Front [Pg 01-02]

Translator's note: 2 pages in the original edition. All content on Pgs 01 and 02 is new. The original content has also been switched (03 = 02, 04 = 03).

Illustrated by Hidetaka Tenjin

VF-0S Phoenix: Offence and Defence Integrating Battroid-use Enhancement Armour

Data *data is for when it's in fighter form
Attached to: Unified Forces
Length: 18.69 m
Weight: 16,191 kg
Engine: EGF-127 Turbofan Jet Kai x2 (main engines), Shinnakasu ARR-2 Rocket Motor x3 (auxiliary engines)
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.74+ (at 11,000 m)
Cruising Range: 2,075 km (when equipped with the dorsal conformal tank standard equipment)
Climbing Limit: 25,000 m
Armament: Mauler Co. made Laser Machine-Gun x2, 35 mm Gatling Gun Pod (Howard GPU-9), AMRAAM2 Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (Raytheon-Bifors AIM-200AI/ALH Guided), Other

Main Pilots: Roy Fokker

Aircraft Explanation
As a prototype variable fighter, the VF-0 succeeded at introducing the transformation mechanism. On the other hand, the vulnerability of the airframe and the insufficient fire power became problems. In order to compensate for those deficiencies, Reactive Armour was developed as additional equipment that unites with the airframe. Also, a type of VF-0 exists that is equipped with an unmanned Ghost, in the form of an additional booster, for the Special-Attack Assault Specification, which had the objective of improving the VF-0's output. One could say that they were the starting point that brought about concepts of additional equipment for future generations of VFs. The explanations herein are about this additional equipment.

Size Comparison: VF-1J, VF-0D

Development Genealogical Chart: VF-0A > VF-X > VF-1

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Reverse Left [Pg 03]

Reactive Armour Equipment
Special reactive armour exclusively for the battroid form was prepared as optional equipment for the VF-0S. The arms, shoulders, chest, waist, legs and the area of their joints are protected by strengthened armour that was developed in order to compensate for the weaknesses of the VF-0. Also, the reactive armour made it possible to greatly reduce the damage to the main body by adopting a structure where the surface of the reinforced armour is instantaneously blown off by internal gunpowder when enemy missiles impact. Additionally, strengthening of the VF-0S's offensive ability was attempted with the micro-missiles that are built into the shoulders and chest of the armour. It was used in combat when a Reactive Armour equipped VF-0S intercepted the SV-51 that had approached the Asuka.

Caption: This option was prepared for the A model, which Kudou Shin piloted, and the S model, that Fokker piloted.

Caption: Fokker's reactive armour equipped VF-0S, had Nora's and Ivanov's SV-51, which had penetrated inside the Carrier Asuka, temporarily retreat.*

* Translator's note: originally was "which had penetrated inside the Asuka,".

Caption: The shoulder and chest reinforced armour unfold and the internal missile pods fire. The SV-51 were restrained by a countless number of missiles.

Right: Thrusters in such places as the rear of the legs and the top part of the back are added to the reinforcing armour. The thrusters are equipment that the Reactive Armour is equipped with for enemy attacks from the rear.

Left: Reinforcing armour is applied to each joint, and they have a structure that can endure even if they suffer from simultaneous shots from several enemy craft. In proportion to that, such things as the VF-0S's manoeuvrability and flight performance have been greatly decreased.

Related Matter: The Relationship with the GBP-1S
Even though the date for the VF-0S was concealed as highly classified important information, supplemental equipment was prepared for the VF-1 -the VF-0's successor craft- that took over the special characteristics of the Reactive Armour, which were said to be the "strengthening of the defensive and bombardment capabilities of a VF". This was the fully armoured weapon system, which was referred to as the GBP-1S (Protect Weapon System). Even though such things as the specific technological inheritance and relationship with the Reactive Armour are not yet certain, their relationships is incontrovertible as there is a commonness in such things as their structures which had a set of reinforced armour and fixed missiles.

Caption: (M) Besides a structure that is assumed to be for special operations, the common feature between the Reactive Armour and the GBP-1S is that they are only for battroid mode.

Right: GBP-1S (M)
Even though the parts where the reinforced armour is added to aren't greatly different from that of the Reactive Armour, this one can arbitrarily purge the armour.

A: Shoulders
Large armour that's installed on both shoulders. When firing the micro-missile launcher that's built into it, the armour unfolds upwards.

B: Chest
Micro-missile launchers are also built into the interior of the chest armour. When firing, they are constructed to open by turning toward the center.

C: Arms
Shield-type armour is installed on the arms, which is referred to as reactive armour panels. They have a wide range of movement, and can also guard the head from attacks.

D: Waist
Hand grenades are installed in the waist armour. They are pulled out from the rack by the manipulator and thrown at the enemy.

E: Jump Booster
A booster is added in order to support the main body, whose load has been increased by the armour. As a result, the VF-0S's acceleration was maintained to a certain extent.

F: Rear Sensor
A sensor that picks up enemy craft that are approaching from the rear. It's thought that this is something that has been newly added to the armour, because when the VF-0S is equipped with this armour, it's manoeuvrability decreases.

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Reverse Right [Pg 04]

Special Attack-Assault Specification
A special specification of the VF-0S that was invented to oppose the Anti Unification Alliance's SV-51 Variable Fighter. It's the type that is equipped with an unmanned reconnaissance "QF-2200A Ghost" as an additional booster. The QF-2200A Ghost is equipped with a high-output turbofan jet that is beefed up when it is installed onto the VF-0S. The VF-0S's thrust was improved by 20% (90% if the afterburners were used). Moreover, the VF-0S's combat abilities are enhanced by making the best use of a portion of the surplus output and the addition of such things as a missile pod and a fuel tank. However, the stability of the VF-0S decreases as the specification was an improvement that was worked on at top speed by the carrier Asuka's crew. It's behaviour was entrusted to the skill of the pilot.

Caption: Fokker's S model (back) and Shin's A model (in front) were improved to the Special Attack-Assault Specification. As it is a locally-made improvement, there is no official model designation for it.

Fighter Mode

right: The Ghost was installed on the torso. As a result, when compared to a VF-0 before the improvement, there was a deterioration in the weight balance of the main body.

up: By installing an afterburner equipped Ghost, the VF-0S's acceleration performance also greatly improved.

down: The 5 missile launchers that the Ghost has can be used as is. Moreover, a total of 4 8-tube General Purpose Micro-Missile Launchers are installed on both sides of the VF-0 on newly added dorsal pylons and on the under-wing variable pylons. Furthermore, pods carrying medium range manoeuvrable missile are installed on 2 of the under-wing variable pylons.

Caption: In addition to the near nullification of the VF's stealth performance, the load on the pilot increases because the craft's output has been greatly enhanced.

GERWALK Mode
Even though the VF-0S is equipped with a Ghost, it is still possible to transform the VF to and operate it in GERWALK. Even though great thrust can be maintained just like fighter mode, because the transformation doesn't take the Ghost's position into account, the specification has a layout where the Ghost's thruster is unnaturally projecting rearward. As a result, it's guessed that the aircraft's manoeuvrability decreases.

right: The burden on the pilot increases even more because, compared with the fighter mode, GERWALK has a shape that easily suffers from air-resistance.

down: Super Parts that are equipped with missiles and fuel tanks are installed on both engine nacelles of the VF.

up: Seen from the rear, its clear that the Ghost's thruster greatly protrudes. The mobility of the arms and legs appears to have been preserved in the Specification.

Battroid Mode
In the human-shaped battroid mode, the appearance of the Ghost is like a backpack carried on the back. The width of the VF-0S's fighting techniques have been extended by such things as making the best use of the great thrust of the Ghost, challenging enemy craft with gun pod attacks, instant retreats in strike-and-breakaway tactics and restraining enemy craft at long range with the additional missile pod.

up: The high-manoeuvrability and general purposefulness that are the features of battroid mode are thought to have been decreased in the specification.

down: It's possible to transform the VF-0S to fighter and battroid modes with the Ghost installed.

up: Besides having the alias "the Charging In [Raid]" version, since it is a specification that doesn't concern itself with stability, the Special Attack-Assault specification could also be called the "Angel" version, due to the last appearance of Shin's craft.

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© Aaron Sketchley