Sudori – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

The Sudori was a Garuda-class stratospheric mobile suit transport plane operated by the Earth Federation Forces and later the Titans during the Gryps Conflict. It was one of six Garuda-class aircraft assigned to Earth’s air defence zones as part of the Federation’s Garuda Initiative.

History

The Sudori was constructed by the Earth Federation Forces as part of their Garuda Initiative, a strategic programme designed to divide Earth into six air defence zones with a Garuda-class transport assigned to each zone. This system was intended to provide rapid mobile suit deployment capability anywhere on Earth, allowing the Federation to respond quickly to emerging threats.

Jaburo operation

In May UC 0087, the Sudori was stationed at the Federation’s Jaburo base in South America when the AEUG and Karaba launched a large-scale assault on the Titans facility. However, the Titans had planted a nuclear bomb beneath the base in an attempt to eliminate their enemies in a single devastating blow.

During the chaos of the Titans’ nuclear trap, AEUG forces managed to seize both the Audhumla and the Sudori as they made their desperate escape from Jaburo. The captured aircraft were crucial in allowing AEUG personnel to evacuate the doomed base before the nuclear detonation.

Titans recapture

The Titans subsequently recaptured the Sudori and placed it under the command of Captain Buran Blutarch. Under Titans control, the aircraft was used to pursue the AEUG-controlled Audhumla to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where both aircraft became involved in a fierce engagement.

Following Blutarch’s death in combat, command of the Sudori passed to Captain Ben Wooder. The Titans continued to use the aircraft as a mobile platform for deploying their advanced mobile suits, including the NRX-044 Asshimar and ORX-005 Gaplant, to harass AEUG and Karaba forces.

Final destruction

The Sudori met its end when Karaba forces launched a coordinated attack to seize the aircraft’s shuttle booster system. The operation was designed to provide Kamille Bidan, pilot of the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, with the means to return to space and rejoin AEUG forces. During this engagement, the Sudori was destroyed, eliminating one of the Titans’ key strategic assets.

Design

The Sudori shared the same basic design as all Garuda-class aircraft, representing the largest aircraft ever constructed at that time. The massive transport plane was designed to operate in the stratosphere and remain aloft semi-permanently, resupplied by smaller transport aircraft as needed.

The aircraft’s design bore a deliberate similarity to the Principality of Zeon’s Gaw atmospheric attack carriers from the One Year War, demonstrating the Federation’s practice of studying and improving upon enemy technologies. However, the Garuda-class represented a significant advancement in both size and capability.

Propulsion and flight systems

The Sudori was powered by ten jet engines that provided the massive thrust required to keep the aircraft airborne. Unlike smaller aircraft, the Garuda-class lacked dedicated VTOL capabilities and required either a reinforced runway or the ocean surface for takeoff and landing operations. Only a limited number of airfields possessed runways large and strong enough to accommodate the Garuda-class aircraft.

The aircraft featured hover nozzles for low-speed manoeuvring and could reach altitudes in the stratosphere, where it could maintain station for extended periods. This capability made it an ideal platform for rapid mobile suit deployment across vast distances.

Mobile suit operations

The Sudori featured a sophisticated launch and recovery system designed to handle up to 20 mobile suits. The aircraft had a forward-mounted catapult beneath the bridge for rapid deployment, large doors under each wing for mid-flight launches, and a massive rear cargo bay that served as the primary loading facility.

In addition to mobile suits, the aircraft could carry multiple sub-flight systems such as Base Jabber and Dodai Kai units. When necessary, the vast interior could accommodate hundreds of personnel, making it valuable for large-scale troop movements.

Armaments

The Sudori’s armament was relatively light compared to dedicated warships, consisting of ten 2-barrel laser gun turrets mounted across the main body. These weapons were primarily defensive in nature, as the aircraft relied heavily on its mobile suit complement for combat effectiveness.

The laser turrets were designed to engage incoming aircraft and missiles, providing point defence for the massive transport. However, the Sudori’s primary protection came from the mobile suits it carried, which could be rapidly deployed to establish a defensive perimeter around the aircraft.

Shuttle booster system

The Sudori was equipped with a shuttle booster system that allowed it to launch spacecraft into orbit. This capability proved crucial during the Gryps Conflict, as it provided a means for ground-based forces to reach space-based assets. The system was mounted beneath the aircraft’s wings and could be accessed through the main cargo bay.

Captains

Buran Blutarch

Buran Blutarch commanded the Sudori during the early phase of Titans control. A Titans officer, Blutarch used the aircraft to pursue AEUG forces following their escape from Jaburo. He was killed in action during the subsequent operations, leading to a change in command.

Ben Wooder

Ben Wooder assumed command of the Sudori following Blutarch’s death. Under his leadership, the aircraft continued to serve as a platform for Titans operations, deploying advanced mobile suits against AEUG and Karaba forces. Wooder commanded the aircraft until its eventual destruction during Karaba’s assault to seize the shuttle booster system.

Behind the scenes

The Sudori was designed by Fujita Kazumi, who also created the distinctive MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam design. Fujita won a heated competition between himself, Okawara Kunio, and Mamoru Nagano to design the titular mobile suit of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.

The Garuda-class design, including the Sudori, was inspired by the Zeon Gaw-class atmospheric carriers from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. The aircraft represented director Tomino Yoshiyuki’s vision of how the Federation might improve upon captured Zeon technology.

The name “Sudori” may derive from the Japanese pronunciation of a foreign word or could be a completely original creation for the series. Like other Garuda-class aircraft, it was given a distinctive colour scheme—in this case, green—to distinguish it from its sister ships.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

External links

Garuda class (Sudori) on MAHQ
Garuda-class on the Gundam Wiki