The ZGMF-X56S/α Force Impulse Gundam is a Mobile Suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. It is piloted by Shinn Asuka and later by Lunamaria Hawke.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The ZGMF-X56S/α Force Impulse Gundam is the ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam equipped with the α Force Silhouette pack. The Force Impulse is a general purpose MS like the original Impulse, but has extremely high mobility under gravity and in zero gravity due to the Force Silhouette's high output thrusters and large wings. This pack also enables atmospheric flight, and adds a pair of beam sabers to the Impulse's standard armaments, granting the Force Impulse high melee and ranged combat capabilities. The Force Impulse is the most commonly used form of the Impulse due to its high versatility, and it is said that its aerial combat capabilities are equivalent to the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam's. The Force Impulse retains the same VPS colors as the original Impulse.
Armaments[]
- MA-BAR72 High-energy Beam Rifle
- The Force Impulse uses a MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle as its primary ranged weapon. An enhanced version of the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam's beam rifle, it is developed using the ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam's beam rifle as the base model. It is designed with the Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System in mind, and has an excellent balance of offensive power and rapid-fire capabilities. It is stored on the suit's rear skirt armor when not in use.
- MA-M941 "Vajra" Beam Saber
- Mounted on the Force Silhouette pack, the pair of beam sabers grant the Force Impulse better close combat capabilities than the normal Impulse, and serve as its main close combat weapon. Developed from the Freedom and Justice Gundams' beam sabers, this model of beam saber is used across the Second Stage Series MS.
- M71-AAK "Folding Razor" Anti-armor Knife
- One stored in each of the suit's side armor, these knives are developed based on the data of the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam's combat knives. Its high hardness blade flips out of the handle during use, and can vibrate to enhance cutting capabilities. It can pierce through most armor, except PS armor or its variants, and does not draw power from the suit.
- MMI-GAU25A 20mm CIWS
- Mounted in the Force Impulse's chest, the pair of physical projectile-firing CIWS guns have excellent rapid-fire capabilities. They are primarily used to intercept incoming missiles or enemy units, and to restrict enemy's movements. They are also capable of penetrating ordinary mobile suit armor in extreme close range.
- MMI-RG59V Mobile Shield
- The Force Impulse can use a physical anti-beam coated MMI-RG59V mobile shield for defense, it can be mounted on the left forearm or handheld. This shield is collapsible, but is normally used in its expanded state by the Force Impulse.
- MMI-710 "Excalibur" Anti-ship Laser Sword
- Mounted on the Sword Silhouette pack, the pair of "Excalibur" anti-ship laser swords can also be used by the Force Impulse Gundam when the pack is delivered by the Silhouette Flyer but not used to replace the Force Silhouette pack. The anti-ship laser swords are large physical swords with a laser blade along their cutting edge, and as their name implies they can be used to destroy ships in space and naval ships on Earth, although they are mostly used against mobile suits during combat. The two swords can be joined at their hilts to form a large dual-bladed ambidextrous form. The swords are also capable of extending the laser blade over the tip of the sword for piercing enemies with Phase-Shift Armor.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- An improved version of Phase Shift armor, Variable Phase Shift armor is capable of automatically changing its strength, as well as color and power consumption in the field, although this must be programmed beforehand.
- The Deuterion beam energy transfer system is a wireless energy transfer system built into the Second Stage Series and their support ship, the LHM-BB01 Minerva. The system allows a mobile suit that is properly lined up with the Minerva to receive a recharge while in the field, meaning that if the mobile suit runs low on power during a battle it can be quickly recharged without coming into the ship's hanger. The transfer system is very efficient requiring only a few seconds before the mobile suit is fully recharged. Still on a battlefield even a few seconds could mean death so it is advisable for a machine to only perform the maneuver when they have covering fire.
- Hardpoints for Silhouette Packs
- While the other suits of the Second Stage series are capable of transforming into a mobile armor mode, the Impulse instead is similar to the Strike in the fact, that it can adapt to different situations by using exchangeable Silhouette packs. In addition to adding weapons and equipment for different mission profiles, these packs also reconfigure the Impulse's Variable Phase Shift armor.
History[]
In C.E. 73, ZAFT created the Impulse Gundam as part of the Second Stage Series of new Gundam-type mobile suits. The Impulse is similar to the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, created by the Earth Alliance during the First Alliance-PLANT War. Like the Strike, the Impulse can be equipped with exchangeable Silhouette packs, an advanced variation of the Striker Packs, granting it the ability to adapt to different combat situations. One such pack is the α Force Silhouette, which is analogous to the AQM/E-X01 Aile Striker.
The Force Impulse was first used in battle on October 2, C.E. 73, when the ZAFT military colony Armory One was infiltrated by three Extendeds working for the Earth Alliance's 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 while fighting ZAFT mobile suits. Shinn Asuka eventually launched in the Sword Impulse to fight the three Gundams but eventually switched to the Force Silhouette after losing the weapons of the Sword pack.[1]
After the Minerva descended to Earth, the Impulse was commonly launched with the Force Silhouette pack as it granted the suit flight capabilities inside the atmosphere. The clever use of the Force and Sword Silhouettes allowed Shinn to beat Kira Yamato and his ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam.[2] Lunamaria Hawke used the Force Silhouette at the first half of the Battle of Heaven's base before swapping to the Sword Silhouette at Shinn's advice. Lunamaria would also briefly sortie with the Force Impulse during ZAFT's attack on Orb, where she failed to shoot down Lord Djibril's shuttle.[3]
At the Battle of Messiah, the Force Impulse accompanied the Minerva in defending Requiem's relay stations. While approaching the Eternal, Lunamaria was distracted when she learned that Meyrin Hawke was on board the ship and her Force Impulse was intercepted by the ZGMF-XX09T DOM Troopers. Lunamaria then retreated. She later joined the Minerva in its attempt to stop the Archangel from reaching Requiem. The Force Impulse subsequently encountered ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice Gundam, piloted by Athrun Zala, and was damaged in the ensuing battle.
When Shinn and the ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam were downed by Athrun, Lunamaria abandoned the battle and descended on the Moon to retrieve him.[4] The damaged Force Impulse was later recovered and repaired, becoming the ZGMF-56E2/α Force Impulse Gundam Spec II.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
.png "Force Impulse Gundam Beam Saber 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (3.17 MB)")
.png "Zamza-Zah Destroyed 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep12).png (3.41 MB)")
.png "Force Impulse Gundam Rear 01 (Seed Destiny HD Ep16).png (3.06 MB)")
.png "Force Impulse in Combat 02 (Seed Destiny Ep16).png (3.73 MB)")
.png "Force Impulse Gundam Beam Rifle Firing 01 (GSD HD Ep23).png (3.39 MB)")
.png "Force Impulse Gundam Close-Up 04 (SEED Destiny HD Ep33).png (5.63 MB)")
.png "Freedom Gundam vs Force Impulse Gundam 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep34).png (4.28 MB)")
.png "Freedom Gundam Defeated 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep34).png (3.71 MB)")
.png "Force Impulse Firing CIWS 01 (Seed Destiny Ep49).png (3.05 MB)")
Illustrations & Artwork[]
.png "ZGMF-X56Sα Force Impulse Gundam (Action).png (179 KB)")
Games[]
Gunpla[]
![HGCE 1/144 Freedom Gundam vs Force Impulse Gundam (Battle of Destiny Set) [Metallic] (The Gundam Base Tokyo exclusive; 2019): box art](/wiki/File:HGCE_Freedom_Gundam_vs_Force_Impulse_Gundam_(The_Fateful_Battle_Set)_-Metallic-.jpg "HGCE Freedom Gundam vs Force Impulse Gundam (The Fateful Battle Set) -Metallic-.jpg (584 KB)")
![RG 1/144 Force Impulse Gundam [Titanium Finish] (The Gundam Base Tokyo exclusive; 2021): box art](/wiki/File:RG_Force_Impulse_Gundam_-Titanium_Finish-.jpg "RG Force Impulse Gundam -Titanium Finish-.jpg (766 KB)")
Action Figures[]
Notes and Trivia[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- PHASE-02, Those Who Call For War
- First Appearance
- PHASE-03, Warning Shots
- PHASE-05, Scars That Won't Heal
- PHASE-06, The End of the World
- PHASE-07, Land of Confusion
- PHASE-12, Blood in the Water
- PHASE-13, Resurrected Wings
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-16, Struggle in the Indian Ocean
- PHASE-22, Sword of the Blue Skies
- PHASE-23, The Shadows of War
- PHASE-24, Differing Views
- PHASE-25, The Place of Sin
- PHASE-26, The Promise
- PHASE-32, Stella
- PHASE-39, Kira of the Skies
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-43, A Call for Counterattack
- PHASE-02, Those Who Call For War
References[]
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-02, Those Who Call For War
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-34, Nightmare
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-43, A Call for Counterattack
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-50, The Final Power
External links[]
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