The Type-J9 Griffon is an experimental close-combat labor manufactured by Schaft Enterprises Japan (SEJ). The Griffon was an astronomically advanced labor which surpassed many of the pre existing labor's of it's time.
Design and Development[]
Rationale[]
The Griffon was a machine from another dimension in every sense, A completely one-off combat Labor developed only to defeat the Labor of the Special Vehicle Section 2 of the Metropolitan Police Department. Soon after there were plans to sell the development team of the Griffon to the highest bidders, although a plan which fell through.
Mechanical Systems[]
What's even more surprising is that the machine's specifications, which can be seen from the meager amount of materials, which are a collection of proprietary technologies that defy the framework of existing labors in almost every aspect. One of the most distinctive features is the drive system, which can be called an "artificial muscle system." In addition to the conventional use of metal joints, by placing actuators that expand and contract due to the chemical reaction of polymer synthesis in the same parts as human muscles, it seems that a completely different realm of flexibility and mobility has been achieved. is. Furthermore, in order to control this dynamic system, "ASURA", an advanced form of the phantom's OS format developed by the Daikichi Nanko Laboratory, is adopted.
The Griffon was unique in terms of it's power source. The engine is a gas turbine type, with gaseous fuel mixed with atmospheric air taken in from the front intake is compressed and burned in a combustor, through rotating blades attached to a cylindrical shaft that runs through the center of the entire system. Since the shaft is coaxial and directly connected to the front compression device, it is possible to continuously rotate the turbine with an extremely simple structure.
Furthermore, gas turbines are a system that forms the core of a so-called "jet engine," which uses only the rotational force of the shaft to compress air, and obtains propulsive force by ejecting the exhaust gas produced by the combustion of compressed gas rearward at high speeds.
Currently, the mainstream turbofan system is an improved version of the average turbojet engines, which creates a bypass for the airflow by extending the intake fan around the engine, and increases thrust by drawing in more air than is necessary for combustion. This engine normally functions as a generator, charging the next-generation lithium-ion battery with nanographite electrodes (which has three to four times the capacity of conventional batteries) and providing replenishment when the battery is depleted. It is activated to increase the power of the machine during startup or when a large load is applied, providing large amounts of power directly to the drive mechanism. This is a hybrid system that has already become familiar in automobiles.
In fact, most of the information about the new battery used in the Griffon has been discarded due to the confusion that occurred when Planning Section 7 was exposed, and some sources say that fullerene, a spherical soccer ball-shaped battery with carbon bonded to it. There is also information that it uses the same type of nanotube as the tube version, but an ultra-strong single-walled carbon sheet called graphene. The theoretical capacity in this case is said to be 10 times that of nanographite, larger than required in combustion furnace.
It absorbs energy and increases the mass of the jet gas. This mechanism is also used in generator mode, helping to secure large currents. Furthermore, during takeoff, when a particularly large amount of thrust is required, more fuel is injected into the exhaust gas from around the injection nozzle and combusted, increasing the power of the gas.
The afterburner appears to have employed pulse detonation (PD), which causes the boost fuel to deflagrate in a pulsed manner. The Griffon's engines are called dual hybrid turbo engines because they use a double hybrid system. It's lightweight, powerful, and has excellent maneuverability, and its hybrid power source allows for long-term operation.
The flight unit is connected to the top of the turbo compartment built into the main body. The wing area required for cruising flight is nearly 9 meters and weighs 7 tons, and if it were a fixed type, it would inhibit the movement of the griffon's limbs, and it would lose most of its fighting performance as a labor. Therefore, the flight unit's joint with the connecting base to the main body can be changed to almost any angle through 360 degrees, and the unit's built-in posture control system allows it to move no matter how the arms or legs move. It was designed to automatically change its position and posture to prevent entanglement and interference.
In addition, during combat, these wings actively controlled the center of gravity of the total weight of the robot, allowing it to perform tricky movements that would normally be impossible for a bipedal labor like Ingram. The thick wings contained fuel for cruise and afterburner use.
Although the flight unit could not be integrated with the main body due to its structure, it could be replaced with a different type of unit to handle different types of missions. The one that was actually used was the Aqua Unit, which was equipped with the same lithium-ion battery inside the unit for high-speed movement underwater, and could also be used as backup power for the main unit, which cannot operate the turbo engine without oxygen. Additionally, there is information that Utsumi of Planning Division 7 was planning to equip the unit with a laser cannon unit that would utilize the super-high power generated during boosting in power generation mode, but this has not yet been confirmed.
Electronic Systems[]
It is equipped with an ultra-efficient OS called "ASURA," a phantom format developed by the Furuyanagi Laboratory of the Jonan Institute of Technology that is capable of smooth movements as if it were a living organism. Like Ingram, its performance improves as it gains experience, and its behavior reflects the habits of its pilot. According to Kurosaki's account, it seems to have a sight correction function, and it was possible to hit a target by firing again. Later, a new automatic pistol equivalent to Ingram's revolver cannon was prepared as an option, and it is thought that it is equipped with an FCS that can withstand actual combat, or that its functions have been enhanced.
Although the "ASURA" is referred to as an operating system, its scale is that of a system that includes some hardware, and the design drawings generated from the wreckage of the machine suggest a small space in the thorax where the passenger would fit. The ASURA authenticates the pilot's retinas through a special control helmet, and picks up the interbrain currents, which are reflected in the mode selector and other controls. Bud, the pilot, was tested after boarding the machine for adrenal effects, which may cause physical strain on the pilot (no problems were observed in the film). (This did not appear to be a problem in the play.
Armor and Weapons[]
The Griffon's armor plating is made of a lightweight but extremely strong carbon fiber reinforced plastic, as well as a carbon fiber reinforced material. The armor being lightweight allows the Griffon to move extremely quickly, while being strong enough to withstand being crushed by a crane, an explosion from behind, being shot by the revolver cannon in the head, and various attacks from the Ingram.
The Griffon also comes equipped with an optional autocannon as a side arm, although it is never seen making use of it.
Reception[]
Even to this day, no labor with such performance and uniqueness exists even in the advanced military labor of other countries. Because of the various Griffon incidents, 1999 will go down in history as the year in which the definition of "labor crime" changed. The same year it half-openly challenged the police, and by defeating them, it proved that the crime of a Labor was enough to be considered "terrorism".
Further Development[]
The Ashura system utilized on the Griffon would be repurposed for use in the Type-A10 Shenlong.
Specifications[]
Empty Weight: 7.15 tons
Maximum Operating Weight: 7.60 tons
Maximum Lifting Capacity: 3.50 tons
Minimum Revolving Radius: 4.30 meters
Armor Material: Fiber Reinforced Material
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Material
Armaments[]
Standard Equipment[]
Optional Equipment[]
- Automatic pistol
- Flight Unit
- Aquatic Unit
Gallery[]
References[1] [2][]
Trivia[]
- The Griffon's Autocannon shown in the manga seems to be a hybrid based on either a Glock or a Walther pistol, though this is unclear based on little information available.
- In the SRW games the Griffon can use an attack where it is shown to be using an MG42, a general purpose machine gun used during WW2. It is never shown to have this weapon in the anime nor is it mentioned in concept design sheets.