ZGMF-X56S/γ Blast Impulse Gundam

The Blast Impulse is a Mobile Suit in the series Gundam SEED Destiny.

Combat Abilities
Besides being equipped with the standard armament of the ZGMF-X56S Impulse (head-mounted CIWS guns, anti-armor knifes, mobile shield, beam rifle), the Blast Impulse uses the γ Blast Silhouette pack, which grants the suit access to two powerful long range beam cannons, two rail cannons, two missile launchers and two beam javelins. Inside Earth's gravity, the Blast Silhouette prevents the Impulse from flying, although it can hover over water.

Beam cannons/Rail cannons
The most powerful weapon of the Blast Silhouette are its two large M2000F "Kerberos" high-energy long-range beam cannons. These cannons grant the suit heavy firepower over long distances. When in use, the cannons swoop underneath the arms of the Impulse, who then holds them in his arms when firing. Additionally, two MMI-M16XE2 "Deluge" hyper-velocity rail cannons are mounted on the pack, which, when deployed, are mounted over the shoulders.

Missile launchers
Besides its cannons, the Blast Silhouette also mounts two GMF39 quadruple missile launchers. These launchers are mounted on top of the beam cannons and, when used, are mounted over the shoulders of the Impulse. These cannons are used to fire a large number of AGM141 "Firefly" guided missiles

Beam javelins
Although designed for ranged combat, the Blast Silhouette pack contains two MA-M80 "Defiant" beam javelins, a variant of the classic beam sabers. These javelins can be used for close combat.

System Features
Since the Impulse is equipped with Variable Phase Shift armor, the strength and energy consumption can be adjusted for different modes. When using the Blast Silhouette pack, the armor automatically takes a black, white, green, and blue color scheme, which is the weakest variation of the Variable Phase Shift armor. This is due to the fact that the Blast Impulse uses powerful beam weapons with huge energy requirements.

Besides this fact, the Blast Impulse can use the standard Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System or the YFX-M56S Core Splendor cockpit system.

History
In CE 73, ZAFT created the Impulse as part of the Second Generation of Gundam-type mobile suits. The Impulse is similar to the old GAT-X105 Strike, created by the Earth Alliance during the Bloody Valentine War. Like the Strike, the Impulse can be equipped with exchangeable Silhouette packs, an advanced variation of the old Striker Packs, granting the suit the ability to adapt to different combat situations. One such pack is the γ Blast Silhouette, which is analogus to the AQM/E-X03 Launcher Striker, although far more advanced.

The Blast Impulse was used in battle first in October, CE 73, after the ZAFT military colony Armory One was infiltrated by three Extended humans working for the EA Phantom Pain special forces unit. The Extendeds stole three Gundams of the Second Stage Series and caused serious damage to the interior of the colony before escaping to their motherships Girty Lue. The ZAFT battleships Minerva pursued the enemy ship intro the Debris Belt, where the Minerva's mobile suits, among them the Blast Impulse launched. Eventually, a battle ensued between the ZAFT and Phantom Pain forces, although the Girty Lue was able to escape again.

The Blast Silhouette was again used by the Impulse during the Battle of Crete, the second battle between the Minerva and the joint EA/Orb Union fleet. During this battle, Shinn Asuka used the Blast Impulse to destroy several Orb and EA mobile suits, while at the same time fighting shortly against Kira Yamato in his ZGMF-X10A Freedom. The Blast pack used in this battle is eventually destroyed by Auel Neider in his ZGMF-X31S Abyss, although Shinn used the smoke to attack and destroy the Chaos with a beam javelin of the Blast pack.

During the Minerva's  attack on the Daedalus lunar base to prevent the Requiem superweapon from again firing on the PLANTs again, new Impulse pilot Lunamaria Hawke launched in the Blast Impulse to secretly sneak into the base, while Shinn and Rey Za Burrel fought the EA forces. With Lunamaria facing few resistance, she eventually was able to fly in front of the control room of the Requiem cannon, which she destroyed with the beam cannons of the Blast Silhouette.

Trivia
For Some reason the Blast Impulse was never turned into a 1/100th Scale model like the Sword and Force Impulses were.