MAX-03 Adzam

The MAX-03 Adzam was an experimental ground combat mobile armor developed by the Principality of Zeon Granada Base. It was one of the earliest mobile armor designs produced by Zeon.

The “MA” in the type code referred to it being a mobile armor, while the “X” identified it as an experimental model. The “03” variant code indicated that it was the third design in this series.

History

The Principality of Zeon developed the MAX-03 Adzam from the G87 Luna Tank, a mobile weapon designed for the defence of Granada. They modified its design for use on Earth by replacing the Luna Tank’s rocket engines with eight hover engines and equipping it with an experimental Minovsky Craft System.

One unit was assigned to M’Quve’s mining division on Earth. M’Quve and Kycilia Zabi piloted this Adzam in battle against the RX-78-2 Gundam. Though they nearly destroyed the Gundam using the Leader weapon system, its effectiveness wore off and allowed Amuro Ray to deal significant damage to the Adzam, forcing its retreat.

A second unit saw action at Odessa. This Adzam was destroyed by Matt Healy piloting the RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type. A third unit stationed in Australia, known as the Adzam Olga, was destroyed by the White Dingo Team.

Design

The MAX-03 Adzam functioned essentially as a mobile gun turret since its design predated the mobile armor concept. Its interior layout differed significantly from the G87 Luna Tank, replacing the large fuel tank with the Leader system, Minovsky Craft particle generator, power field generator and other systems. However, the cockpit retained much of the Luna Tank’s design with only minor modifications to displays and controls.

The Adzam required a crew of two—a pilot and a gunner—though the pilot could operate it alone in emergencies. Though equipped with an experimental Minovsky Craft System that enabled hovering, the system was incapable of sustained flight.

Armaments

The Adzam’s standard weapons were twin mega particle cannons for ranged combat and the Leader system for disabling enemy units.

Twin mega particle cannon

Eight twin-barreled mega particle cannon turrets were mounted on the Adzam’s main body—four on the upper section and four underneath. This configuration provided 360-degree coverage for both attack and defence.

Leader system

The Adzam carried three Leaders, also known as Adzam Leaders. These were hovering drones that generated high-frequency electromagnetic waves through wires. The system consisted of two components:

The first was a conductive powder pod that dispersed highly conductive particles over the target. The Leader could then generate temperatures up to 4,000 degrees Celsius against targets covered in this powder.

Even without the conductive powder, the Leader could disable enemy mobile weapons by destroying their electronics through its electromagnetic field. However, the field weakened rapidly, making it only temporarily effective against well-protected mobile suits like the RX-78-2 Gundam.

Special equipment and features

Minovsky Craft System

The Adzam was one of the few Zeon mobile weapons during the One Year War equipped with the Minovsky Craft System. This system used charged Minovsky particles trapped in an electromagnetic field to generate an I-field cushion between the vessel and the ground, enabling hovering and limited flight capabilities in Earth’s atmosphere.

Known pilots

• M’Quve
• Kycilia Zabi
• Carlos Kaiser

Variants

• MAX-03 Adzam Olga – Australian variant with thicker leg armor, machine gun turrets replacing mega particle cannons, and missile launchers
• MAX-03M Metal Adzam
• OMAX-03RF RF Adzam
• Adzam Repair

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer.

“Adzam” is “Mazda” spelled backwards, likely a tribute to the Japanese car company Mazda.

In Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon DX, the Adzam’s lower mega particle cannons remained unchanged while the upper cannons fired conventional shells instead of beam weapons.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam
• Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon DX
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles

External links

• MAX-03 Adzam on the Gundam Wiki
• MAX-03 Adzam on MAHQ