Advanced Hard Point System

The Advanced Hard Point System, or AHPS, is a technology developed by Celestial Being.

Technical Information
AHPS is a concept developed by Celestial Being that allows certain units to utilize Hard Point Packages (HPP in short) in order to increase their combat effectiveness or to change their intended use entirely.

The concept of AHPS was already discussed during the making of the 0 Gundam, but it was left out due to being unnecessary at the time, considering the technological level of the other factions.

In order to make a mobile suit use AHPS, it is necessary to add connecting hard points around the arms and legs. It is also needed in some cases to modify the GN Drives and the cockpits to be able to utilize the features of the currently mounted HPP. These modfied drives are called GN Nu Drives.

There have been a few cases of implementing AHPS into a non-GN unit, but they have mostly been left out due to the availability of GN Drive units.

Hard Point Package (HPP)
The Hard Point Package follows on the principles of the AHPS. The HPPs are mostly square-shaped, with few exceptions requiring to be differently shaped to conform to the MS's ergonomics.

When a Hard Point Package gets mounted on a unit with hard points and a GN Nu Drive installed, the cockpit interface unlocks additional controls and activates the HPP. The HPP can also get launched from a ship, using some of its GN Condenser's power to propel itself and engage docking with the intended unit. The disadvantage of this is the necessary protection of the module while it's going towards its target, and the significantly longer mounting time.

A HPP can serve from anything as additional weaponry to extra boosters or armor. Some variants were also equipped with a rapid detach system, allowing a fast removal of extra weight. Some completely overhaul the weapon approach of certain units, mostly by giving the unit weapon modifications, such as a long-range rifle mod, or they can give a unit certain capabilities of other units, such as the ability to use a GN Field.

Advantages and Disadvantages
While the concept of increased power of older units could lower their weaknesses in combat, there are some considerable issues with implementing AHPS on a unit. The first is the cost and the time taken to outfit a unit with the system. The costs to modify a GN Drive and actually making a HPP are rather high, and making an entirely new unit using pre-existing materials and concepts might prove to be easier and cheaper.

The variability that's given to the units after the installation of the system is undeniable, however. All units can equip all of the HPPs, even if it can mean losing some advantage (like an MA mode). Every single unit equipped with AHPS can drastically change their intended use or the outcome of a conflict.