ROBOTECH Technical Files

By Tim Wing, Pieter Thomassen, with Peter Walker

Attachments:

• Sylphid reference file
• Sylphid gallery

Designation: Saab AB F/A-109 Sylphid (A,B,C,D,E,F) Multi-Role Fighter

I. Dimensions:

• Length: 12.8 meters
• Height: 4.9 meters
• Wingspan: 12.2 meters
• Dry Weight: 11.8 metric tons.

II. Type:

• F/A-109A: One man all-weather multi-role fighter.
• F/A-109B: One man all-weather multi-role fighter.
• F/A-109C: Two man all-weather combat capable fighter/trainer.
• F-109D: One man all-weather fighter.
• F/A-109E: One man all-weather fighter.
• F/A-109F: Two man all-weather combat capable fighter/trainer.

III. Service History:

• F/A-109A: Served with the Swedish Air Force and other air forces of the Unified Forces from 2016 until 2017; served with the UEDF Tactical Air Force from 2018 until 2031.
• F/A-109B: Served with the UN Spacy from 2016 until 2017; served with the UEDF Tactical Air Force from 2018 until 2031.
• F/A-109C: Served with the UN Spacy, the Swedish Air Force and other air forces of the Unified Forces from 2016 until 2017; served with the UEDF Tactical Air Force from 2018 until 2031.
• F-109D: Served with the UEDF Tactical Air Force from 2020 until 2031.
• F/A-109E: Served with the UEDF Tactical Air Force from 2025 until 2031.
• F/A-109F: Served with the UEDF Tactical Air Force from 2025 until 2031.

IV. Propulsion:

• (A, B, C and D variants) 2 x Rolls-Royce/Volvo FF-3001 fusion turbines, max. output 131 kN each.
• (E and F variant) 2 x Rolls-Royce/Volvo FF-3031 fusion turbines, max. output 146 kN each.
• Powerplant: 2 x RRL-2P Miniaturized Protoculture-cell energizer

Fuel Capacity:

• 16 standard canisters of protoculture,
• 9.8 liter D₂0 of reactant for fusion engines.

V. Performance:

• Maximum speed at 20000 meters: Mach 4.10
• Maximum speed at sea level: Mach 1.2
• Maximum speed in super-cruise: Mach 2.3
• Service Ceiling: 40000 meters
• Protoculture supply: 165 hours of continuous use.

VI. Electronics:

(F/A-109E and F Sylphids, circa 2029)

Radar tracking:

• Westinghouse APG-145 X-band pulse-Doppler omni-directional radar.

Optical tracking:

• Phillips AllView II multi-band omni-directional digital camera system, for medium range all attitude infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking
• Thomson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Selenia Sky Warrior active/passive sensor jammers
• Numerous dispenser for expendable decoys and countermeasures such as chaff and flares.

VII. Armament:

Cannons:

• 2 x Oerlikon LPWS-12 pulse laser cannons. These cannons have a typical burst energy of 5 MJ. The cannons are mounted in the wing roots.

Hardpoints:

• 1 hardpoint on the dorsal centerline for a palletized gun pod. Two options were available:
  • 1 x GPUL-1 gun pod with three Oerlikon E-18-1 ion pulse cannons. The ion cannons, or more accurately electrolasers, draw power from the aircraft’s main power generator. Cannons fire with 4 MJ of energy, and have the secondary effect of causing damage to the electronics of their target.
  • 1 x GPU-13 three-barreled 35mm gun pod, firing 2000 rounds per minute, 300 round capacity, stored in the pod itself. Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds. This cannon is based on the GU-13 gun pod used by the VF/A-6 Alpha Veritech.
• 4 hardpoints are mounted on the lower hull and two under each wing. Each hardpoint can carry:
  • 1 x Python missile, with a range of 75 km and a speed of Mach 3.0, with active-passive radar/home-on-jam and IIR guidance.
  • or 1 x Carapace missile container, containing three missile tubes, each of which can contain two Diamondback or Lightning missiles, or four Hammerhead missiles.
  • or 1 x MER (Multiple Ejector Rack) for two Derringer missiles. These missiles have a range of 70 km (A variant) or 130 km (E/F variants) and a speed of Mach 3.0, guided by a combined optical, IIR, and active radar seeker.
  • or any other military load, such as ECM pods, cargo pods or recon pods.

Typical Payloads:

• Anti-shuttle attack: 4 Python missiles.
• Air superiority: 2 Carapace containers loaded with 12 Diamondbacks, 2 Carapace containers loaded with 24 Hammerheads.
• Ground support A: 2 Carapace containers loaded with 12 Lightning missiles, 1 Carapace container loaded with 6 Diamondbacks, 1 Carapace container loaded with 12 Hammerheads.
• Ground Support B: 2 Python missiles, 1 Carapace container loaded with 6 Diamondbacks, 1 Carapace container loaded with 12 Hammerheads.

VIII. Armor:

The armor of the Sylphid is composed of an advanced titanium-steel alloy. The armor stops all small arms fire, provides excellent protection against heavier infantry weapons, such as a 12.7mm machinegun round, and good resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm HE autocannon round. The resistance against heavier weapons is markedly reduced, however.

The Sylphid provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for one day maximum.

IX. Development:

Saab Aerospace developed the JAS 43 shortly after the First Robotech War to take advantage of the Earth’s need to both rearm its air forces, and the need to replace the many lower end fighters such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-203 Dragon II and F/A-20 Tigersharks that had survived the war. In Saab tradition, the fighter was named after a mythical creature, in this case the Sylphid. The Sylphid was designed from the outset to be available in both fusion turbine powered configuration and in conventional turbofan powered variants (named the JAS 41) for air forces with lower budgets and requirements. Though the jet fuel powered JAS 41 did sell in small numbers, the vast majority of Saab’s customers decided to go with the full-up fusion turbine powered JAS 43 Sylphid. The JAS 43A was accepted into service with the Swedish Air Force in 2016. Orders were on the books for several other air forces within the Unified Forces, but by the time most of them were delivered the United Earth Government’s militaries had unified under the Treaty of the Southern Cross into the United Earth Defense Force (UEDF). From 2018 onwards, the JAS 43A was known under the standardized designation of F/A-109A for the single seat variant and F/A-109C for the two-seater.

Before the treaty went into effect, the UN Spacy also bought a variant of the JAS 43 known as the F/A-109B. The UN Spacy variant was remarkable for its forward swept wing and canard control surface layout. This configuration, while controversial at the time, did result in a slight improvement in maneuverability, but at a cost. In a forward swept wing configuration, the aerodynamic lift produces a twisting force which rotates the wing leading edge upward. This results in a higher angle of attack, which increases lift, twisting the wing further. This aeroelastic divergence quickly lead to structural failure. Though this was known and planned for, it resulted in a service life that was roughly half of that of the more conventional F/A-109A. Because of this, only the UN Spacy purchased any F/A-109s in this configuration. After the Reconnaissance Expeditionary Force (REF) left Earth, the figurative belt was tightened significantly and this was no longer considered a worthwhile trade-off. By the Second Robotech War, only about a tenth of the F/A-109s in service were the forward swept wing F/A-109Bs.

After the unification of Earth’s militaries under the banner of the UEDF, all F/A-109’s were assigned to the newly formed Tactical Air Force (TAC). In the beginning, the TAC had a large number of legacy fighters that were carried over from the previous air forces. These included everything from F-203 Dragon IIs to ancient F-4 Phantoms, and everything in between. Saab’s Sylphid was the obvious choice for replacing these various aircraft. To fulfill the contract as quickly as possible, Saab offered both the standard multi-role F/A-109A and a lower cost F-109D. The F-109D dropped the Sylphid’s air-to-ground capabilities and was only equipped with air-to-air mission specific avionics. From 2020 to 2025, about half of the Sylphids built by Saab and under license by other manufacturers were in the less expensive D configuration.

After the failure of the VF-4 Lightning III to deliver an advanced Veritech fighter to replace the rapidly aging VF-1 Valkyrie fleet, the UEDF found itself in a bad position. Though still a capable fighter, the entirety of the VF-1 inventory were at the end of their service lives. Unlike a conventional fighter aircraft which could expect a service life of around 6,000 flight hours, Veritechs were would last about half of that. Because of the transformable nature of the Veritech, flight stress was played out across a much larger number of failure points. Additionally, a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was out of the question for a Veritech. Because of the complex nature of the VF-1 Valkyrie (or any Veritech for that matter), any SLEP would cost nearly as much as a new build aircraft. In the case of the Lightning IIIs, these problems were even worse. Not only was the VF-4 twice as expensive as the VF-1 to purchase, it was twice as expensive to operate and required three times as many man hours to keep in the air. And even after the introduction of the VF-4G, the Lightning III continued to be plagued with problems with its transformation sequence that caused continued groundings of the entire fleet. To make matters worse, all VF/A-6 Thunderbolt III (Alpha) Vertiechs were scheduled to be transferred to the REF no later than 2025. The Tactical Air Force and the Navy needed a replacement badly. The Navy of course went with the VF/A-8N Logan naval variant. The TAC decided to pursue an upgraded version of the F/A-109.

The F/A-109E (single seat) and F/A-109F (two-seat) Sylphids entered service with the Tactical Air Force in 2025, and remained in service until the Invid invasion. The Sylphid became the primary tactical fighter of the Southern Cross’ Tactical Air Force. The E/F variants introduced more powerful FF-3031 fusion turbine engines in place of the original FF-3001s and improved avionics, with most older models being refitted to the new standard by the beginning of the Second Robotech War. The two engine variants can be distinguished by the fact that the FF-3001 fit had three sub-nozzles per engine, and the FF-3031 had four. The E/F variant also introduced an enlarged cockpit to accommodate the TAC’s flight armor that became standard for all pilots in the mid-twenties. The F/A-109 was slated for replacement by a true Veritech fighter sometime in the mid-thirties, had the Second Robotech War not interfered with the development of the X-34 project. Development was stopped during the war both to concentrate on the rapid production of the existing Veritechs, and to later evaluate all combat lessons learned and incorporate them into the new design. However, the Invid Invasion in 2031 ended this project in its infancy.

The Sylphid was shown to be less than successful against the Robotech Masters, partly because its bases kept getting shot up, but mainly because as a fighter it was completely out-classed by the Assault Carrier, against which it could not mount heavy enough weapons to be fully effective. Against the Invid, the remaining Sylphids were moderately effective during the initial invasion, but soon all support bases had been destroyed and keeping the remaining Sylphids active proved to be almost impossible.

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (R) is the property of Big West Advertising, Tatsunoko Studio and Ammonite studio. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Original artwork by: Kogawa Tomonori, Hiroyuki Kitazume, Miyo Sonoda, Hiroshi Ogawa, Hirotoshi Ohkura and Takashi Ono

Acknowledgement is extended to Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide. Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern are given credit for all quotes and paraphrasing of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide that has been utilized in this publication. 

Images from – Unspecified Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross OSM, Robotech RPG (1^st Edition) Southern Cross Sourcebook and Robotech RPG (2^nd Edition) Southern Cross Sourcebook.

Content by Tim Wing, Pieter Thomassen and Peter Walker

Copyright © 2003, 1997, 1995 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker; 2015 Tim Wing

ROBOTECH Technical Files

by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Robert Morgenstern

edited by Tim Wing

Attachments:

• HWR-03 reference file
• HWR-03 gallery

Designation: Bofors HWR-03 Mk. I/II/III Thundercracker (colloquial nickname: Little Monster) Heavy Weapons Robot

I. Dimensions:

• Height: 9.5 meter
• Width: 7.7 meter
• Hull length: 8.3 meter
• Total length: 16.4 meter
• Dry Weight: 71.6 metric tons.

II. Type:

• Three man, all-weather, tube artillery and specialized assault Destroid mecha.

III. Service History:

• Mark I: Served with the REF/UEEF Tactical Corps from 2022 until upgraded to Mark II or Mark III standard by 2028.
• Mark II: Served with the REF/UEEF Tactical Corps from 2022 until 2048.
• Mark III: Served with the UEEF Tactical Corps and Marine Corps from 2025 to 2040.

IV. Propulsion:

Generators:

• Two RRG MRF-25 fusion reactors with protoculture energizer; combined output, 550 MW.
• 16 standard canisters of protoculture.
• Fuel: 30 liters D20 of reactant for the fusion reactors and protoculture cells.

V. Performance:

• Maximum speed: 60 kph.
• Fuel: 6 months operational use.
• Life support capability: three weeks.

VI. Electronics:

Radar tracking:

• Westinghouse APG-307 medium range (up to 50km) UWB phased array spherical pulse-Doppler, for detection and tracking of targets, and with battlefield surveillance modes.

Optical tracking:

• Phillips AllView multi-band digital camera system, for medium range all attitude infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking;
• Thompson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR);
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR);
• Westinghouse ALQ-250(V) active sensor jammer;
• chaff dispenser;
• flares.

VII. Armament:

(all)

• 1 x RRG HM-6 launcher. A total of 6 General Dynamics/Euromissile Derringer missiles were located in a chin pod. The missiles are guided by a combination of optical, IIR and active radar systems and have a range of 70 km (nuclear version) or 130 km (conventional versions). Due to the tasking of the HWR-03, the missile usually carried was the nuclear Derringer-C with a maximum yield of 100 kT, though generally lower yields were dialed in (typically, 20 kT) to limit collateral damage.

(Mark I)

• 5 x Rheinmetall 155 mm L52 autoloading, liquid fueled cannons. The cannons, three mounted on top of the mecha and one on each arm, can the full range of 155mm artillery rounds. The maximum range of the gun is 30 km with the standard round, about 35 km with base bleed rounds, and at least 60 km with assisted projectiles. The cannons can also fire directly at the enemy if there is a line-of-sight. The internal magazines carry a total of 180 rounds for the three main guns, and 40 rounds each for the arm mounted cannon. Provisions in the rear of the main body allow for magazine replenishment while in operation.

(Mark II)

• 3 x Rheinmetall 155 mm L52 autoloading, liquid fueled cannons. The cannons, three mounted on top of the mecha, can the full range of 155mm artillery rounds. The maximum range of the gun is 30 km with the standard round, about 35 km with base bleed rounds, and at least 60 km with assisted projectiles. The cannons can also fire directly at the enemy if there is a line-of-sight. The internal magazines carry a total of 180 rounds for the three main guns. Provisions in the rear of the main body allow for magazine replenishment while in operation.
• 2 x PBC-20 liquid-cooled electron beam cannons. Each fired 45 MJ of particle energy at 20 blasts per minute with great accuracy and to long ranges, atmospheric conditions permitting. Each arm consists of one cannon. The maximum effective range of this weapon was 6 km, in optimum atmospheric conditions.

(Mark III)

• 5 x RRG BFG-5 particle cannons, two in the arms and three on top of the hull, all firing in the forward arc. These cannons have been designed to fire continuous salvo’s of 100 MJ particle energy per second to a range of up to 8 kilometer.

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the Thundercracker was a new development in low-mass Chobham plating. Aside from the considerable protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor was also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a lesser extent, particle guns, owing to the fact that the armor could flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon’s energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The total protection was formidable, and more than on par with the Southern Cross’ contemporary Veritech Hover Tank. The armor stopped all small arms fire, and had more than excellent resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.

IX. Development:

The HWR-03 Thundercracker, or as it is more commonly called, the ‘Little Monster’, is without any doubt the ugliest Terran mecha designed to date (this is debatable –ed.), and the common wisdom places only the Invid Inorganics lower on the aesthetic scale. The Little Monster has an unremarkable boxy body, two overlarge bird- jointed legs, a low mounted missile pod and two large external propellant tanks for the 155mm cannons which give the impression of a thick cheeks and a quivering chin when the mecha is in motion.

The HWR-03 was designed as a more reasonable sized artillery Destroid (at least reasonable in size when compared to the 22 meter tall, 300 ton monster which was the HWR-00 Monster). Though large, the Thundercracker could be transported on the Predator drop ship and was reasonably mobile once on the ground. With five 155mm guns, the Thundercracker had the same fire power as a traditional tube artillery battery.

The HWR-03 Mark III was re-designed in 2024 on Tirol, after the first REF, now redesignated United Earth Expeditionary Force (UEEF), encounter with the force-shield surrounding Invid Hives. The UEEF Tactical Corps had found it almost impossible to breach this defense, causing numerous calls for orbital fire support and even nuclear launches. Committed to a more effective offense in likely future Hive assaults, the UEEF designed the Mark III to breach these Invid force fields. The Mark III replaced the Mark II’s three 155mm cannons and two PBC-20s with the more advanced BFG-5 Electron Particle Beam Cannons. These cannons were of an advanced Tiresian design which required significantly less cooling than the original PBC-20s. Because of this, the original heat sinks combined with an added coolant reservoir in place of the old propellant tankage allowed all five of the BFG-5s to have a sustained rate of fire equal to just the two PBC-20s. The only known method to do this at that time was by a sustained high-energetic salvo, or by numerous nuclear hits directly on the shield. Consequently, the HWR-03 could mount six nuclear Derringer missiles in its chin pod, and had a high generator capacity and cannons designed for sustained high output. The typical deployment would be to advance four or more Little Monsters to within firing distance of the Hive, covered by smaller mecha, and then to open fire with the particle cannons until the Hive shield was locally overloaded. After this assaults directly into the Hive itself could be made to close down the shield completely, and, of course, to defeat the Invid. In case this was not possible, for instance due to time pressures or if the Little Monsters could not close with the Hive, the nuclear missiles would be launched at the top of the force field, where the resulting fireballs would not reach the surface (ie. airbursts) and little radio-active fallout would result. This would usually cause the shield to collapse.

About a quarter of the existing HWR-03s were refit to Mark III configuration from 2024 through 2031. Over all, the Mark III was small in numbers, due to its specialized nature and because research into particle beam systems promised a more elegant solution to the force shield problem (this research eventually resulted into the ‘Destabilizer’ weapons from the mid to late thirties). The total number of mecha produced is 146, which were typically deployed at the Corps level, with 8 to 12 Thundercrackers per Corps. From 2036 on the Destabilizer weapons came in use, and the Little Monsters were slowly withdrawn from service, with the final Tirolian Reserve platoon decommissioning its mecha in 2040. At present, only 9 Little Monsters remain in existence, all in museums or (though disarmed) in the nostalgist Confederated Terran Armed Forces.

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Original artwork by: Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and Tim Wing

Acknowledgement is extended to Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide. Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern are given credit for all quotes and paraphrasing of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide that has been utilized in this publication. 

Images from – Robotech II: The RPG, Robotech Expeditionary Force Field Guide (March 1989)

Content by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Rob Morgenstern, edited by Tim Wing

Copyright © 2000, 1997, 1995 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker; 2016 Tim Wing

ROBOTECH Technical Files

by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Robert Morgenstern

edited by Tim Wing

Attachments:

• SDR-10 reference file
• SDR-10 gallery

Designation: Vickers-Chrysler Robotech Systems Inc. SDR-10 Mk II Schiltron Space Defense Robot

I. Dimensions:

• Total Height: 8.7 meters
• Total Depth: 4.9 meters
• Total Breadth: 5.4 meters
• Weight: 16.2 metric tons (dry), 37.1 metric tons (fully loaded).

II. Type:

• One man, all weather, heavy missile Destroid mecha.

III. Service History:

• Served with the REF/UEEF Tactical Corps from 2022 until 2040 and Marines from 2022 until 2032.

IV. Propulsion:

Generator:

• One Tirolian mecha proto-generator (known on Earth as the RT/PS-2a), providing electrical power to the mecha; output classified.

Reserve Power Supply:

• CT HDB-4SC superconductor battery, can typically supply 400 kW for 16 hours.

V. Performance:

• Maximum speed (fully loaded): 112 kph.
• Maximum speed (empty): 165 kph.
• Generator endurance: 12 years operational use.

VI. Electronics:

Radar tracking:

• Westinghouse TPG-307 medium range (up to 50km) UWB phased array pulse-Doppler, for detection and tracking of targets, and with battlefield surveillance modes.

Optical tracking:

• Phillips AllView multi-band digital camera system, for medium range all attitude infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking
• Thomson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse ALQ-250(V) active sensor jammer
• Chaff dispenser
• Flares.

VII. Armament:

• 2 x Shin-Shim-15 drum-mount missile launchers. Two large drums, mounted on the shoulders of the mecha.

Each bin can hold:

• 7 x variable-warhead, long range (70km for A, 130 km for E/F) Mach 3.0 combined multi-spectrum imager and active radar homing Derringer missiles.
• or 10 x medium range Diamondback missiles ready to fire, with another 10 reloads.
• or 10 x short range missiles ready to fire, with another 10 reloads.
• or a combination of short and medium range missiles.

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the Schiltron is a new development in low-mass composite-materials Chobham plating that became the standard for all Terran mecha after its application to the VQ-6A Vandal. Aside from the respectable protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a lesser extent, particle guns, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon’s energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms, heavy infantry weapons fire, and light mecha-mounted weaponry, and provides good resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Valkyrie’s 55mm APFSDS round, and poor resistance to heavy mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the VHT’s 105mm cannon.

The Schiltron provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for three days maximum.

IX. Development:

The primary fault with the SDR-04 Phalanx Destroids of the First Robotech War their highly limited ability to protect themselves in close combat. These mecha, with their missiles’ range of 70 km, were no match on the battlefield because of their lack of direct fire weapons. To be fair, the Phalanx was designed from the outset to be nothing more than a legged missile launcher to be used on the deck of the SDF-1. But, after the war, this Destroid found itself filling the role of multiple launch rocket artillery on the Earth as well. Though it performed well in this roll, there was little advantage to it versus conventional wheeled or tracked vehicles. (This was realized of course by the ground forces of the United Earth Defense Force.) In space, this was a liability. Its missiles were strictly medium to long range. Once a target was past the engagement envelope, the Phalanx was useless. In effect, a one trick pony that had little to justify itself when you could have a fixed missile turret that did the job just as well. The REF therefore developed the Schiltron, which entered service in 2022. This mecha was still not intended for the battle-line, but it could, because of its armament, be stationed far closer to the fighting than its Phalanx equivalent. If the battle would engulf the Schiltron, the mecha could use its enhanced speed to evade the enemy, meanwhile protecting itself with its close range missile armament.
The enhanced performance of the Schiltron, or ‘Shark’ as it was almost universally known, was not without cost, however. The additional direct fire weapon, the higher speed and the reduced size decreased the missile load to a mere seven Derringers per bin, whereas the Phalanx could carry 22. On the other hand, the bins could alternatively adapted to carry 30 Diamondback medium range missiles each, and most Schiltrons went into the field with one bin loaded with Diamondbacks and the other with Derringers. Because of the flexibility of this combined long, medium and short range missile capability the Schiltron was used on every front where the UEEF Tactical Corps fought.

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Original artwork by: Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and Tim Wing

Acknowledgement is extended to Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide. Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern are given credit for all quotes and paraphrasing of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide that has been utilized in this publication. 

Images from – Robotech II: The RPG, Robotech Expeditionary Force Field Guide (March 1989)

Content by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Rob Morgenstern, edited by Tim Wing

Copyright © 2000, 1997, 1995 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker; 2016 Tim Wing

ROBOTECH Technical Files

by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Robert Morgenstern

edited by Tim Wing

Attachments:

• MBR-10 reference file
• MBR-10 gallery

Designation: Vickers-Chrysler Robotech Systems Inc. MBR-10 mk II/III/IV Excalibur Main Battle Robot

I. Dimensions:

• Total Height: 9.0 meters
• Total Depth: 4.0 meters
• Total Breadth: 6.5 meters
• Weight: 20.6 metric tons (dry), 23 metric tons (fully loaded).

II. Type:

• One man, all weather, heavy main battle Destroid mecha.

III. Service History:

• Mark II: Served with the REF/UEEF Tactical Corps from 2021 until replaced by the Mark III in the 2040s, and Marine Corps from 2021 until 2032.
• Mark III: Served with the UEEF Tactical Corps from 2028 until replaced by the Mark IV in the 2040.
• Mark IV: Served with the UEEF Army from 2041 until 2046.

IV. Propulsion:

Generator:

• One Tirolian mecha proto-generator (known on Earth as the RT/PS-2a), providing electrical power to the mecha; output classified.

Reserve Power Supply:

• CT HDB-3SC superconductor battery, can typically supply 474 kW for 16 hours.

V. Performance:

• Maximum speed: 121 kph.
• Generator endurance: 12 years operational use.

VI. Electronics:

Radar tracking:

• Westinghouse TPG-307 medium range (up to 50km) UWB phased array pulse-Doppler, for detection and tracking of targets, and with battlefield surveillance modes.

Optical tracking:

• Phillips AllView multi-band digital camera system, for medium range all attitude infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking
• Thomson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse ALQ-250(V) active sensor jammer
• Chaff dispenser
• Flares.

VII. Armament:

(mk II)

• 3 x GU-14 35mm autocannons in a triple cluster in the chest, each firing at 500 rounds per minute, and each cannon has a 1200 round belt feed. Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds. These cannons are the single-barreled version of the GU-13.
• 2 x MRL-6, 12 total external, high explosive, medium range (65km) Mach 3.2 combined infra-red imager and active radar homing 260mm Diamondback missiles. Carried in two shoulder pods.

(mk III)

• 3 x Mauser RöV-43 laser cannons in a triple cluster in the chest, which provide 100 kJ output each at a rate of 60 pulses per minute. The primary use for these weapons is anti-personnel with secondary use against light vehicles.
• 1 x EP-3 pack, a 12.5 MJ particle beam cannon and power pack, carried over the shoulder much like the PB-10 is carried on the shoulder of the Zentraedi Nousjaedul-Ger power armor.
• 1 x MRL-6, 6 external, high explosive, medium range (65km) Mach 3.2 combined infra-red imager and active radar homing 260mm Diamondback missiles. Carried in a chest mount.

(mk IV)

• 3 x Mauser RöV-43 laser cannons in a triple cluster in the chest, which provide 100 kJ output each at a rate of 60 pulses per minute. The primary use for these weapons is anti-personnel with secondary use against light vehicles.
• 2 x MRL-6, 12 external, high explosive, medium range (65km) Mach 3.2 combined infra-red imager and active radar homing 260mm Diamondback missiles. Carried in a chest mounts.

(all)

• 1 x RRG PBC-12 particle beam cannon, fires 25 MJ of particle energy up to 20 times/minute with great accuracy to long ranges. Can also discharge at half-intensity but at double the normal rate of fire. The cannon is arm mounted and has a large field of fire. Drawing power from the mecha’s protoculture power system, the particle beam has effectively unlimited ammunition.
• 2 x GR-100 missile launcher. 30 Total internal, short range (15m to 8.2km) variable warhead, combined infra-red imager and active radar homing 190 x 540mm Hammerhead missiles in shoulder mounts.

OPTIONAL:

• 1 x MM-12: a hand held, four tube launcher for 190mm x 540mm variable warhead, short range (8.2 km) Mach 3.0 combined infra-red imager and active radar homing Hammerhead missiles. Each tube contains three missiles for 12 missiles total.
• or 1 x GU-13 three-barreled 35mm gun pod, firing 2000 rounds per minute, 600 round capacity, stored in the pod itself, and in a non-detachable ‘magazine’. Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds. Weapon is hand-held.
• or 1 x EP-13 three-barreled 80mm particle gun pod, firing 170 rounds per minute in full automatic mode, also capable of firing all three barrels simultaneously in semiautomatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 8.2 MJ pulses per barrel in each mode, with its own dedicated protoculture cell and capacitor banks in the ‘magazine’. This weapon, built into an external shell identical to that of the GU-13, was developed in 2032 by the REF, but didn’t see wide use until 2037. Weapon is hand-held.

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the Excalibur is a new development in low-mass composite-materials Chobham plating that became the standard for all Terran mecha after its application to the VQ-6A Vandal. Aside from the respectable protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a lesser extent, particle guns, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon’s energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms, heavy infantry weapons fire, and light mecha-mounted weaponry, and provides excellent resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Valkyrie’s 55mm APFSDS round, and fair resistance to heavy mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the VHT’s 105mm cannon.

The Excalibur provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for three days maximum.

IX. Development:

After the First Robotech War, the advancing knowledge of Robotechnology made the growing United Earth Defense Force draw up specifications for a complement/successor to the well-known Tomahawk heavy Destroid. The new mecha, the Excalibur Destroid, was to correct the flaws of the Tomahawk, while keeping its strong points. Of course, because the Excalibur would be lighter than the Tomahawk, some weapon capacity would have to be sacrificed, but it was hoped that the new Destroid would compensate the loss of certain small areas of expertise with a wider array of capabilities. As with the Tomahawk and its derivatives, the Excalibur’s leg and lower torso sections would be standardized with those of the Schiltron and the Raider.

Entering service in 2021, the Mark II fit its intended combat parameters well. As the best points of the Tomahawk were its heavy particle beams, coupled to a powerful close-in weaponry and extensive missile batteries, mounted on a heavily armored chassis, the Excalibur was to have these qualities in abundance. Meanwhile, the lesser points of the Tomahawk design – the relatively slow speed, lack of hands and the overabundant and varied weapon systems – were to be rectified.

For these reasons, the Excalibur mk II had even more missiles than its predecessor, namely 12 medium range and 30 short range multi-purpose missiles versus the 6 surface to air and 24 anti-armor short range missiles of the Tomahawk. However, the Excalibur had only one heavy particle beam, but because this was such a lethal weapon, the engineers managed to convince the Reconnaissance Expeditionary Force (REF) procuration board that this was an acceptable configuration, and in battle this turned out to be correct. The major change in weapon systems was in the short range gun clusters. Where the Tomahawk had featured two gun clusters in the torso with two machine-guns in the head, the Excalibur had one torso installation with three GU-14 heavy caliber autocannons. These cannons were mounted with more freedom of movement than the TZ-III gun clusters on the Tomahawk were, and although they did not fire as heavy shells as the 180mm grenades in the gun clusters, these three cannons could generate a significant amount of fire. Even so, because the weapons were the short, single-barreled version of the GU-13, penetration and accuracy dropped rapidly after a relatively short effective distance. But the good number of shells often compensated for this. As requested by the REF, the Excalibur was faster than the Tomahawk, but just as heavily armored, thanks to the new low-density Chobham developed a few years earlier. However, the Excalibur lacked in anti-personnel weapons, which the crews considered a small price for the advanced capabilities of this mecha.

As the REF, now re-designated the United Earth Expeditionary Force (UEEF) began to phase out the 35mm ammunition for the GU-13 and GU-14, and the guns that fired it, it was decided in the late twenties to introduce an improved Excalibur. This version sacrificed the one of the medium range missile launchers for a heavy shoulder-mounted particle beam, a descendant of the EP-1 gun of the First Robotech War. In the place of the Gu-14 were three Mauser RöV-43 laser cannons in a triple cluster. These were used in the anti-personnel role with secondary use against light vehicles. This Excalibur version was less effective at short range than the mk II, but did well against the newer mecha of the Regess, where the particle beam, with its better penetration and range, far outclassed the short range, limited penetration 35mm cannons. Approximately one third of the Mark II Excaliburs were refit to this configuration. The remainder were refit to Mark IV standard, which kept the same overall configuration, but replaced the GU-14s with the RöV-43 lasers. All Mark IIIs and IVs were based on existing Mark II Destroids, as the type went out of production after its initial run from 2019 to 2022.

The Tomahawk Destroid was not made obsolete by the Excalibur mecha, and was refitted with improved weapon systems. This REF Tomahawk was superior even to the Excalibur in a stand-and-fight situation and, unlike the Excalibur, was fully space capable with maneuvering and Vernier thrusters. Therefore, the Tomahawk and the other refitted UN Spacy Destroids were commonly used onboard the REF’s Capital Ships in the close in defense role, while the Excalibur and its contemporaries were used by the Tactical and Marine Corps on the ground. As a very useful compromise between the firepower and mobility, the Excalibur is a mecha of great endurance, power and usefulness. Unfortunately, with the mecha’s production line being located in New Detroit, on Earth, it was not possible for the UEEF to replace the Excaliburs lost to battlefield attrition and, even though the type continued in service well into the forties, by the early thirties it had been mostly replaced by Maxwell Dynamics Alpha based Tomahawk II.

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Original artwork by: Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and Tim Wing

Acknowledgement is extended to Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide. Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern are given credit for all quotes and paraphrasing of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide that has been utilized in this publication.

Images from – Robotech II: The RPG, Robotech Expeditionary Force Field Guide (March 1989)

Content by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Rob Morgenstern, edited by Tim Wing

Copyright © 2000, 1997, 1995 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker; 2016 Tim Wing

ROBOTECH Technical Files

by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Robert Morgenstern

edited by Tim Wing

Attachments:

• MBR-09 reference file
• MBR-09 gallery

Designation: Kraus Maffei Destroids GmbH MBR-09 Mk II/III Gladiator Main Battle Robot

I. Dimensions:

• Total Height: 10.2 meters
• Total Depth: 3.0 meters
• Total Breadth: 5.3 meters
• Weight: 19.2 metric tons (dry)

II. Type:

• One man, all weather, medium main battle Destroid mecha.

III. Service History:

• Mark II: Served with the United Earth Expeditionary Force (UEEF) Tactical Corps from 2021 until replaced by the Mark III in the late 2030s and Marine Corps from 2021 until 2034.
• Mark III: Served with the UEEF Tactical Corps from 2036 until 2042.

IV. Propulsion:

Generator:

• One Tirolian mecha proto-generator (known on Earth as the RT/PS-2a), providing electrical power to the mecha; output classified.

Reserve Power Supply:

• CT HDB-4SC superconductor battery, can typically supply 400 kW for 16 hours.

V. Performance:

• Maximum speed: 193 kph.
• Generator endurance: 12 years operational use.

VI. Electronics:

Radar tracking:

• Westinghouse TPG-307 medium range (up to 50km) UWB phased array pulse-Doppler, for detection and tracking of targets, and with battlefield surveillance modes.

Optical tracking:

• Phillips AllView multi-band digital camera system, for medium range all attitude infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking
• Thomson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse ALQ-250(V) active sensor jammer
• Chaff dispenser
• Flares.

VII. Armament:

(Mk II)

• 2 x General Electric GRA-10 heavy laser cannon mounted on the shoulders, each cannon can fire laser pulses of 10 MJ once every two seconds, or a sustained pulse rate of 5 MJ per second. Lasers are powered by the main power supply. Cannons can rotate over 90 degrees of arc and elevate over -15/+65 degrees of arc.

(Mk III)

• 2 x Robotech Research Group M-1255 120mm laser cannons mounted on top of the mecha, can rotate over 90 degrees of arc and elevate over -15/+65 degrees of arc. Cannons fire 10 MJ particle beams with a rate of fire of 60 salvos per minute, sustained fire at lower power settings is possible. Drawing power from the mecha’s protoculture power system, the particle beams have effectively unlimited ammunition.

(all)

• 1 x Vickers mk6 dual laser turret. Turret contains two small lasers, optimized for use
  against personnel and lightly armored vehicles. Laser cannons fire 2.0 MJ in 1.5 seconds of rapid-fire pulses.
• 1 x GR-102 missile launcher in the chest, 24 internal 190mm x 540mm variable warhead, short range (8.2 km) Mach 3.0 combined infra-red imager and active radar homing Hammerhead missiles.

OPTIONAL:

• 1 x MM-12: a hand held, four tube launcher for 190mm x 540mm variable warhead, short range (8.2 km) Mach 3.0 combined infra-red imager and active radar homing Hammerhead missiles. Each tube contains three missiles for 12 missiles total.
• or 1 x GU-13 three-barreled 35mm gun pod, firing 2000 rounds per minute, 600 round capacity, stored in the pod itself, and in a non-detachable ‘magazine’. Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds. Weapon is hand-held.
• or 1 x EP-13 three-barreled 80mm particle gun pod, firing 170 rounds per minute in full automatic mode, also capable of firing all three barrels simultaneously in semiautomatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 8.2 MJ pulses per barrel in each mode, with its own dedicated protoculture cell and capacitor banks in the ‘magazine’. This weapon, built into an external shell identical to that of the GU-13, was developed in 2032 by the REF, but didn’t see wide use until 2037. Weapon is hand-held.

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the Gladiator is a new development in low-mass composite-materials Chobham plating that became the standard for all Terran mecha after its application to the VQ-6A Vandal. Aside from the respectable protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a lesser extent, particle guns, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon’s energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms, heavy infantry weapons fire, and light mecha-mounted weaponry, and provides good to excellent resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Valkyrie’s 55mm APFSDS round, and poor to fair resistance to heavy mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the VHT’s 105mm APFSDS rounds.

The Gladiator provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for three days maximum.

Development:

The introduction of new technologies in the years after the First Robotech War made the creation of a new series of Destroids possible. With it came a reappraisal of the tasks of the Spartan. This model Destroid, which was originally built from several off-the-shelf components, had proven to be a very capable close-in combat and as a combat engineer mecha. However, compared with the standard Zentraedi Battle Pod, the Spartan was under-gunned and outmaneuvered, although there was no comparing the superior armor plating on the Spartan with that on the Reguld. The Spartan’s successor, the Gladiator, was therefore designed to be faster and more heavily armed than the Spartan, because the UEEF (if not the UEDF) saw the good points of fast, hard-hitting mecha.

The Gladiator was a major improvement in the areas of speed and firepower on the Spartan. The new mecha had as many energy weapons as the Zentraedi Battle Pods. In addition to this heavy laser armament, the Gladiator had a smaller laser turret under its chin, which was optimized to engage low-armor targets and unarmored personnel. The Gladiator featured a reasonably large missile battery in its chest. The arms and hands could carry additional weapons.

First entering service in 2021, the Gladiator was used throughout the Sentinel Campaign in fast strike missions and flanking operations. The Destroid was complemented in this task, by Condor.

There is one variant, the Mk III Gladiator. Introduced in late 2036, this mecha is identical to the Mk II, save for the replacement of the GRA-10 laser cannons with M-1255 120mm laser cannons. This was done out of standardization considerations, as these were the same cannons mounted on the Alpha fighter based MBR-08 Spartan II and because they offered better penetration and yield. Though the Gladiator continued to serve well into the early thirties, they were eventually replaced by the less expensive Spartan IIs. Though cost was a consideration, the fact that the Gladiator’s production line in West Germany was closed in 2022 was the primary reason. All Mark III Gladiators were of course built from existing Mark IIs, as they came in for depot level rebuilds. The last of the Gladiators were withdrawn from service in 2042.

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Original artwork by: Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and Tim Wing

Acknowledgement is extended to Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide. Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern are given credit for all quotes and paraphrasing of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide that has been utilized in this publication. 

Images from – Robotech II: The RPG, Robotech Expeditionary Force Field Guide (March 1989)

Content by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Rob Morgenstern, edited by Tim Wing

Copyright © 2000, 1997, 1995 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker; 2016 Tim Wing