The XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero (ウイングガンダムゼロ Uingu

Gandamu Zero?) (aka Wing Zero, Wing 0, or just Zero) is a Mobile Suit that appears in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.

Features

The Wing Zero was the first Gundam designed by the five engineers who developed the OZ-00MS Tallgeese. Around AC 175, the MS, which was developed as a "weapon" by OZ, began to evolve as a mobile weapon based on the Tallgeese (Prototype Leo). Meanwhile, several engineers who were central to the development of the Tallgeese fled OZ, to develop an even more capable MS. Five of them came together to develop an MS that would adopt "technology and materials that did not yet exist at that time", including "Gundanium", which was a cutting-edge material at the time . Having been developed in light of the Tallgeese's failure, it has become a formidable machine equipped with an interface that transcends the limitations of the pilot. The "Wing Zero", and the hardware adopted gave it the code name "Gundam". By transforming into Neo Bird mode, high-speed flight is possible, plus the Twin Buster Rifle has the power to destroy a space colony in a single shot.

The Wing Zero's head unit is an aggregation of different sensors, and the Vulcan cannons are therefore not equipped with it. Its torso is equipped with the main generator and an integrated “ZERO SYSTEM” type cockpit. The ZERO System also turned out to be what the five engineers feared the most, as it forces the pilot to achieve "perfect victory". The five engineers, fearing the size of the Wing Zero's excessive destruction coefficient (in practice, parts with the required specifications could not have been supplied at that time), suspended development of the machine and sealed its data Design. While in hiding, the five engineers who had returned to their respective colonies developed five "Gundams" which could be considered unique machines derived from Wing Zero. And then in AC 195, the seal was broken by Four Raberba Winner, one of the five Gundam pilots who had carried out Operation Meteor, and Wing Zero, which had been impossible to build at the time of its conception, was born.

• Neo Bird Fashion

Wing Zero high-speed flight mode. The vectors of the verniers in each part are concentrated, allowing high speed movement with great thrust. When the verniers inside the wings, the verniers on the legs, and even the verniers inside the shoulder armor are added, the acceleration performance even exceeds that of the Tallgeese.

• Search Eye

Focused on data collection. When antennas and main cameras aren't enough, the Gundam's secondary eye, consisting of the large "jewel" on its chest, is used to gather visual and radio wave data.

• Self-Destruct System

Like other Gundams, the Wing Zero was built to self-destruct if the pilot so chooses. A remote detonator is placed in the cockpit and if a serious situation happens, the pilot can destroy the Gundam. The system was designed to overload its power systems and has enough explosive power to destroy several city blocks. This is a last option tactic if the pilot is unable to protect the Gundam, without letting it fall into enemy hands. It can also be used as a large explosive device to wipe out large targets.

• ZERO System

An interface to achieve the "perfect victory", developed so that the rider can follow the machine and its performance, which surpasses the Tallgeese. Since it seriously affects the pilot's physical functions and mental state, a person without very strong mental strength cannot control it.

Armaments

• Twin Buster Rifle: A double-barreled Buster-type rifle. It has more than twice the power of the Buster Rifle equipped by the XXXG-01W Wing Gundam. In Neo Bird mode, it is equipped on both sides of the shield while being split in two. This is a type of weapon directly connected to the generator, so rapid fire is also possible.
• Beam Saber: Cutting equipment for close combat. Since it adopts Gundanium alloy devices in every part; power, function, durability, etc. are exceptionally improved compared to those of a regular MS. A beam saber is stored in the shoulder armor on each of the two shoulders.
• Machine Cannon: Two large-caliber Machine Cannons are equipped in each collarbone.
• Shield: A Gundanium alloy shield. In addition to being applied with an anti-beam coating, it is equipped with Wing Vulcans on both sides. It becomes the nose in Neo Bird mode, having excellent aerodynamic performance in the atmosphere and also functions as a battering ram when charging. The tip of the shield can also be extended to cause damage.
• Wing Vulcan: A pair of Vulcan cannons built into the sides of Wing Zero's shield.

History

The Wing Gundam Zero was initially created by the five Gundam Scientists around AC 180. However, the Scientists, fearing the

Wing Zero's potential power, stopped development, each took a copy of the design to create their own Mobile Suit for the eventual Operation Meteor.

In AC 195, Quatre Raberba Winner discovered a copy of the plans after her father's death, and used its resources to construct Wing Zero to replace her then-destroyed XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock. Upon completion, Four, mentally unstable due to his father's death and exposure to the ZERO system, began attacking OZ-affiliated space colonies. Heero Yuy and Trowa Barton (both working for OZ, reluctantly) were sent to confront Four and Wing Zero. The Wing Zero proved incredibly powerful, destroying the OZ escort MS and heavily damaging the OZ-13MSX1 Vayeate. However, the successful duo brought Quatre back to his senses, even though Heero and Quatre were captured by OZ, and Trowa declared missing.

After coming into OZ's possession, Trant Clark forced Heero to test the ZERO System, but after using the machine, and an outburst of fury caused by the ZERO System, he and Four escaped and returned to Earth. Trant kept the Wing Zero, and after finding Gundam pilot Duo Maxwell, forced him to test it. Duo was overwhelmed by the ZERO System but came to his senses after abandoning the Wing Zero for his XXXG-01D2 Gundam Deathscythe Hell. After Duo escaped, Trant attempted to fight Duo with the Wing Zero, but ended up dying in the process.

After the loss of Trant, OZ planned to destroy the Gundam, but the intervention of Zechs Merquise, who sacrificed his Tallgeese in order to claim Wing Zero for himself, foiled their plans. Zechs later confronted Chang Wufei, initially attempting to become the Gundam pilot's ally, but the effects of the ZERO System and Wufei's hostility forced him into conflict. He then used Wing Zero to return to Earth in an attempt to prevent the dissolution of the Sanc Kingdom, but he arrived too late and ended up fighting Heero, who was piloting the OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon. After their duel ended in a draw, they exchanged Gundams before going their separate ways, leaving Heero with Wing Zero.

Heero and the Wing Zero returned to space, and during the journey, they encountered Wufei, who used the Wing Zero to destroy a force of forty WF-02MD Virgo IIs. In the process, the ZERO System allowed Wufei to discover his true enemy and he decided to join the Gundam team. Recently found and still suffering from amnesia, Trowa then piloted Wing Zero to liberate a colony threatened by OZ soldiers. Using the ZERO system, Trowa regained the memories he lost after his near-death experience.

During the Eve War, Heero used the Gundam in a final duel against the Epyon, defeating Zechs, before using Wing Zero's Twin Buster Rifle to intercept and destroy the remains of the Libra battleship before it could hit the Earth.

Did you know?

• The location of the Wing Vulcans was not originally specified, although they have always been on Wing Zero's weapons list. The first time they were developed, they were described as being located between the two movable sections of each wing binding. Later official sources changed this, establishing that the Wing Vulcans were on the sides of the shield.
• A modified version of the original Wing Zero design, known as "Wing Gundam Proto Zero", is featured in the Gundam Wing manga Glory of the Losers. It is ultimately destroyed when Trant uses his self-destruct device in desperation while fighting Duo, and is subsequently rebuilt into its EW design by Howard.