AS-1 "Blaze Raven" second prototype
Basic Weapons: Ericon GEC-D 40mm AS Rifle, Toshiba Tyte 10 Monomolecular Cutter, EHI "Dragonfly" Close Combat System, etc
--From Gatoh: as of the stories since volume 3, this machine is made so that Tatsuya and Adelina can duel on an equal basis. The second unit is bacically a copy of the first regarding unit specs, but in the future it may receive modifications or attachments. Its new weapon, Dragonfly, is a direct translation from the Japanese spear Tonbogiri.
--From HS: FYI, Tonbogiri(蜻蛉切) is one of the Three Great Spears of Japan used by Honda Tadakatsu, one of the best Senkoku generals under Tokugawa Ieyasu during late Senkoku Japan. I bet some of you may already know him and Tonbogiri from the Senkoku Musou/Samurai Warriors series though.
Arcenciel
Producer: Giart (?) TTO
Height 8.3m Weight 11.5t
Reactor: Euro Reactor EPR-3 (2150KW)
Maximum Operation Time 180hrs, max speed 160km/h, max jumping height 30m
Fixed Armaments: FN M2HB(S) 12.7mm Autocannon or Giart GFA M811 25mm Autocannon
Optional Weapons: Grart-Manrihe BVH 40mm Rifle, Hugues VGM-A2(M) "Versal 2" Multi-purpose Missile, Otto-merara "Mantis" 76mm Low Recoil Cannon, BAE Systems MMC-C2 Monomolecular cutter
The 3rdGen AS from France as the progress of Mistral 2 line, which basically follows the design concepts from it, but since France treat AS as a kind of combat vehicle so its CQC capability isn't a primary concern (there're even initial plans for it to become a four-legged armoured vehicle------wait, isn't that Armoured Core?). Arcenciel tries to extend the AS concept as a hidden threat, so it mainly goes for stealth capability in order to wait for a long time and conduct hit-and-run attacks------though it's mainly considered as 2.5ndGen AS since it's inferior to other 3rdGen like M9 pr Zy-99 except their reactor.
Also, Euro Reactor is led by France's Framatom compant along with other European energy enterprises, which export their military reactors to other countries (which can't produce reactors by themselves) like Sweden, Spain and South Africa.
(From Gatoh: The anti-personnel gun among Mistral 2's hips, while it's practical, does raise some concerns among readers......)
Mistral 2 (Debut in TSR Episode 1)
Producer: Giart (?) TTO
Height 7.8m Weight 14.5t
Reactor: Chewbo-mecha "Tentis 1B" Gas Turbine Engine (1500KW)
Maximum Operation Time 200hrs, max speed 110km/h, max jumping height 15m
Fixed Armaments: FN M2HB(S) 12.7mm Autocannon
Optional Weapons: Giart GFA FAMAG-G2 35mm Rifle, Grart-Manrihe BVH 40mm Rifle, Hugues VGM-A2(M) "Versal 2" Multi-purpose Missile, BAE Systems MMC-C2 Monomolecular cutter
Basically an extended design from armoured combat vehicles, this French 2ndGen AS can be seen as an armoured vehicle with arms and legs (which Arcenciel followed suit). Mistral 1 was also one of the few handful 1.5stGen AS made for AS research, and they all retired at this point.
Though the placing of the M2 Autocannon becomes a laughing stock regarding its design, Mistral 2 has the advantage of its module design and the capability to use parts from armoured vehicles, making it easy to use. But Gas Turbine engines are really hard to maintain, so export models will use diesel engines which, while making its performance inferior to the original, ensures lower-tech countries can also use them well------though the buyers have the say to use either design with different concerns.
While it looks like slow and bulky, its mobility, armour defence and electronics are actually better than Savage, and its low price tag (from a western design anyway) leads to good sales around the world (even to unstable countries), only bested by Savage and M6 series.
Mikhailov's AS
Producer: Unknown
Height 8.5m? Weight ~10t?
Reactor: Unknown
Maximum Operation Time Unknown, max speed 220km/h (estimation), max jumping height 45m (estimation)
Fixed Armaments: Unknown
Optional Weapons: Monomolecular cutter (specs/production unknown)
A mysterious AS spotted in Maranba Republic, and while it's certainly a 3rdGen AS, it's probably an one-off prototype since there're no data about this AS around the world, nor there're any close reference to any AS produced (though it has similar designs like M9 and Zy-99). From its combat capabilities it's estimated for stealth ops, especially its extreme mobility even exceeds that of M9A2SOP "Sigma Elite". Since it's strange for Maranba rebels getting such a high-end AS, it's sure that someone or some organization is providing this machine......
(From HS: You sure it's not two Zaku heads kidbashing into one head?)
Ape E50 (Power Slave)
Producer: CAT
Height 4.8m Weight 5.4t
Reactor: CAT C24 Diesel Engine
Maximum Operation Time 14hrs, max speed 23km/h
Fixed Armaments: None
Optional Weapons: None
An American PS, it's basically one of the new challengers to the worldwide PS bestseller Daidara of Japan------and one of the better models among them. Being used by Countryside Firefighters and National Sapper units in US, Ape boasts a high power engine with unique structures to provide agile movements, but it has worse fuel consumption than Daidara while malfunctions more. Also its side/backview is so limited that some field operations require ad-hoc mirrors on them.
Tiny Savage
Producer: Twoson Instruments
Height 5.8m Weight 4.4t
Reactor: Barn Factory BF-2C Gasoline Engine (620KW)
Maximum Operation Time 4hrs, max speed 80km/h, max jumping height 8m
Fixed Armaments: None
Optional Weapons: None
In theory, this thing should be considered as a Power Slave but this is actually a fanmade model.
Among SE Asia and resort cities in Middle East there're still AS melee shows on the run (and recalled Namsk's one in BOMF? Its operation is now systemized and become a tourist spot), but since it's hard for individuals to own a proper AS without resorting to alternate means, some hardcore fans will produce these kind of "Sport PS", which are custom made PS models with better mobility.
Tiny Savage is modified from American Hellcat's G80, but even its appearance is alike Savage, other stuff like muscle package, external frame and part of the controlling system are still the same; and since its armour is made from FRP and Carbon-fibres, there're basically zero bulletproof capability.
Up to down: Heat Tonfas, Monomolecular cutter, Heat Hammer
Even as a new kind of weapon, people doesn't consider Arm Slaves' CQC capability in the first place until the widespread of 2ndGen AS: from various trainings or skirmishes it's shown that AS combat can happen in close quarters, leading to dedicated CQC weapons' rollouts.
In the early days, CQC weapons are ad-hoc made from raw stuff like a hammer-shaped explosives or sometimes a large caliber HE shell (thus Heat Hammers) as one-off CQC weapons, and due to its ease of production they're still in use today. As time flies close combat motions for AS become more refined (including defense or dodging motions), so these kind of raw and simple attack methods aren't so effective anymore------then there comes monomolecular cutters. Swirling cubic carbon materials among small group of blades in a high speed, they can cut just about anything and, since they're treated as knives and swords like those on humans, different combat motions become possible and are especially adaptable on 3rdGen AS for their mobility.
But Monomolecular cutters aren't without its flaws: Just one fight can render the blades useless, and may even break up when cutting thick armour layers. Its complex designs, cooling systems are also serious problems to face, making their cost-effectiveness way inferior to Heat Hammers.
Still, with their increased usage in industrial or construction purposes, monomolecular cutters become cheaper and more widespread than before------military shows around the world may even show different shapes of them.