F90V Gundam F90 VSBR Type

The F90V Gundam F90 VSBR Type is a mobile suit introduced in the Mobile Suit Gundam F90 (1990) model kits and original design series.

Technology & Combat characteristics[]

The F90V Gundam F90 VSBR Type is one of the many mission packs developed for the F90 Gundam F90 by the Strategic Naval Research Institute. The VSBR Type is designed to improve the Gundam F90's overall combat ability with the addition of two variable speed beam rifles, a mega Gatling gun, a beam shield, additional rocket thrusters and verniers, and a more powerful ultracompact Minovsky type fusion reactor. The additional equipment increases the Gundam F90's offensive abilities, defensive abilities, and its speed and mobility. The backpack features a built-in sub-generator that allows simultaneous use of the beam shield and VSBR weapons, both of which require large amounts of energy to function. However, the beam shield may suffer from stability problems depending on the state of the mobile suit. These technical issues would pose a challenge for future development of the VSBR. Technologically, the F90V Gundam F90 VSBR Type is the prototype of the F91 Gundam F91.

Armaments[]

• 60mm Vulcan Gun

The F90V VSBR Type is equipped with a pair of head mounted Vulcan guns to serve as a mid-close range defensive weapon. While they do little damage against the armor of a mobile suit, they are useful for shoot down incoming missiles, small attack vehicles, or to deter closing in enemy machines.

• VSBR (Variable Speed Beam Rifle)

A pair of high-output large beam rifles mounted on the suit’s backpack, and powered directly by its reactor. These experimental weapons can fire either low-speed beams with high destructive power, or high-speed beams with high penetrating power, sufficient to destroy two MS with one shot or pierce a beam shield. The two VSBRs typically slide under the shoulder when deployed. Later, this weapon is also used by its successors, the F91 Gundam F91 and the RXF-91 Silhouette Gundam.

• Mega Gatling Gun

A gatling gun is mounted on the right forearm. This weapon able to take down a thinly armored enemy mobile suit.

• Beam Shield

The F90 VSBR Type is equipped with a pair of beam shield generators. The first beam shield generator is mounted on the left arm. The second is a spare stored in the right hip armor. Unlike an I-field generator, which is effective only against beam attacks, the beam shield blocks both beam and projectile weapons. Despite being a prototype version of Beam Shield, it was able to deflect high powered attack such as MSA-120 Draig High Impact Gun.^[1]

• Beam Saber

The beam saber is the standard close-combat weapon of many mobile suits, it emits a blade of plasma contained by an I-field that can cut through any physical armor that have not been treated to resist it. The beam saber is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor, and the F90V VSBR Type has two beam sabers stored in the left hip armor.

Special Equipment & Features[]

• Hardpoints

The Gundam F90 has 11 hardpoints for mounting the Mission Packs, sets of optional equipment and armaments, to meet specific needs or combat situations. The locations of these hardpoints are: two on top of the shoulder armor, one on the backpack, two on the sides of the forearms, two on the front skirt armor, two on the side skirt armor, and two on the sides of the legs. These hardpoints are covered when not in use. The attached Mission Packs can be exchanged, making the Gundam F90 extremely versatile. There are potentially as many as 26 Mission Packs. The hardpoints can also be used for mounting spare E-packs of the Beam Rifle or other ranged beam weaponry.

• Heat Radiation Fins

A set of three heat radiation fins is stored on top of each shoulder, and leg hardpoints. These fins function as heat radiation vents to keep the mobile suit temperature stable while shooting high powered beam weaponry. Since this is a prototype version the fins size are larger compared to the improved version of its successor the F91 Gundam F91. The fins can also be used as stabilizers within atmosphere.

History[]

Side 2 Incident[]

In U.C. 0116, the V-Type mission pack was assigned to the Earth Federation Forces Fastest Formula (FF) Corps and equipped onto F90 Gundam F90 Unit 2 piloted by Dir Rider. The F90 V-Type entered combat when the FF Corps was ambushed by Zeon Remnants forces led by a heavily modified AMA-01X Jamru Fin near Side 2 colony, Amelia. The F90 V-Type saved the FF Corps' mothership, the Space Ark-class Fairlady, using its Beam Shield, and also drove the remaining enemy forces to retreat.^[2]

Stolen Data[]

Sometime in U.C.0116, Anaheim Electronics obtained the confidential data of the F90 V-Type from an anonymous source. It was implied that the data was stolen from SNRI Headquarters in Frontier I during a terrorist attack there that year.^[3] Anaheim Electronics later used the F90 V-Type's data to develop the RXF-91 Silhouette Gundam.

Oldsmobile Wars[]

In U.C. 0122, the V-Type mission pack was assigned to the Ra Cailum-class Abrams, and equipped onto F90 Unit 1 piloted by Bergh Scred.^[4] The F90 V-Type was frequently used on Earth thanks to its versatility.^[5] It later defended the EFF Forces in Earth's orbit and fought against three disguised XM-01 Den'an Zons. It was heavily damaged during the battle, but survived.^[6]

Cosmo Babylonia War[]

In U.C. 0123, the F90 V-Type was repaired and assigned to Nana Tachibana.^[7] It was deployed to protect an EFF space base and its mothership in Side 4 against an assault by a special detachment of Crossbone Vanguard. It was then used to protect the EFF Forces commanded by Kamuna Tachibana from an ambush by Crossbone Vanguard forces commanded by a golden XM-05 Berga Giros piloted by Stein Bunyil.^[8] After this encounter, it is unknown what happened to the F90 V-Type.

Gallery[]

Linearts[]

Front view

Rear view

Beam Rifle, front view

Beam Rifle, rear view

List of Gundam-type supportive firearms in U.C. 0100s, including Gundam F90V's VSBR (first from top)

Manga[]

Mobile Suit Gundam F90: Fastest Formula[]

Vs. RF Z'goks (Vol 6 Prologue)

Shooting a RF Dom Cold Climate Type

Firing a VSBR

Deploying both VSBRs (Vol 7)

Shooting a heavily modified Jamru Fin

Ambushed from above

Dodging Draig's Beam Saber slash

Locking onto Draig

Overheated after firing VSBRs

With Bar GM

Rear view

Facing three disguised Den'an Zons (Vol 11)

Damaged while protecting a Jegan Normal Type

Mobile Suit Gundam Climax U.C.: The Bonds of the Bloodline[]

Being equipped while on a trailer (Vol 1, Period 05)

Intercepting a golden Berga Giros

Beam Saber clash with golden Berga Giros

Using Beam Shield to block a beam shot

Protecting three ships

Aiming a VSBR

Games[]

in Gundam War Card

In Mobile Suit Gundam F91: Formula Report 0122

Gunpla[]

Original 1/100 F90V Gundam F90 V-Type (1991): box art

MG 1/100 Mission Pack R-Type & V-Type for Gundam F90 (P-Bandai exclusive; 2020): box art

Promotional image for MG Mission Pack R-Type & V-Type for Gundam F90 (1)

Promotional image for MG Mission Pack R-Type & V-Type for Gundam F90 (2)

MG Mission Pack R-Type & V-Type

Front and rear view

Details

SDGG F90 Gundam F90 (A/P/V Type) (1999): box art

Notes & Trivia[]

• The Gundam F90 VSBR Type appears as a playable unit in Super Robot Wars Alpha 1. In Dreamcast version it has a combination attack with F91 Gundam F91, where both fire their VBSRs. The Double VSBR attack is exclusive to Cecily Fairchild.
• Despite being an equipment for the V-Type, the beam shield unit is compatible with MS that had lower generator output such as F89 Gundam F89.^[1]

References[]

Design and specification from Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Encyclopedia (Mediaworks)

Lineart and profile

Data File (F90FF Vol 7, Pg 48)

Profile from F90 A to Z Project website

External links[]