Technology & Combat Characteristics
Based on F90V Gundam F90 VSBR Type, the F91 Gundam F91 is a prototype machine created under SNRI’s ‘Formula Project’. The Formula Project, also known as F Project, is a miniaturized MS development program meant to address technological problems such as the upsizing and increasing cost of MS, and to rectify Anaheim Electronics’ monopolization of the MS industry. The F91 was developed to reached the ‘performance limit tidemark of present day MS’, and as such, its capabilities exceed that of contemporary machines. SNRI only referred to it by its model number, F91. The beam launcher is a beam weapon equivalent of a projectile firing bazooka. Thus, limiters were installed to make the suit more manageable; only a Newtype pilot can handle the full operating mode. In this mode, the suit performs at its maximum potential and forced cooling is activated. Despite this, the catalog specifications of the Mass Production Type F91 are still comparable to the prototype’s. Although the face guard opening mechanism is retained in the Mass Production Type F91, only certain units for ace pilots (such as Harrison Madin’s) can access the full operating mode through improvements in the cooling system and various devices. However, these ace-used units still do not have the MEPE function due to the enhanced cooling system, as well as the change in the materials used in the final layer of armor.
History
The F91 was a prototype MS developed by Strategic Naval Research Institute as part of their Formula Project. Various revolutionary technologies have been adopted, making it a machine which has reached a tidemark for Mobile Suits of that period. The F91 was later completed in the same year, and operational tests took place during U.C. 0121 to U.C. 0122. Since the Bio-Computer was yet to be completed, the F91 was equipped with a normal Learning Computer with Bergh's piloting data from the F90 Gundam F90 unit 1. Even so, the F91 demonstrated high performance and easily defeated the MS of the Oldsmobile Army. Despite their high performance, most of the Mass Production Type F91s were disabled by Kincade Nau's XM-X1 Crossbone Gundam X-1 Kai due to their pilots' lack of experience. However, the customized Mass Production Type F91 piloted by Harrison Madin was an equal match for Kincade's Crossbone Gundam X-1 Kai, and the two mobile suits engaged in a fierce fight. Despite being a ten year old MS, the Mass Production Type F91's VSBRs were still a threat, piercing through two of Crossbone Gundam X1 Kai's Beam Shields before being stopped by the Beam Zanber. Eventually, Harrison's Mass Production Type F91 was disabled by Kincade, but the space pirate spared him. Sometime later, Harrison received his second Mass Production Type F91.
In U.C. 0136, Harrison passed his second Mass Production Type F91 to Tobia Arronax's group when the latter visited Earth to gather aid to prevent Jupiter Empire's "Operation Zeus Thunder". Harrison's Mass Production Type F91 was then upgraded to match the specifications of the prototype Gundam F91 and became known as "F91 Gundam F91 Jupiter Battle Specification". This Gundam F91 was piloted by Mitchell Derek Nar and participated in "Operation Steel 7" to stop the Jupiter Empire's attack. During the battle, Mitchell activated his F91 Jupiter Battle Specification's full operating mode to save the F90I-I Gundam F90 Intercept Type Jupiter Battle Specification from the Dictus. Mitchell successfully damaged the Dictus, but was later caught off guard and killed when the Dictus dealt a critical blow to the Gundam F91 Jupiter Battle Specification.
