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MA-05 Bigro

Space combat mobile armor mass produced by MIP Company for the Principality of Zeon.
Jenxi Seow Published 17 Sept 2013 Updated 7 Feb 2025
MA-05 Bigro

The MA-05 Bigro was a space combat mobile armor mass produced by the MIP Company for the Principality of Zeon.

The “MA” in the type code indicated it was a mobile armor. The “05” model number denoted it was the fifth design for this type.

History

A few years before the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon held a weapons design competition. The MIP Company entered with their experimental MIP-X1 mobile armor design. However, Zeon ultimately chose to adopt the more versatile mobile suit designs from Zeonic.

When the war began, Zeon renewed its interest in mobile armors and developed the MIP-X1 design into the MA-05 Bigro. Due to its high production costs, only limited units were produced. The Bigro proved effective in anti-warship operations thanks to its high-speed hit-and-run capabilities.

Tokwan, an ace pilot assigned to the Zanzibar, piloted a Bigro unit. Three Bigro units participated in the battle of A Baoa Qu. The Earth Federation Forces later deployed a captured Bigro during the Delaz Conflict in UC 0083, piloted by Captain Ewen Bader.

Design

The MIP Company equipped the Bigro with twin rocket thrusters that provided remarkable speed and acceleration. Its short body combined with Active Mass Balance Auto Control (AMBAC) capabilities granted it exceptional mobility, achieving 180-degree turns in just 1.3 seconds.

The mobile armor featured the distinctive mono-eye sensor system common to Zeon mobile weapons. It incorporated a Minovsky particle scattering system for electronic countermeasures, powered by a high-output Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor.

The Bigro’s armor consisted of super hard steel alloy. Its cockpit, featuring a standard linear seat configuration, was housed in the main body. The mobile armor’s custom sensors provided an impressive detection range of 111,000 metres.

Armaments

The Bigro relied on fixed weapons for combat, combining close-range claw attacks with ranged weaponry integrated into its body.

Large claws

A pair of large claws mounted on the main body served as the Bigro’s primary close-combat weapons. These claws could grapple enemy units and, when combined with the Bigro’s speed, delivered devastating strikes capable of penetrating most armor.

Mega particle cannon

A large scattering mega particle cannon mounted in the main body provided heavy firepower. The cannon generated enough power to destroy a battleship with a single shot. A retractable cover protected the cannon when not in use.

4-tube missile launchers

Two 4-tube missile launchers mounted behind the mega particle cannon provided supplementary ranged attacks. These missiles proved particularly useful during the cooldown periods between mega particle cannon shots.

Known pilots

  • Tokwan
  • Ewen Bader
  • Glennis Escot

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer.

According to Tomino Yoshiyuki, the name “Bigro” was a play on the words “big claw”.

Variants

  • MA-05R Big Ruf
  • MA-05Ad Big Rang
  • MA-05HG Buran
  • MA-05M Bigro Meir

Appearances

Anime

Manga

  • Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Space Beyond the Blaze

Games

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon DX
  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Rebellion