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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 Armored 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 and nuclear reactor. Its armament included two 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 addtion, 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.
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
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: Neutron Jammer Canceller
Powerplant: Ultracompact nuclear fission reactor
Armament: DFX25 high frequency blade tomahawk x2, lager 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
ZGMF-1001/M 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
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