Description
The MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame is a Mobile Suit introduced in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray. It is piloted by Junk Guild member Lowe Guele.
The MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame is one of five identical prototype mobile suits developed by Orb using stolen data from the Earth Alliance's G Project. Its original concept was to be a MS that could be piloted by Naturals, and it was eventually loaded with an incomplete Natural-use OS. Most of the technology from the G Project is successfully copied with the exception of Phase Shift armor. In its place, the Gundam Astrays' designers made the machines out of a lighter foam metal compound, with minimal armor over the frame. This made the mobile suits lighter and faster than their G Project counterparts. All five prototype Gundam Astrays are also designed with a backpack that can be lowered to the back skirt armor, allowing the mounting of additional equipment on the back.
The Red Frame initially had the same armament as the other prototype Gundam Astrays, consisting of two head-mounted "Igelstellung" 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, two backpack-mounted beam sabers for close combat, a Type 71 beam rifle and a physical shield. Red Frame's pilot, Lowe Guele, eventually acquired another armament - the "Gerbera Straight" katana. To wield this katana effectively, the Red Frame's OS was modified. Lowe also created a 150 meter long version of this sword, however it cannot be carried by the Red Frame in its normal configuration. Lowe also designed a set of upgrades for Red Frame, but they are used to repair Gai's damaged MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame instead. When there is a need for flight capability, Red Frame can be fitted with the Flight Unit and when it needs to dive underwater, it can use the Salvage Unit. After his return from Mars, Lowe developed the Caletvwlch and the Ddraig Head. The former is a multifunctional handheld equipment, while the latter is a special head unit designed to complement the former.
Like other mobile suits that use beam weapons, the Red Frame is equipped with hand plugs to exchange energy with weapons the suit carries. Although considered a misuse of the system, the energy from the hand plug can be manipulated into an energy ball and discharged. This is often used by Lowe as an emergency weapon, for example to temporarily blind enemies. The mysterious organization, Librarian Works, later created a copy of the Red Frame. Known as Replica Red Frame, it has the same capabilities as the real Red Frame.