An Introduction to the Military Capabilities and Tactics in Macross Frontier Disclaimer: This is not expert opinion, but a fanboy one.

The centerpiece of the military is the Variable Fighter (VF). Not only does it transform, but it has three distinct modes: Valkyire (Fighter) Battloid (Humanoid) Gerwalk (Hybrid) Originally designed for combat against giant humanoids, the VF’s versatility as an all-around combat unit gave it staying power as a base model, updated as needed, well into the 2050s. 2050s. Image: VF-1S “Focker”

The centerpiece of the military is the Variable Fighter (VF). Not only does it transform, but it has three distinct modes:

Valkyire (Fighter)

Battloid (Humanoid)

Gerwalk (Hybrid)

Originally designed for combat against giant humanoids, the VF’s versatility as an all-around combat unit gave it staying power as a base model, updated as needed, well into the 2050s.

The VF-25 ‘Messiah’ is the latest model of Variable Fighter, currently deployed by the Strategic Military Services group (SMS) prior to overall deployment by the NUNS military. It retains all the advantages of the 1 st generation mass-produced VFs, including trans-atmospheric flight. It also has the ability to be outfitted by modular fold packs for trans-galactic transit. Image: VF-25F “Gilliam”

The VF-25 ‘Messiah’ is the latest model of Variable Fighter, currently deployed by the Strategic Military Services group (SMS) prior to overall deployment by the NUNS military.

It retains all the advantages of the 1 st generation mass-produced VFs, including trans-atmospheric flight. It also has the ability to be outfitted by modular fold packs for trans-galactic transit.

The Battloid is designed to approximate the size of a Zentraedi warrior. This is the design philosophy: if it meant that there will be infantry-style combat in space, or perhaps boarding maneuvers exectuted by UN Spacy, the participating units must be up to scale. The top image is for reference to the size of Zentraedi, their mecha, humans, and the Variable Fighter.

The Battloid is designed to approximate the size of a Zentraedi warrior. This is the design philosophy: if it meant that there will be infantry-style combat in space, or perhaps boarding maneuvers exectuted by UN Spacy, the participating units must be up to scale.

The top image is for reference to the size of Zentraedi, their mecha, humans, and the Variable Fighter.

Giant, insect-like bio-mechanical weapons have attacked the Macross Frontier colony, and now the Macross Galaxy fleet as well. NUNS speculate that the individual Vajra units do not possess an autonomous intelligence, or sentience. External control/coordination done remotely is likely.

Giant, insect-like bio-mechanical weapons have attacked the Macross Frontier colony, and now the Macross Galaxy fleet as well.

NUNS speculate that the individual Vajra units do not possess an autonomous intelligence, or sentience. External control/coordination done remotely is likely.

By the time of the first offensive by the SMS against the Vajra, the following are known about this unit: It has 1 large beam cannon mounted on it’s ‘back,’ capable of destroying a NUNS Stealth Cruiser in a single shot. It has a number of guns, and missile launchers. It can internally manufacture its own ordnance. It can execute its own hyperspace fold.

By the time of the first offensive by the SMS against the Vajra, the following are known about this unit:

It has 1 large beam cannon mounted on it’s ‘back,’ capable of destroying a NUNS Stealth Cruiser in a single shot.

It has a number of guns, and missile launchers.

It can internally manufacture its own ordnance.

It can execute its own hyperspace fold.

The smaller Vajra unit is some kind of attack craft that does not have the firepower of the large type, but is speculated to have independent fold capability as well. What is learned during the first offensive against the Vajra in the attempt to rescue the Macross Galaxy Fleet is that these units have a flagellum-like weapon that can is very destructive in close combat. Image: ST Vajra vs. VF-25F Messiah.

The smaller Vajra unit is some kind of attack craft that does not have the firepower of the large type, but is speculated to have independent fold capability as well.

What is learned during the first offensive against the Vajra in the attempt to rescue the Macross Galaxy Fleet is that these units have a flagellum-like weapon that can is very destructive in close combat.

Image: ST Vajra vs. VF-25F Messiah.

The primary warship of the Vajra has a frightening ability to navigate fold space without being affected by ‘faults’ that normally double the amount of time it takes for intra-galactic travel. It has may anti-spacecraft gun emplacements, and has been described to be like a “hedgehog” (M. Blanc) to indicate it’s ability to defend itself from VFs. What makes it fearsome is it’s ‘Macross-Grade Cannon.’

The primary warship of the Vajra has a frightening ability to navigate fold space without being affected by ‘faults’ that normally double the amount of time it takes for intra-galactic travel.

It has may anti-spacecraft gun emplacements, and has been described to be like a “hedgehog” (M. Blanc) to indicate it’s ability to defend itself from VFs.

What makes it fearsome is it’s ‘Macross-Grade Cannon.’

The Kaitos was a Deneb Class battleship that served as a frontline warship for the Macross Galaxy fleet.

The Kaitos was a Deneb Class battleship that served as a frontline warship for the Macross Galaxy fleet.

A Macross-grade cannon is a super-dimension energy weapon that fires an energy beam capable of destroying multiple capital ships. In the UN SPACY, and NUNS, only Macross Class vessels are known to be fitted with these weapons. This is the first time that UN SPACY (and NUNS) will have faced such a weapon, after enjoying somewhat of a monopoly on it against past enemies.

A Macross-grade cannon is a super-dimension energy weapon that fires an energy beam capable of destroying multiple capital ships.

In the UN SPACY, and NUNS, only Macross Class vessels are known to be fitted with these weapons.

This is the first time that UN SPACY (and NUNS) will have faced such a weapon, after enjoying somewhat of a monopoly on it against past enemies.

The SMS Battle Group is composed of the Macross Quarter command carrier, One Uraga class escort battle carrier, and two Guantanamo class stealth carriers; with their respective mecha complements. The carriers accompanying Macross Quarter are NUNS units, making this a joint operation.

The SMS Battle Group is composed of the Macross Quarter command carrier, One Uraga class escort battle carrier, and two Guantanamo class stealth carriers; with their respective mecha complements.

The carriers accompanying Macross Quarter are NUNS units, making this a joint operation.

Piloted by Luca Angeloni, this craft is primarily a reconnaissance unit; featuring an AP-SF-01+ Aegis Pack Custom with radome and ELINT hardware. While fully armed, especially with a ‘Super Pack’ that not only increases thrust but also onboard ordnance carried; this unit is well-served by up to six (6) Ghost Fighter drones. The Ghosts are not independent fighters; rather they are remote controlled by the RVF-25 pilot. If fold comms is severed, Ghosts act in preprogrammed behaviors.

Piloted by Luca Angeloni, this craft is primarily a reconnaissance unit; featuring an AP-SF-01+ Aegis Pack Custom with radome and ELINT hardware.

While fully armed, especially with a ‘Super Pack’ that not only increases thrust but also onboard ordnance carried; this unit is well-served by up to six (6) Ghost Fighter drones.

The Ghosts are not independent fighters; rather they are remote controlled by the RVF-25 pilot. If fold comms is severed, Ghosts act in preprogrammed behaviors.

Piloted by Michel Blanc, this variant has an enhanced optical package precisely to assist the use of the Dragunov Sniper Rifle. The ‘Super Pack’ supplies additional ordnance (missiles) and thrust in cases when unit has to directly participate in assault maneuvers. Otherwise, it uses it’s highly accurate (up to 10cm @ 2okm distances) rifle and armor piercing rounds to complement various team maneuvers.

Piloted by Michel Blanc, this variant has an enhanced optical package precisely to assist the use of the Dragunov Sniper Rifle.

The ‘Super Pack’ supplies additional ordnance (missiles) and thrust in cases when unit has to directly participate in assault maneuvers.

Otherwise, it uses it’s highly accurate (up to 10cm @ 2okm distances) rifle and armor piercing rounds to complement various team maneuvers.

The baddest bruiser among Variable Fighters ever designed, carrying the heaviest payload of ordnance and weapons, packing the strongest armor, bringing the most powerful thrust; this unit is built for assault. This bad boy is piloted by Ozma Lee, Skull Leader. He’s been going hand-to-hand with this unit vs. the Vajra since they first attacked Frontier. This operation reveals the panoply of destructive capabilities of this Messiah of overtechnology. So here’s Ozma bringing you the ‘Itano Circus.’

The baddest bruiser among Variable Fighters ever designed, carrying the heaviest payload of ordnance and weapons, packing the strongest armor, bringing the most powerful thrust; this unit is built for assault.

This bad boy is piloted by Ozma Lee, Skull Leader. He’s been going hand-to-hand with this unit vs. the Vajra since they first attacked Frontier.

This operation reveals the panoply of destructive capabilities of this Messiah of overtechnology.

So here’s Ozma bringing you the ‘Itano Circus.’

Gerwalk and Battloid modes of a Variable Fighter allow the unit to directly shoot at oncoming missiles. Here is Alto’s VF-25F Supper Messiah going at it.

Gerwalk and Battloid modes of a Variable Fighter allow the unit to directly shoot at oncoming missiles. Here is Alto’s VF-25F Supper Messiah going at it.

Apart from Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), we see the VF-25F Messiah discard its ‘Super Pack’ to lead chasing missiles away.

Apart from Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), we see the VF-25F Messiah discard its ‘Super Pack’ to lead chasing missiles away.

Piloted by Saotome Alto, the F Variant is actually the standard variant of the Messiah Variable Fighter-25. The Messiah provides high-powered versatility and speed. The ‘F’ is the general purpose fighter, with the standard complement of weapons augmented by the ‘Super Pack’ that adds even more thrust and ordnance. It is interesting to note that Messiahs all have passenger seats. It is uncertain (to me) why this is so, despite the lack of function other than human transport.

Piloted by Saotome Alto, the F Variant is actually the standard variant of the Messiah Variable Fighter-25. The Messiah provides high-powered versatility and speed.

The ‘F’ is the general purpose fighter, with the standard complement of weapons augmented by the ‘Super Pack’ that adds even more thrust and ordnance.

It is interesting to note that Messiahs all have passenger seats. It is uncertain (to me) why this is so, despite the lack of function other than human transport.

Piloted by Canaria Berstein, this unit is a heavy Variable Bomber and Destroid (shown are the Bomber and Gerwalk modes). It uses a set of four (4) massive rail guns that can clear a considerable area of space free of enemies. In the ‘Planet Dance’ tactical maneuver, the VF-25G snipes the front lines clear, the VF-25S-25A uses missiles for wider clearance, and then the VB-6 clears an even larger area that allows the Skull Team continue its forward assault. Next slide: The Power of the Rail Guns.

Piloted by Canaria Berstein, this unit is a heavy Variable Bomber and Destroid (shown are the Bomber and Gerwalk modes). It uses a set of four (4) massive rail guns that can clear a considerable area of space free of enemies.

In the ‘Planet Dance’ tactical maneuver, the VF-25G snipes the front lines clear, the VF-25S-25A uses missiles for wider clearance, and then the VB-6 clears an even larger area that allows the Skull Team continue its forward assault.

Next slide: The Power of the Rail Guns.

At 400 meters long, a quarter length of a full-sized Macross class capital ship, the Quarter is a Macross due to its cannon, and it’s ability to transform.

At 400 meters long, a quarter length of a full-sized Macross class capital ship, the Quarter is a Macross due to its cannon, and it’s ability to transform.

Full use of variation or transformation towards versatile ends (unseen is how the Battloid version Macross wrestled the Vajra carrier’s ‘mouth’ open prior to firing); accurate and judicious use of ordnance, a combined-arms approach, daring, and team-work: this is how warfare is done in Macross. (For best results: use idol singers during battle). ghostlightning 2009

Full use of variation or transformation towards versatile ends (unseen is how the Battloid version Macross wrestled the Vajra carrier’s ‘mouth’ open prior to firing); accurate and judicious use of ordnance, a combined-arms approach, daring, and team-work: this is how warfare is done in Macross.

(For best results: use idol singers during battle).