MAX-03 Adzam

Model number: MAX-03
Code name: Adzam
Unit type: experimental ground combat mobile armor
Manufacturer: Principality of Zeon Granada Base
Operator: Principality of Zeon
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot and copilot, in standard cockpit in main body
Dimensions: overall height 24.0 meters; overall width 55.9 meters
Weight: empty 860.0 metric tons; max gross 1,420.0 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 62,000 kW
Propulsion: 8 x VTOL rotor; Minovsky craft system
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown
Fixed armaments: 8 x twin mega particle cannon, mounted on main body; 3 x leader, delivers plasma electrical charge to target, stored in main body

Essentially a mobile gun battery, the Principality of Zeon’s MAX-03 Adzam was one of its earliest mobile armor designs, using a heavily modified G87 Luna Tank as its base. Designed as an experimental ground combat unit, the Adzam was the first mobile weapon equipped with the then-untested Minovsky craft system, allowing it to hover in the air for virtually unlimited lengths of time. Mounting eight 2-barreled mega particle cannon turrets, it was able to provide 360 degrees of attack and defense against enemies. It also carried three experimental leader weapons, designed to deliver a powerful electrical plasma charge against ground units. The leader weapon consisted of two components: an explosive container which saturates the target with a dust of highly conductive particles of an unknown material; and the leader weapon itself, which anchored itself into the ground over its target, thus trapping its target inside a cage, and delivering its highly shocking attack. The leader weapon was improved in a later mobile armor, the MA-06 Val-Walo.

Being an experimental unit, only a limited number of Adzams were built, with one assigned to M’Quve’s mining division on Earth. When Earth Federation Forces mobile suit pilot Amuro Ray discovered one of Zeon’s secret mining camps, M’Quve and Kycilia Zabi piloted the Adzam into battle against Amuro’s RX-78-2 Gundam. The Gundam was nearly destroyed in the battle when it became extremely overheated by an attack from the Adzam’s leader, but the effectiveness of the leader’s dust wore off in time for Amuro to save himself and deliver a crippling blow to the experimental mobile armor.

Pilot: M’Quve
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara

Rear view