AGE-3 Gundam AGE-3 Normal

The AGE-3 Gundam AGE-3 Normal is one of three titular mobile suits and the successor of the AGE-2 Gundam AGE-2 Normal, appearing in the Kio Arc of Mobile Suit Gundam AGE. The unit is piloted by Kio Asuno.

Technology & Combat Characteristics
A thrid generation mobile suit and successor to Gundam AGE-2, it was developed in secret by Flit, who used the AGE Device left by Asemu before he went missing 13 years ago in preparation for the final battle against the Vagan. Vagan technologies that were obtained over a long-term during the war have been applied to the AGE-3 including innovations not found in Federation MS. It is also the most unique of all the Earth Federation's mobile suits as it implemented the new Core Block System. Unlike previous Gundam units that have been developed under the control of Federation troops, the development of this machine was almost single-handedly carried out by retired military officer Flit Asuno. The main generator built into the Gundam AGE-3 Normal boasts enough output for the simultaneous operation of multiple high-output weapons. Unlike other Earth Federation mobile suits, the AGE-3 can perform atmospheric without the use of a sub-flight orbital system which sets it apart from them.

The AGE-3 is made up of two components: the Core Fighter, serving as the boosters, head and cockpit and the G-Ceptor: a separate transformable unit that serves as the body, arms, legs and armaments of the AGE-3 Normal capable of autonomous flight. This separation can be utilized in switching between its Fortress and Orbital Wears, eliminating the need for the AMEMBO used by the previous two Gundams. The AGE System is also installed into the Gundam, allowing it to collect combat data and upgraded it for perfect compatibility with the new Mobile Suit.

Aside from the innovations in design, the AGE-3 is also outfitted with newer weapons. The beam sabers in the mobile suit were made much smaller than previous models, allowing it to be wielded either handheld or deployed directly from the forearm shield. It also has a newer weapon called the SigMaxxis Rifle, a large handheld beam cannon developed from the Diva-class's Photon Blaster Cannon. Being a scaled down version, it can destroy Vagan mobile suits with one shot as well as counter beam cannon shots fired from Vagan MS, even those outfitted with Electromagnetic Armor.

Armaments

 * SigMaxiss Rifle
 * A large hand-held beam cannon developed from the Diva-class's Photon Blaster Cannon. Being a scaled down version, it can destroy multiple Vagan mobile suits in one shot, even those outfitted with Electromagnetic Armor and counter beam cannon shots fired from Vagan Mobile Suits. When not in use, it can be stored on the back of AGE-3.


 * Blustia Cannon
 * Referred to as a "miniature Photon Ring Ray", the Blustia Cannon was a weapon attachment created by the AGE Builder for the SigMaxiss Rifle to dramatically increase its power and range, allowing the Gundam AGE-3 Normal to take out a Vagan battleship in one shot, similar to the original Photon Ring Ray used at the mobile fortress "Big Ring" which increases its power and range using Diva's own Photon Blaster Cannon. In order for the weapon to fire, a significant amount of charge time was needed. The Blustia Cannon was destroyed after firing presumably because it was also developed hastily without enough combat data.


 * Beam Sabers
 * Stored in AGE-3's arm shields. The hilts appear to be shorter than average Earth Federation saber hilts. The sabers can be either handheld or deployed directly from the forearm shield.


 * "Arm Shields"
 * AGE-3's defensive armaments. A pair of small shields containing the two beam sabers and used for minor protection.


 * Smoke Grenades
 * The grenades were used for preventing the enemy from interupting AGE-3's docking.

System Features

 * AGE System
 * The AGE System is the Special OS for the Gundam engineered by the lineage of the Asuno family. It researches the evolution of living beings by digitizing the mysteries surrounding it and collects battle data to customize itself, grows alongside the pilot and is customized and used exclusively by the pilot itself. The only way for this system to be used and the Gundam to mobilize is by using the AGE Device.


 * Core Block System
 * Wear System

History
For the history of the AGE-3 Normal, please see Kio Asuno's page.

Variants

 * AGE-3F Gundam AGE-3 Fortress
 * AGE-3O Gundam AGE-3 Orbital

Notes and Trivia

 * Design wise, the Gundam AGE-3 is a tribute to the MSZ-010 ΖΖ Gundam, as it also has separate components and a matching Core Block System. The SigMaxiss Rifle equipped with the Blustia Cannon made it resemble the GNZ-003 Gadessa's GN Mega Launcher.
 * The AGE-3 is the first mobile suit in the Advanced Generation that uses a Core Block System..
 * Gundam AGE-3's beam saber configuration bears some resemblance to what the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam has, where the sabers can be used on the forearms or as handheld weapons, similar to the beam sabers and tonfas used by the Unicorn Gundam.