MRX-009 Psycho Gundam – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

The MRX-009 Psycho Gundam was a prototype Newtype-use transformable mobile armor developed by the Earth Federation’s Murasame Research Institute for the Titans.

The “M” in the model code stood for Murasame, the “R” indicated it was a Federation model¹ and the “X” designated it as an experimental mobile suit. The “009” in the model code denoted that it was the ninth design in the MRX series.

The Psycho Gundam was based on the earlier MRX-007 Prototype Psycho Gundam and incorporated several concepts from the MSN-02 Zeong. At 40 metres tall, it was more than twice the size of a regular mobile suit, a design requirement driven by the bulk of the psycommu system and additional features such as the Minovsky Craft System and complex transformation mechanisms.

History

As the Titans continued to build up their military and political power in their crusade to rule the Earth Sphere with an iron fist, one area of research they actively pursued was Cyber Newtypes – artificially engineered Newtypes who could operate revolutionary new Newtype-controlled weapons. At their Murasame Laboratory in Japan, the Titans built the Earth Federation Forces’ first Newtype-use unit, the MRX-009 Psycho Gundam.

The Psycho Gundam’s chosen pilot was Murasame Labs’ Cyber Newtype Number Four, or Four Murasame, and the unit was soon dispatched to destroy the AEUG and Karaba forces operating on Earth. The massive mobile armor made its first combat deployment on 29 June UC 0087, during the height of the Gryps Conflict.

The Psycho Gundam was severely damaged during an AEUG mission to launch Kamille Bidan and his RX-178 Gundam Mk-II back out into space, and the Psycho Gundam was taken to the Titans’ Kilimanjaro base in Africa, where it was repaired and equipped with an experimental new psycho-control chair, further enhancing Four’s abilities to control the Psycho Gundam. The Psycho Gundam was destroyed in combat at Kilimanjaro, but the Titans eventually rolled out a replacement, the advanced MRX-010 Psycho Gundam Mk-II.

Design

Developed by the Earth Federation Forces’ Murasame Newtype Lab as a Cyber Newtype-use machine, the MRX-009 Psycho Gundam incorporates several concepts from the MSN-02 Zeong. At 40 meters tall, it is more than twice the size of a regular mobile suit. This is due to the sheer bulk of the Psycommu System, and the addition of features like a Minovsky Craft System, a defensive I-Field, as well as complex transformation mechanisms.

Classified as a large Mobile Armor (MA), it can transform into a Mobile Armor mode known as “Mobile Fortress Mode” that is capable of atmospheric flight thanks to the Minovsky Craft System. In mobile fortress mode, the Psycho Gundam could achieve speeds of up to Mach 0.5, making it a formidable opponent in atmospheric combat.

The mobile armor featured a panoramic monitor and linear seat cockpit located in the head section. The Psycho Gundam is entirely controlled by the Psycommu System, and as it was designed to be used by Cyber Newtypes, it cannot be handled by normal humans. The massive size was necessary to accommodate the complex psycommu system, which allowed the pilot to control the unit’s weapons through thought alone.

The Psycho Gundam was constructed from Gundarium alloy armor and featured anti-beam coating for additional protection. The Psycho Gundam is fitted with an I-Field barrier for protection against enemy beam attacks. The ultracompact Minovsky fusion reactor generated an impressive 33,600 kW of power, one of the highest outputs of any mobile weapon of its era.

Armaments

The Psycho Gundam was heavily armed, sporting a 3-barreled diffuse beam cannon in its chest, ten beam guns in its fingers and a 2-barrel beam gun in its head, making the unit capable of attacking several targets at one.

Diffuse beam cannons

The Psycho Gundam has three diffuse mega particle cannons in the abdomen. They each emit multiple energy beams that can easily destroy an enemy unit in one shot. These weapons provided the mobile armor with devastating area-effect firepower capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously.

Beam guns

The fingers of the Psycho Gundam each contain a beam cannon, for a total of 10 beam cannons. This armament system was inspired by the MSN-02 Zeong and allowed the Psycho Gundam to engage targets with precision whilst maintaining the ability to continue firing even if some weapons were damaged.

Small beam cannons

Two small mega beam cannons are mounted in the center of the V-fin on the unit’s head. These weapons provided additional firepower and served as backup armament.

Shield

A large shield to protect the unit from ballistic and beam weapons. In Mobile Fortress mode, the shield splits in half and are placed on the lower sides, stabilizing the Minovsky Craft System. The shield served a dual purpose, providing protection in mobile suit mode and structural support during transformation.

Known pilots

Four Murasame
Ben Wooder

Behind the scenes

Katsuji Murakami was the original mechanical designer for the MRX-009 Psycho Gundam. The design drew inspiration from the MSN-02 Zeong from the original Mobile Suit Gundam, particularly in the finger-mounted beam weapons concept.

Gunpla

Bandai released the 1/300 scale Original MRX-009 Psycho Gundam in 1985, followed by the popular 1/144 HGUC kit in August 2004. The HGUC version became notable for its massive size, standing approximately 28 cm tall and featuring full transformation capabilities.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation

External links

MRX-009 Psycho Gundam on the Gundam Wiki
MRX-009 Psycho Gundam on MAHQ

Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩