Technology & Combat Characteristics
This transformable mobile weapon was developed by the Augusta (Clarks Hill) Research Institute & Oakland Research Institute as a space-use mobile suit, but it also proved to be highly efficient in atmospheric flight. The Gaplant proved to be one of the fastest and most agile mobile weapons when in mobile armor mode and thanks to its active thruster units it was able to change direction during flight without the need of changing the direction of its nose. However because of the extreme G-forces which pressed on the pilot during high speed flight, the Gaplant could only be used by the physically toughest humans or by an enhanced cyber-Newtype. Another problem was its high fuel consumption. Because of this the Gaplant was equipped with an external booster in MA form when it needed to fly longer distances.
A unique feature of the Gaplant is that is possesses two cockpit hatches. The first is the standard mobile suit hatch located in the middle of the torso, which is the hatch used in mobile suit mode. The second hatch is used only while the Gaplant is in mobile armor mode and is located in the back of the head. The reason for the second hatch is because the first hatch is inaccessible when in mobile armor mode.
