The ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam (aka Akatsuki Gundam, Akatsuki) is a Mobile Suit introduced in the anime Mobile

Suit Gundam SEED Destiny . It is first piloted by Cagalli Yula Athha, then by I'm the Fraga.

Features

The Akatsuki Gundam was developed by merging the knowledge Orb engineers gained from studying the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam and its support system the Striker Pack, featuring more recent prototype technologies based on Orb. Its standard weapons include a dual-beam saber, head-mounted CIWS cannons, an arm-mounted shield, and a beam rifle. Its most notable feature is its gold-colored armor, known as the Yata-no-Kagami. Gold is the color reserved for Orb's dominant class, and this armor is actually a "mirror surface" type armor, capable of deflecting and even reflecting beam shots with the help of Akatsuki sensors, making the MS virtually impervious to beam shots. Despite this, its vulnerability to melee and physical weapons (shells) remained equal to that of any other MS, hence the presence of a shield as part of its armament.

The Akatsuki can also equip two optional backpacks, derived from the Strike Gundam's Striker Packs, to enhance its combat capabilities. On Earth, it can use an aerial backpack known as the "Oowashi" Sky Pack, granting it atmospheric flight capabilities. Armed with two beam cannons, the Oowashi can separate from the machine and transform into a support aircraft, similar to the Fatum-00 from the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam. With this pack, the MS is known as the Oowashi Akatsuki Gundam. When operating in space, the Akatsuki can use another backpack known as the "Shiranui" Space Pack, which increases the machine's mobility and equips it with seven remote-controlled turret units (funnels) that have offensive and defensive capabilities. With this pack, the MS is known as the Shiranui Akatsuki Gundam.

• Striker Pack

As the Akatsuki was designed based on the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, it also incorporates the ability to mount Striker Packs on its back.

• "Oowashi" Sky Pack

Attached to the back, it is an optional backpack for atmospheric flight. The Oowashi is equipped with four jet engines and two rocket-type thrusters, allowing the Akatsuki to fly at subsonic speeds. Like the Fatum-00 from the Justice Gundam, the Oowashi can detach from the MS and transform into an unmanned aircraft to support the Akatsuki in battle. In this configuration, it can operate independently thanks to its AI system or be remotely controlled by the Akatsuki pilot.

• "Shiranui" Space Pack

Attached to the back, it is an optional backpack for space combat. In addition to the MS being more mobile due to the additional thrusters, it is also equipped with the DRAGOON system in the form of seven M531R mobile beam-guided turret systems. The Akatsuki can use these weapons remotely to increase its firepower or defensive capabilities.

• OS (Operating System)

Akatsuki uses a customized version of the operating system of General Unilateral N euro-link Dispersive Autonomic M aneuver Operating System, the same operating system used on the "GAT-X" series, created by Kira Yamato . This system is designed to allow natural pilots to master combat using a Mobile Suit, allowing them to be on par with coordinator pilots.

• "Yata-No-Kagami" Anti-Beam Defensive reflection System

Akatsuki's Golden Armor (including those on its armaments and backpacks) is a "mirror surface" type armor composed of nano-layers of beam reflectors and ultra-thin critical plasma suppression layers. It not only protects against incoming beams by deflecting the beam, but can also use Akatsuki's sensors to track enemies and automatically redirect these beams towards them, thus combining offense and defense. This armor also allows Akatsuki to block/deflect a shot from the Positronic Blaster Cannon as well as the Requiem, and allows it to penetrate specific shields or beam reflectors, such as the Requiem's ​​Positron Reflectors. However, the armor provides no protection against melee attacks such as direct hits from Beam Sabers or Beam Boomerangs. Furthermore, its manufacturing and maintenance costs are enormous. The amount spent to equip a MS with this armor is said to be equal to the production of over 20 MBF-M1 M1 Astrays.

• A-GXQ754/V2 Zeus Silhouette

A set of heavy equipment originally designed for the ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam, consisting of a large linear cannon system with two spare barrels, a backpack sensor assembly with missile launchers, additional armor, and large booster units. To use this equipment, the Akatsuki must be in its base form, without the "Oowashi" or "Shiranui" packs. When not equipped, the Zeus Silhouette parts can combine into a standalone support fighter.

Armaments

• M2M5D 12.5mm CIWS: The Akatsuki is equipped with a pair of 12.5mm CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) cannons in its head. The CIWS is a small-caliber firearm designed to intercept missiles, projectiles, and lightly armored vehicles.
• Type 72D5 "Hyakurai" Beam Rifle: The Akatsuki is equipped with a "Hyakurai" beam rifle as its main weapon, it has an excellent rate of fire and is stored on the right side of the MS when not in use. The rifle also has a slot under its cannon to equip the Experimental Twin Beam Saber, transforming it into a sword-gun.
• Type 73J2 Experimental Twin Beam Saber: The Akatsuki is equipped with an Experimental Twin Beam Saber for close combat, and it is stored on the left side of the MS when not in use. The saber can separate into two individual sabers, if necessary. It can also be mounted on the bottom of the "Hyakurai" rifle, transforming the latter into a sword-like weapon.
• Type 71 Experimental Defensive Shield: For additional protection, the Akatsuki can mount an experimental shield on his left forearm or carry it in his hand. It has the same anti-ray coating as on the machine's body and is capable of deflecting or reflecting large beam jets, such as a Positron Blaster cannon and even a shot from the Requiem. Unlike the armor on the MS's body, the shield is also strong enough to withstand physical attacks, such as missiles and the like. projectile weapons, and is primarily used for this purpose.
• Type 73F Kai High-Energy Beam Cannon: Mounted at the bottom of the "Oowashi" Sky Pack, the pair of high-energy beam cannons are the most powerful ranged weapons in the Oowashi Akatsuki. They are placed under the shoulders when in use and can extend to reveal a handle on the lower side. However, it is not necessary to hold this handle to fire the guns.
• M531R Guided Mobile Beam Turret System: The seven ranged weapons mounted on the "Shiranui" Space Pack, they are comparable to the first generation DRAGOON system. Each unit is equipped with a single beam cannon, which can also function as a beam-type shield emitter when it is used with the other two shield emitters at the same time. By using these emitters on all seven ranged weapon units, a large beam-type shield can be created to provide protection for about one or two battleships.

History

The Gundam Akatsuki was originally intended to be the standard MS for the Orb National Defense Force. However, due to development difficulties and the high cost caused by the anti-beam reflection system, the Akatsuki experienced prolonged development, and the project is frozen after the completion of

Basic MS. As a result, it is not ready during the First Battle of Orb. However, despite its development being frozen, its weapon system continued to be developed in secret in anticipation of its possible use in the future. The existence of the single prototype was kept a secret under Uzumi Nara Athha's orders, only to be used as the nation's last line of defense, or if Cagalli Yula Athha needs additional power (Although according to her recorded will, Uzumi hopes that the day the MS hangar would be opened would never come).

The completed Akatsuki is piloted by Cagalli. Equipped with the "Oowashi" Sky Pack, she uses this machine to defend Orb from a ZAFT attack during the Second Alliance-PLANT War, after being informed of its existence by Ledonir Kisaka. Cagalli takes command of Orb's military and uses the Akatsuki to try to defend Orb from ZAFT's forces, but finds herself up against ZAFT's top ace, ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam and its pilot Shinn Asuka. Although Shinn's ranged attacks are ineffective, he easily overpowers his opponent using melee attacks, dealing minor damage to the Golden MS. When the battle ends in space, the Akatsuki is repaired and, on Cagalli's orders, is loaned to Mu La Fraga, while Cagalli remains behind in Orb to take control of her country.

While the Archangel is docked at the lunar city of Copernicus, Mwu uses the Oowashi Akatsuki to intervene in the defense of several crew members, while they attempt to rescue Meer Campbell. Despite the presence of the Akatsuki, Meer is killed by a bullet intended for Lake Clyne.

Akatsuki with the "Shiranui" space pack plays a major role in ending the Second Alliance-PLANT War by defending the Archangel and Eternal, as well as aiding in the destruction of the Requiem superweapon.

During the final battle with the Foundation Kingdom in CE75, the Akatsuki, piloted by Mwu, is sent into a container disguised with a Mirage Colloid stealth system. The Akatsuki uses the linear cannon of the A-GXQ754/V2 Zeus Silhouette to destroy the repaired Requiem's ​​primary relay ring, then uses his Yata-no-Kagami to reflect Requiem's ​​shot, temporarily disabling the superweapon. The Akatsuki then returns the Zeus Silhouette to the ZGMF/A-42S2 Destiny Gundam Spec II so that the latter destroys the Requiem for good.

Did you know?

• The name Akatsuki means "dawn" or "sunrise" in Japanese. It also carries the meaning of "beginning". Morgenroete, the company that built Akatsuki, means "dawn" in German. The kanji for "Akatsuki" is also engraved on the right shoulder of the MS. The code "ORB-01 ALBA" is also engraved on the left side of the Akatsuki's head. Alba means "dawn" in Italian, a reference to the unit's name.
• Oowashi roughly translates to "Sea Eagle", possibly in reference to the Oowashi Pack's flying abilities. The sea aspect of the name may refer to Orb being an island nation, surrounded by ocean. Shiranui translates to "Unknown Fire", implying an optical phenomenon in Japanese stories. This name likely refers to the recurring "Fire" and "Dawn" motifs that cover Cagalli and Orb.
• "Yata no Kagami" is named after a legendary mirror that is one of the three sacred treasures of Japan.
• The Guided Mobile Beam Turret System's ability to collectively generate a beam shield could be a reference to the v Gundam using its Funnels to do the same thing.
• Akatsuki is a tribute to the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, wearing a similar color scheme and a gold reflective anti-beam coating.
• Cagalli gave the Akatsuki Gundam to Mu La Fraga after using it for a single battle, making it the Gundam with the fastest pilot change.
• The original (television) version of the anime featured the Akatsuki (in its battle sequences) in a flat gold color scheme, before home video (DVD) releases, including the HD Remastered Edition, which added a chrome gold effect.