ZAFT Armed Keeper of Unity

In the anime series Gundam Seed Destiny, the ZAKU series are ZAFT's primary mass production mobile suits, although they are recently introduced and have yet to fully replace its predecessors. The name "ZAKU" is an acronym for "ZAFT Armed Keeper of Unity". Development of the ZAKU began in late CE 71, shortly after the end of the Bloody Valentine War, with the ZGMF-X999A ZAKU Trial Type, which was equipped with an N-Jammer Canceller, nuclear reactor, and Phase Shift armor. Its armament included two high frequency blade tomahawks, stored on the back, and two waist-mounted railguns. However, after the Treaty of Junius banned all military applications of the N-Jammer Canceller, the ZAKU series was redesigned to use battery power.

The production model that was eventually produced was the ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior. Its primary armament is a beam assault rifle, which unlike most beam rifles does not draw power from the mobile suit's battery. Instead, the rifle has its own independent battery, stored in a replacable clip (similar to the technology used in the Eurasian Federation's Hyperion Gundams), with a pair of extra clips attached to a shield mounted on the ZAKU's left shoulder. The shoulder shield also contained a beam tomahawk for close-range combat. In addition, the ZAKU Warrior carries four hand grenades on its waist. Several different types can be carried, including fragmentation, high-explosive, and smoke grenades. Oddly, the ZAKU lacks the CIWS guns that are standard equipment in most mobile suits of the era.

In addition to the standard ZAKU Warrior, ZAFT also fielded the ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Phantom in limited numbers. While the ZAKU Warrior was a standard general-purpose mobile suit, the enhanced ZAKU Phantom is a limited-production unit for squad leaders and other prominent aces. The primary differences are that it mounts a second shoulder shield (carrying a second beam tomahawk and two more clips for the beam rifle) on its right shoulder, and decorative spike on the center of its head. It is unclear what if any internal improvements have been made, though at the very least thruster output is probably increased to counteract the added mass of the second shield.

The most significant feature of the production-model ZAKUs, however, is their ability to mount Wizard Packs to adapt to different roles. The A1 Gunner Wizard added the huge "Ultros" beam cannon for long-range fire support, the M Blaze Wizard was a high-mobility backpack mounting extra thrusters and a pair of missile launchers, and the K Slash Wizard added a pair of "Hydra" Gatling beam cannons and a large double-bladed beam axe. The Gunner Wizard has thus far been seen only on the ZAKU Warrior, and the Slash Wizard only on the ZAKU Phantom. The Blaze Wizard has been widely used on both types.

ZAFT policy allows for certain elite pilots to paint their ZAKUs in their own custom color schemes. Examples of this include Lunamaria Hawke's red ZAKU Warrior and the ZAKU Phantoms of Rey Za Burrel, Yzak Joule, and Haine Westenfluss, which are painted white, light blue, and orange, respectively. A purple ZAKU Phantom has also been seen, but its pilot is currently unknown. In addition, one ZAKU Warrior has been specially painted in a distinctive pink color scheme as the "Live Concert Version", a stage prop in Meer Campbell's concert tour.

ZAFT has also produced limited numbers of the ZGMF-1000/AAL Noctiluca ZAKU Warrior, an aquatic variant with several structural alterations, such as shoulder and head-mounted fins and oversized "skid plate" feet, and its own unique Wizard Pack. Its Noctiluna Wizard consists of a pair of large ducted fans for propulsion, allowing the Noctiluna ZAKU Warrior to move along the water's surface at over 50 knots (93 kilometers per hour). In addition to the standard beam assault rifle and hand grenades, the Noctiluna ZAKU Warrior mounts homing torpedoes and depth charges on its feet. The feet also contain sonar receivers.

Another limited production ZAKU variant is the ZGM-1000/R4 Command ZAKU CCI, which drops the "F" (standing for "Fighter") from the model number to signify its non-combat role. It mounts a specialized Wizard Pack equipped with numerous sensor and communications antennae, and replaces the shoulder shield with a large dish antenna. In addition, it carries an antenna rifle, which uses the frame of the standard beam assault rifle but replaces the barrel and battery clip with additional antennae.

Outside of ZAFT, one ZAKU has been acquired by freelance mercenary Kaite Madigan, who has modified it with his own custom weapons into the ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Kaite Madigan Custom. This ZAKU is armed with katar blades stored on the waist and shoulder shields which contain Gatling guns and can also function as oversized katars. It can also use Madigan's custom pistol, which has dual barrels to function as both a shell-firing revovler and a beam gun, and includes a built-in bayonet. While this ZAKU retains the Wizard Pack hardpoint, it is unknown if Madigan posses any Wizards.

Specifications

ZGMF-X999A ZAKU Trial Type

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype general purpose mobile suit
Rollout: late Cosmic Era 71
First Deployment: late Cosmic Era 71
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: Neutron Jammer Canceller, Phase Shift armor
Powerplant: Ultracompact nuclear fission reactor
Armament: DFX25 high frequency blade tomahawk x2, large caliber railgun x2, shield x1
Pilot: Courtney Hieronimous

ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: 17.19 m
Weight: Max gross 73.09 t
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-M633 beam assault rifle x1, MA-M8 beam tomahawk x1, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4, shoulder shield x1
Optional armament: M68 "Cattus" 500mm recoilless rifle x1
Pilot(s): Lunamaria Hawke, Dearka Elsman, Athrun Zala

ZGMF-1000/A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: 20.50 m
Weight: Max gross 91.11 t
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: M1500 "Ultros" high-energy long-range beam cannon x1, MMI-M633 beam assault rifle x1, MA-M8 beam tomahawk x1, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4, shoulder shield x1
Pilot(s): Lunamaria Hawke, Dearka Elsman

ZGMF-1000/M Blaze ZAKU Warrior

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: 20.4 m
Weight: Max gross 89.59 t
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-M633 beam assault rifle x1, 14-round AGM138 "Firebee" guided missile launcher x2, MA-M8 beam tomahawk x1, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4, shoulder shield x1
Pilot(s): Athrun Zala

ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Phantom

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: commander type general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: 19.05 m
Weight: Max gross 74.70 t
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-M633 beam assault rifle x1, MA-M8 beam tomahawk x2, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4, shoulder shield x2
Optional armament: M68 "Cattus" 500mm recoilless rifle x1
Pilot(s): Rey Za Burrel, Yzak Joule, Haine Westenfluss, Shiho Hahnenfuss

ZGMF-1001/K Slash ZAKU Phantom

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: commander type general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: 19.10 m
Weight: Max gross 88.10 t
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-M633 beam assault rifle x1, MMI-M826 "Hydra" Gatling beam cannon x2, MA-M8 beam tomahawk x2, MA-MR Falx G7 beam axe x1, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4, shoulder shield x2
Pilot(s): Yzak Joule

ZGMF-1001/M Blaze ZAKU Phantom

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: commander type general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: 20.4 m
Weight: Max gross 91.20 t
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-M633 beam assault rifle x1, 14-round AGM138 "Firebee" guided missile launcher x2, MA-M8 beam tomahawk x2, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4, shoulder shield x2
Pilot(s): Rey Za Burrel, Haine Westenfluss, Shiho Hahnenfuss

ZGMF-1000/AAL Noctiluca ZAKU Warrior

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: amphibious assault landing mobile suit
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs, skid plates, sonar receivers
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-M633 beam assault rifle x1, Mark 13 homing torpedo x4, M25 anti-submarine depth charge x8, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4

ZGM-1000/R4 Command ZAKU CCI

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: command and control mobile suit
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs, large shoulder antenna
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: antenna rifle x1, hand grenade (ZR30F fragmentation grenade, ZR20E high explosive grenade, ZR271 thermite incendiary grenade, ZR11Q flash grenade, ZR13Q smoke grenade) x4

ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Kaite Madigan Custom

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Kaite Madigan
Unit type: custom general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: hardpoint for Wizard Packs
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: beam gun/revolver with bayonet x1, Gatling gun x2, katar blade x2, shoulder shield/large katar blade x2
Pilot(s): Kaite Madigan