Technology & Combat Characteristics
The MAX-03 Adzam was Zeon's first mobile armor. It was based on the G87 Luna Tank, a mobile weapon designed for the defense of Granada.
Since the Adzam's design predated the mobile armor concept, it essentially functioned as a mobile gun turret. It was armed with 8 twin mega particle cannons, as well as a special weapon known as "Leader". Its interior design was greatly modificed compared to the Luna Tank, replacing its predecessor's large fuel tank with the Leader, the Minovsky Craft particle generator, the power field generator, and other systems. However, its cockpit design was largely unchanged from the Luna Tank except for some changes to the displays and controls. It had a crew of two: a pilot and a gunner. In case of emergency, the pilot could control the Adzam alone.
History
According to one account, Amuro Ray first witnessed the Adzam when he deserted from the and hiding in a ruined Central Asian town. It was carrying M'Quve and Kycilia Zabi, who recently arrived on Earth for a frontline inspection. The Adzam was escorted by two Dopp fighters.
On the next day, Amuro attacked Zeon's 102nd Mining Base in the RX-78-2 Gundam, thinking it was Zeon's main mine. Believing it was a good chance to test the Adzam and gauge the Gundam's performance, Kycilia and M'Quve deployed in the Adzam. The Adzam engaged the Gundam, temporarily overwhelming it with its firepower before deploying a capsule. The Gundam destroyed the capsule with its vulcan guns, only for it to release a conductive powder, covering the Gundam. The Adzam then released the Leader, a flying drone that released wires into the ground, trapping the Gundam.
The electromagnetic field generated by the wires and the conductive powder from the capsule caused the Gundam's surface to rapidly heat up to 4,000 degrees, forcing the Gundam to divert 98% of its energy to protecting its pilot and circuitry, immobilizing it. However, energy from the Leader quickly weakened, allowing the Gundam to move once again. The Adzam closed in and fired its mega particle cannons at it, but the Gundam blocked the beams using its shield and destroyed the Leader with a beam rifle shot. It then jumped onto the Adzam and began attacking it using the beam javelin. The Gundam was able to damage the Adzam, even destroying one of its turrets. Seeing the base was lost, Kycilia ordered M'Quve to detonate the mining base to protect the state secrets its databanks held. While Amuro was momentarily distracted by the mining base's explosion, M'Quve shook off the Gundam, allowing the Adzam to escape.
During Operation Odessa, when Matilda Ajan's supply unit came under attack while en route to resupply the White Base, the MS Special Forces 3rd Team, which secretly accompanied the unit, deployed in response. After seeing team leader Matt Healy's RX-79［G］ Gundam Ground Type, Zeon forces called in the "Bird Cage", apparently in an attempt to capture the Gundam.