortress mode, the Full Armor parts would have to be removed, returning the mobile suit to its Enhanced ZZ Gundam form.

The mobile suit retained the Core Block System that allowed the separation of the FXA-07GB Neo Core Fighter from the torso. It also featured the same bio-sensor system as its predecessors.

Armaments

The Full Armor ZZ Gundam retained all the weapons of the Enhanced ZZ Gundam whilst adding numerous additional missile launchers and beam weapons for increased firepower.

60 mm vulcan guns

The mobile suit mounted a pair of 60mm 2-barrel vulcan guns in its head, with 400 rounds of ammunition per gun. These were primarily used for intercepting incoming missiles and engaging lightly armored vehicles and mobile suit sensors at close range.

High mega cannon

The high mega cannon was mounted in the head and was operable in mobile suit mode only, with a power rating of 50 MW. This was one of the most powerful beam weapons mounted on a mobile suit of its size, capable of destroying multiple enemies with a single shot, though its power requirements often left the mobile suit nearly drained after use.

Hyper beam sabers

The Full Armor ZZ Gundam carried two hyper beam sabers with a power rating of 1.1 MW each, stored in recharge racks in the backpack. These could also function as double beam cannons when mounted in the backpack, with a combined power rating of 40 MW total (2 x 20 MW).

Double beam rifle

The double beam rifle had a power rating of 21.2 MW total (2 x 10.6 MW) and was mounted on the right forearm in the Full Armor configuration. This unique two-barrelled weapon provided exceptional firepower and featured a cockpit that could be used for G-Fortress mode operation.

Missile systems

The Full Armor configuration added extensive missile capability:

Two 18-tube missile launchers mounted on the backpack, with 2 round magazine per tube
Two 6-tube spray missile launchers mounted on the shoulders
Two 8-tube missile pods mounted on the torso
Two 2-tube large missile pods mounted on the torso
One 3-tube missile pod mounted on the left forearm

Hyper mega cannon

By removing the missile launcher on the right side of the backpack, it is also possible to equip a hyper mega cannon with an output of 79.8 MW. It is the same type as operated by the FA-010A FAZZ. This massive weapon provided devastating firepower but required a direct connection to the mobile suit’s power generator.

Known pilots

Judau Ashta

Behind the scenes

Akitaka Mika was the original mechanical designer for the Full Armor ZZ Gundam. The design team for Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ included Akitaka Mika, Makoto Kobayashi, Izubuchi Yutaka, Hajime Katoki and more.

The concept was based on the earlier FA-010A FAZZ, which served as a testbed for the Full Armor components that would eventually be applied to the Enhanced ZZ Gundam.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

External links

FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam on the Gundam Wiki
FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam on MAHQ