GAT-X370 Raider Gundam

The Raider is a Mobile Suit in the series Gundam SEED.

Combat Abilities
The Raider is a transformable attack use mobile suit, designed mainly for aerial combat. Its armament is made of of a well-balanced set of beam weapons and shell-firing weapons, with some of them being only usable in flight mode. Lastly it also can optionally use a hammer-like handheld weapon.

Beam Weapons
The beam weapons of the Raider include a "Zorn" 100mm energy cannon, which is mounted in the mouth region and two "Ahura Mazda" short-range energy cannons, which are mounted in the claws but only usable in fighter mode.

Shell-firing weapons
Of its shell-firing weapons, the Raider can only use its left forearm-mounted dual 52mm hyper velocity shield cannon in mobile suit mode. In fighter mode, the suit is capable of using a nose-mounted M417 80mm machine gun and two M2M3 76mm machine guns, which are installed in the shoulders.

Hammer
For close combat, the Raider is equipped with the unique "Mjolnir" spherical breaker, an exceptionally dense handheld mace which is able to damage even Phase Shift armor. The "Mjolnir" can also be spun rapidly on its long cable to form a makeshift shield. The hammer can however be cut in half by a beam saber.

System Features
These designs feature a new variation of Phase Shift armor known as "Trans-Phase". Unlike normal Phase Shift, which draws power constantly, Trans-Phase armor activates only when the mobile suit is hit, and only at the point of impact, reducing the armor's power consumption and increasing combat endurance.

In addition, it can serve as a subflight unit for other mobile suits, such as the GAT-X131 Calamity.

History
In mid CE 71, the Earth Alliance collaborates with Muruta Azrael's Azrael Conglomerate to build three second-generation mobile suits to counter the G-units stolen by ZAFT. One of these new suits is the Raider, a suit specifically designed for aerial combat, an ability which is enhanced thanks to its ability to transform into a fighter-like mode. The Raider was designed after the GAT-333 Raider Full Spec, but was built first. In addition, these three suits' pilots are designated as "Biological CPUs" (noting that the Alliance considers them equipment rather than human beings), with their abilities enhanced by drugs to match those of Coordinators.

The Raider, whose "Biological CPU" is Clotho Buer, is first used in the conquest of neutral Orb in CE 71, then sent to space and assigned to the Archangel-class assault ship Dominion under the supervision of Muruta Azrael. The Raider eventually takes part in several important battles at the end of the Bloody Valentine War, eventually surviving until the Second Battle of Yachin Due. There he meets his fate when the Raider is destroyed by Dearka Elsman in the GAT-X103 Buster (Gundam SEED Special Edition) or by Yzak Joule in the GAT-X102 Duel (Gundam SEED) using the Buster's rifle.

Variant
GAT-333 Raider Full Spec

Trivia
Raider's head crest displays the text "OTTO X-370" (which means "Eight" in Italian), and it is a reference to the Raider being the eighth mobile suit developed as a second generation MS by the Earth Alliance.