ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam

In the anime series Gundam Seed, ZAFT created a series of advanced mobile suits based on technology reverse-engineered from the captured Earth Alliance G Project suits. Like their EA predecessors, the ZAFT Gundams were armed with advanced beam weaponry and protected by Phase Shift armor. However, a additional technology was incorporated as well: the Neutron Jammer Canceller, which countered the effects of the ubiquitous N-Jammers and allowed these suits to be powered by nuclear reactors. This gave them almost limitless combat endurance, even with Phase Shift armor activated.

One of these suits was the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam. It was the second suit in the series, and in addition to its basic armament of beam sabers, head-mounted CIWS guns, and a beam rifle, the Freedom Gundam mounted additional weapons for use in HiMAT (High Mobility Aerial Tactics) mode: shoulder-mounted plasma beam cannons and hip-mounted railguns. However, the suit's most powerful weapon was the optional METEOR (Mobile suit Embedded Tactical EnfORcer) support system, a large mobile weapons platform with powerful thrusters and an even more powerful armament of battleship-calibur beam cannons, large beam swords, and dozens of heavy missile launchers that was designed specifically for the Freedom Gundam and ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam.

Late in CE 71, the Freedom Gundam is stolen by former GAT-X105 Strike Gundam pilot Kira Yamato, with the aid of Lacus Clyne. Kira rushed to Earth with his new suit and came to the rescue of the Archangel at the Battle of JOSH-A. Along with the Archangel, he defected to neutral Orb, and fought along side his old friend Athrun Zala, pilot of the Justice Gundam, against an Earth Alliance attack on Orb, then returned to space along with the Archangel and Orb battleship Kusanagi, and met up with the support vessel Eternal, which had been stolen by Lacus Clyne and her supporters, led by former ZAFT commander Andrew Waltfeld, and which carried both METEOR units. Atrhun and Kira used the METEORs' firepower to thwart an Earth Alliance nuclear missile attack on the PLANTs, and Athrun also destroyed the GAT-X131 Calamity Gundam. Then, on the final day of the war, Kira battled against Rau Le Creuset and his ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam. The Freedom Gundam was severely damaged, but Kira emerged victorious when he impaled Rau's cockpit with his beam saber.

After the war, the Freedom Gundam was refurbished and hidden in a secret underground base in Orb, where it remained for more than a year. It returned to action in CE December 73, after an assassination attempt against Lacus Clyne by a Coordinator combat team, apparently sent by PLANT Chairman Gilbert Dullindal. The Freedom Gundam by itself decisively defeated the assassins' mobile suits. After this, the heroes of the first war stole their ship, the Archangel, evacuating from Orb and fading away deep into the ocean.

A new version of Freedom, code-named the ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam, was designed and built by ZAFT to break the deadlocked situation between them and the Earth Alliance. Thanks to a new type of engine, Strike Freedom possess several times the combat ability of the original ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam. At this time, it is confirmed to be armed with two head-mounted CIWS guns, a low mounted abdomen gun of unknown design or make, a pair of rail guns mounted on the hips that are able to rotate and become hip armor on the back of the mobile suit, two beam sabers mounted on its hips in a style similar to Orb Union's MVC-11C Murasame, and a pair of beam rifles that can be combined much like the Earth Alliance's GAT-X103 Buster Gundam. In addition to those, Strike Freedom is equipped with two forearm-mounted lightwave-barrier/beam shield generators, similar to the Eurasian Federation’s CAT1-X Hyperion Gundam units. One interesting characteristic is the color of Strike Freedom Gundam’s joints: they are coated in a gold-colored material, the purpose of which is unknown. However, Strike Freedom’s “brother,” the Infinite Justice Gundam, has silver-colored joints: again, the purpose is unknown, aside from a possible symbolic “silver and gold” connection. The head has also been extensively modified, with a much larger antenna set, as well as the words “Liberta Modifica” (Modified Liberty/Freedom) emblazoned on the antenna mount. In its HiMAT (High Mobility Aerial Tactics)mode, Strike Freedom Gundam utilizes the low-mounted gun/cannon, the two hip-mounted rail guns, and its rifles for combat.

ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Clyne Faction
Unit type: prototype assault mobile suit
First Deployment: May 17, Cosmic Era 71
Head height: 18.03 m
Weight: Max gross 71.5 t
Special equipment: Phase Shift armor, Neutron Jammer Canceller, hardpoint for docking with METEOR unit
Powerplant: Ultracompact nuclear fission reactor, power output 8826 kW
Armament: MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS x2, MA-M01 "Lacerta" beam saber x2, M100 "Balaena" plasma beam cannon x2, MMI-M15 "Xiphias" railgun x2, MA-M20 "Lupus" high-energy beam rifle x1, shield x1
Pilot: Kira Yamato

ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam

Manufacturer: ZAFT
User: unknown
Unit type: prototype assault mobile suit
First Deployment: Cosmic Era 73
Head height: 18,88 m
Weight: 80,09 t
Special equipment: Phase Shift armor, Neutron Jammer Canceller, lightwave beam-shield generator x2
Powerplant: unknown
Armament: CIWS x2, abdomen cannon x1, beam rifle x2, railgun x2, beam saber x2, lightwave beam-shield x2
Pilot: Kira Yamato