ZGMF-X17A Vanguard Gundam

The ZGMF-13A Vanguard Gundam was a mobile suit that was created beside the ' ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and ZGMF-X09A 'Justice Gundam. It is piloted by Jaiden Treadwell.

Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Vanguard Gundam is primarily designed for ranged combat and thus features a large number of long range weapons. However, it can also be used in close range combat. Its armaments includes plasma beam cannons, CIWS guns, beam sabers, a heavy beam rifle, and a shield.

Armaments

 * M150 "Novus" Plasma beam cannons
 * Another weapon specifically designed for use in Full Burst mode for destroying enemies, are the two plasma beam cannons. These cannons are the most powerful weapons of the suit and mounted over the shoulders when in use
 * MA-M01 "Lacerta" Beam Sabers
 * For close combat, the suit is equipped with two MA-M01 "Lacerta" beam sabers which are mounted on the forearms. This is similar to GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam
 * Heavy Beam Sniper Rifle
 * METEOR unit
 * The METEOR unit is equipped with additional weapons and grants the Freedom use of 120cm beam cannons,93.7cm high-energy beam cannons, MA-X200 beam swords and "Erinaceus" anti-ship missile launchers.
 * MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS
 * As with most other mobile suits, the Freedom features two head-mounted MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS guns, which are used to shoot down incoming missiles and enemy units at close range.
 * MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS
 * As with most other mobile suits, the Freedom features two head-mounted MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS guns, which are used to shoot down incoming missiles and enemy units at close range.
 * As with most other mobile suits, the Freedom features two head-mounted MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS guns, which are used to shoot down incoming missiles and enemy units at close range.

System Features

 * Meteor Support System
 * Like the Freedom and Justice, the Vanguard can dock with the powerful METEOR support system weapon platform, granting it powerful thrusters and an even more powerful armament of battleship-caliber beam cannons, large beam swords, and dozens of heavy missile launchers.
 * Neutron Jammer Canceller
 * As with the other Gundam units produced by ZAFT at its time, the Freedom is equipped with a Neutron Jammer Canceller, which counters the effects of the ubiquitous Neutron Jammers and allows these suits to be powered by nuclear reactors. This gives them almost limitless combat endurance, even with Phase Shift armor activated.
 * Operating System
 * The Freedom uses the Generation Unsubdued Nuclear Drive Assault Module complex operating system.
 * Operating System
 * The Freedom uses the Generation Unsubdued Nuclear Drive Assault Module complex operating system.

History

 * Phase Shift Armor
 * Like its sister units the Freedom and Justice, the Vanguar is equipped with Phase Shift armor. Thanks to its N-Jammer Canceller and nuclear reactor the PS armor is capable of being active for a lot longer than on non-nuclear powered suits such as the Strike.


 * In mid CE 71, ZAFT created a series of advanced mobile suits based on technology reverse-engineered from the captured Earth Alliance G Project suits. Like their EA predecessors, the ZAFT Gundams are armed with advanced beam weaponry and protected by Phase Shift armor. One of these suits is the Vanguard which can be considered the sister unit of the Freedom and the Justice. Most of the Gundam's systems were tested on the YFX-600R GuAIZ Experimental Firearms Type.