ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam

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The ZGMF-X56S Impulse is a fictional weapon of war from the Cosmic Era in the anime Gundam metaseries, a mobile suit that is initially piloted by Shinn Asuka and then reassigned to Lunamaria Hawke.

Information and History

In late CE 73, ZAFT creates a new series of advanced mobile suits to succeed their previous generation of Gundams, which were all lost in the previous war. Since the Treaty of Junius bans the military use of the Neutron Jammer Canceller, these new Gundams use conventional battery power instead. However, technological improvements over the last two years mean that battery efficiency is improved, and Phase Shift armor is less power intensive than it had once been. To further improve endurance, ZAFT also introduces the new Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, which allows a properly equipped battleship to remotely recharge a mobile suit's battery.

The ZGMF-X56S Impulse, a multi-role unit similar in concept to the Earth Alliance's old GAT-X105 Strike, is the centerpiece of these new suits. In its basic configuration, the Impulse is lightly armed, with only chest-mounted CIWS, two "Folding Razor" knives, and a beam rifle. It is also equipped with a dual-mode mobile shield, which is reinforced by a beam-deflecting energy barrier in its expanded mode. However, its typically goes into battle using one of its three Silhouette packs. In addition to adding weapons and equipment for different mission profiles, these packs also reconfigure the Impulse's Variable Phase Shift armor.

The high-mobility α Force Silhouette adds only a pair of "Vajra" beam sabers to the armament, but greatly enhances Impulse's speed and allows it full atmospheric flight capability. The close combat β Sword Silhouette adds two "Flash-Edge" beam boomerangs and two "Excalibur" anti-ship swords, and supports short-range flight. The long range fire support γ Blast Silhouette includes two large "Kerberos" beam cannons, two "Deluge" railguns, and two 4-tube missile launchers, as well as a pair of "Defiant" beam javelins for short-range defense, and supports hovering and jumps when not on land. Force Impulse has the standard blue, white, and red color scheme, while Sword Impulse is red, white, and black and Blast Impulse is black, white, Green, and blue.

The Impulse was designed simultaneously with ZAFT's new battleship Minerva, which includes a catapult exclusive to its use. Using this smaller catapult, the Impulse launches in three parts: the YFX-M56 Core Splendor, the upper body ("Chest Flyer"), and the lower body ("Leg Flyer"), followed by a Silhouette pack. Replacement Silhouettes, or in an emergency a replacement Chest or Leg Flyer, can also be launched if necessary. This Core Splendor system was first tested on the ZGMF-X101S ZAKU Splendor, then adapted to the Impulse's design.

The Core Splendor system was actually a part of ZAFT's grand vision to design a mobile suit for aces that can cope with different situations. The ultimate goal of the project was to create a mobile suit that can automatically change weaponry to adapt to different combat situations through the use of the DRAGOON System. Due to the complexities involved, this scenario was never realized.

After the Impulse is completed, additional Silhouettes were designed: the δ Chaos Silhouette, ε Abyss Silhouette, and ζ Gaia Silhouette, which are designed for use with their own alternate Leg Flyer units. Chaos Impulse is green and white, Abyss Impulse is solid blue, Gaia Impulse is black and white. Due to technical difficulties with regards to the feasibility of their design, these Silhouettes were instead developed into separate mobile suits: the ZGMF-X24S Chaos, ZGMF-X31S Abyss, and ZGMF-X88S Gaia, respectively. Their functions were to support the Impulse in different terrain situations.

Later on, the θ Destiny Silhouette (which includes extra forearm pieces mounted on the shield hardpoints) is developed to serve as a testbed for some of the weapons and systems of the ZGMF-X42S Destiny, including the beam wing propulsion system and beam shields. The Destiny Impulse's colors are magenta, white, and pink. While the Destiny Silhouette effectively duplicates the functions all three original Silhouettes, its very high power consumption makes it unsuitable for combat use on a battery-powered mobile suit. However, this difficulty is addressed later on, and the Silhouette was eventually put into use late in the war. Two additional Destiny Impulse units were constructed: One was blue, the other red.

An additional Silhouette, with the designation of η, predates the Destiny Silhouette but has not yet been revealed.

The ZGMF-X56S Impulse uses the operating system Generation Unrestricted Network Drive Assault Module.

The Impulse that was stationed on the Minerva (called Unit 00) is initially piloted by Shinn Asuka, who was selected personally by PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Gilbert Durandal. Shinn performs very well with Impulse, destroying over a dozen enemy warships, numerous mobile suits, and the stolen ZGMF-X31S Abyss. He even manages to defeat the ZGMF-X10A Freedom. After he receives the new ZGMF-X42S Destiny, Impulse is reassigned to Lunamaria Hawke. Lunamaria first pilots the Impulse during Operation Ragnarök, the invasion of Heaven's Base in Iceland, where it assists Shinn's ZGMF-X42S Destiny and Rey's ZGMF-X666S Legend in defeating the base's GFAS-X1 Destroy squad. This unit is heavily damaged at the end of the Second Bloody Valentine War in the battle near Mobile Fortress Messiah by Athrun Zala's ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice.

Other than the Impulse stationed on the Minerva, at least three other Impulse units are deployed into battle late into the war. Unlike Unit 00, these three units were not equipped with Variable Phase Shift armor, and hence, their Phase Shift armor do not change colors when a Silhouette is equipped. Unit 01 is blue, Unit 02 is red and Unit 03 is purple.

The first (Unit 01) is piloted by test pilot Mare Strode. Equipped with the Destiny Silhouette, the Silhouette was instead captured by the Astray Out Frame D during a chance encounter with the Junk Guild. Mare's unit was then forced to retreat.

Another unit (Unit 03) is piloted by Courtney Hieronimus during the final battle near Mobile Fortress Messiah, also equipped with a Destiny Silhouette[link]. The pilot of Unit 02 is unknown.

Specifications

ZGMF-X56S Impulse

Manufacturer: Integrated Design Bureau
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
First Deployment: 2 October, CE 73
Head height: 17.76 meters
Weight: 63.54 metric tons
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, M71-AAK "Folding Razor" anti-armor knife x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, MMI-RG59V mobile shield x1
Pilot: Shinn Asuka, Mare Strode, Courtney Hieronymus, Lunamaria Hawke

ZGMF-X56S/α Force Impulse

Manufacturer: Integrated Design Bureau
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
Head height: 17.76 meters
Overall height: 18.41 meters
Weight: 78.30 metric tons
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, M71-AAK "Folding Razor" anti-armor knife x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, MA-M941 "Vajra" beam saber x2, MMI-RG59V mobile shield x1
Pilot: Shinn Asuka, Lunamaria Hawke

ZGMF-X56S/β Sword Impulse

Manufacturer: Integrated Design Bureau
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
First Deployment: 2 October, CE 73
Head height: 17.76 meters
Overall height: 19.37 meters
Weight: 78.93 metric tons
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, M71-AAK "Folding Razor" anti-armor knife x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, RQM60 "Flash-Edge" beam boomerang x2, MMI-710 "Excalibur" anti-ship sword x2, MMI-RG59V mobile shield x1
Pilot: Shinn Asuka, Lunamaria Hawke

ZGMF-X56S/γ Blast Impulse

Manufacturer: Integrated Design Bureau
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
Head height: 17.76 meters
Overall height: 19.21 meters
Weight: 84.68 metric tons
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, M71-AAK "Folding Razor" anti-armor knife x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, M2000F "Kerberos" high-energy long-range beam cannon x2, MMI-M16XE2 "Deluge" hyper-velocity rail cannon x2, GMF-39 4-barrel missile launcher (AGM141 "Firefly" guided missile) x1, MA-M80 "Defiant" beam javelin x2, MMI-RG59V mobile shield x1
Pilot: Shinn Asuka, Lunamaria Hawke

ZGMF-X56S/δ Chaos Impulse

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
Head height: 17.76 m
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, MGX-2235B "Callidus Kai" multi-phase beam cannon x1, EQFU-5X mobile weapon pod: (MA-81R beam assault cannon, AGM141 "Firefly" guided missile x12) x2, MA-XM434 beam claw x2

ZGMF-X56S/ε Abyss Impulse

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
Head height: 17.76 m
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, MMI-TT101 Mk9 high-speed guided torpedo launcher x4, M68 dual cannon x2, MA-X223E triple beam cannon x2, M107 "Balaena Kai" plasma beam cannon, MX-RQB516 beam lance x1

ZGMF-X56S/ζ Gaia Impulse

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
Head height: 17.76 m
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, modified MR-Q17X "Griffon 2" beam blade x2, MA-M941 "Vajra" beam saber x2

ZGMF-X56S/η ??? Impulse

No Information, could possibly duplicate the Saviour's abilities

ZGMF-X56S/θ Destiny Impulse

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
Head height: 17.76 m
Overall height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: Variable Phase Shift armor, Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System, hardpoint for Silhouette packs, Core Splendor cockpit system
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU25A 20 mm multi-barrel CIWS x2, M71-AAK "Folding Razor" anti-armor knife x2, MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle x1, MMI-710 "Excalibur" anti-ship sword x2, high-energy long-range beam cannon x2, RQM-60F "Flash Edge 2" beam boomerang/saber x 2, MX2351 "Solidus Fulgor" beam shield generator x 2
Pilot: Mare Strode, Courtney Hieronymus

YFX-M56S Core Splendor

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: support fighter for use as cockpit of ZGMF-X56S Impulse
Length: 5.67 meters
Weight: 3.02 metric tons
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: MMI-GAU19 20 mm machinegun x2, QF908 6-tube anti-air missile launcher (AGM33 "Ladybird" guided missiles) x2
Pilot: Shinn Asuka, Mare Strode, Courtney Hieronymus, Lunamaria Hawke

Silhouette Flyer

Manufacturer: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
User: Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty
Unit type: unmanned support craft for ZGMF-X56S Impulse
Length: unknown
Weight: 3.82 metric tons
Special equipment: hardpoint for Silhouette packs

Trivia

• Impulse's head crest displays the text "X-56S SEI", which means "Six" in Italian and is a reference to Impulse's series number.
• Impulse's role in Gundam SEED Destiny is highly reminiscent of the Gundam Mk-II in Zeta Gundam. Like the Gundam MK II, Impulse is heavily based on the primary mobile suit of the immediately preceding series, and each is eventually transferred from the protagonist to a female pilot in his squad.

Sources

http://www.mahq.net