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MIP (エム・イー・ペー) was a Principality of Zeon military enterprise specializing in the development of beam technology and weapons manufacturing.

History Before the One Year War[]

MIP's specialty before the beginning of the One Year War was the development of arms for private entities, primarily for military grade use. The company, located on the lunar city of Granada, soon made a name for itself by branching off into military grade research and development of arms during the rising tensions between the Earth Federation and The Principality of Zeon. During its active years, MIP developed vast technology for Zeon that bolstered the usage of mega particle cannons, mobile armors, and specialty mobile suits.[1]

When the Principality of Zeon Defense Ministry ordered the development of a new, high-performance weapon designed for Minovsky particle environments, MIP proposed the MIP-X1, a combination of a space fighter and a worker pod. However, the MIP-X1 was defeated by Zeonic's ZI-XA3 Crabman due to the latter's versatility. However, the MIP-X1, which featured exceptional mobility in space, was later developed into mobile armors like the MA-05 Bigro.[2]


Mobile Suit Development[]

Aside from the company's namesake development of mobile armors, MIP also developed the amphibious heavy mobile suit MSM-07 Z'Gok.[3] First developed at the then Zeon occupied California Base, MIP's mobile suit was shown in action during Char Aznable's titular fight against Amuro Ray in Jaburo.


Mobile Armor Testing at the California Base[]

It is suggested that MIP conducted a series of tests on the MA-05 Bigro at the California Base per Kycilia Zabi's orders, Zeon Captain & Officer Tokwan at the helm as director of this operation. Upon the Zeon loss at the hands of the Earth Federation, Char Aznable meets Tokwan at a launch pad located at the California Base. It is assumed that this launch pad was located at the then loosely occupied Zeon installment alongside MIP's testing facilities. It is unknown as to when MIP's testing facilities were dissolved at that time or not.

Beam Weaponry Development[]

In addition to the company's development of arms, MIP also co-developed and facilitated the technological advancement via blueprints for a variety of mobile suits and mobile suit weapons. One notable example of their collaborative efforts was the development of mobile suit beam weapons, such as the MS-09R Rick Dom's beam bazooka. During the MS-14 Gelgoog's development, it collaborated with the lunar arms company Albert to develop the Gelgoog's beam rifle.[2][4]


Late One Year War Weapons Involvement[]

Due to MIP's cutting edge beam and mobile armor technology, the company's engineers were often conscripted to create additional armors outside of Kycilia Zabi's direct influence. One major example would be the MA-08 Big Zam, its Large Mega Particle Gun compromised of modified, enlarged elements seen in the MA-05 Bigro. It is alluded in some materials that the technical officer Asakura, once an engineer at MIP's lunar outpost, used similar beam technology found in the MS-14A Gelgoog's beam rifle to help Gihren Zabi construct the Colony Laser.

Additionaly, former MIP engineer Simus Al Bakharov designed and tested weaponry such a the MAN-03 Braw Bro, utilizing MIP grade beam weaponry with the Flanagan Institute. These developments lead to the development of the MAN-08 Elmeth's 'bits', which utilize the same beam technology.


Post the One Year War[]

After the One Year War, MIP was absorbed by Anaheim Electronics. During U.C. 0080 to U.C. 0082, it is suggested that MIP continued to create beam technology as its own entity within Anaheim's now monopolized weapons division, many of its engineers ex-Zeon technical officers. In U.C. 0083, it was contracted with developing the blueprints for the X-04 beam machine gun used by the AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra, though the actual development was done by Albert, showing that MIP's strength as a weapons developer was still useful. By U.C. 0084, due to the lack of need for mobile armor technology as well as low funding to do so, MIP was merged into Anaheim's beam weapon development department and became a mere subsidiary, often only in branding.[5]

Creations[]

Notes & Trivia[]

  • MIP was first mentioned in the 1981 sourcebook Gundam Century. The MIP logo first appeared in the 2003 sourcebook Anaheim Journal, alongside many other logos of Universal Century corporations. These logos were designed by Masahito Hanzawa and Junya Saito, two designers from the Tokyo-based graphic design firm POWER GRAPHIXX.[6]
  • Many notable UC era Zeon officers worked for or were associated with MIP during and before the One Year War. These commissioned officers, once MIP engineers, were more than likely given military contracts and conscriptions before the initial outbreak. Ace pilot Tokwan is alluded to have not only been the MA-05 Bigro's test pilot, but also one of it's chief engieers and developers. Other notable officers are Ashley Horn, Simus Al Bakharov, Dimitri, Ogan Montagne and Asakura.



References[]

  1. (2006-10-17) THE OFFICIAL GUNDAM FACT FILE 106 (in Japanese). DeAgostini, pp. 23-26. JAN 4910289351068. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 (1981-09-22) OUT9月号増刊 宇宙翔ける戦士達 GUNDAM CENTURY [OUT September Special Issue Warriors Flying in Space Gundam Century] (in Japanese). みのり書房 [Minori Shobō], pp. 34-36. 雑誌コード 01588-9. 
  3. (1981-09-22) OUT9月号増刊 宇宙翔ける戦士達 GUNDAM CENTURY [OUT September Special Issue Warriors Flying in Space Gundam Century] (in Japanese). みのり書房 [Minori Shobō], p. 39. 雑誌コード 01588-9. 
  4. Master Grade MS-14S Gelgoog (1996) instruction manual
  5. X-04 Beam Machine Gun (AGX-04 Type), U.C. Arms Gallery 03
  6. Anaheim Journal | POWER GRAPHIXX
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