General and Technical Data

Model number: GAT-01
Code name: Strike Dagger
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Alliance
Operator: Earth Alliance
First deployment: 25 May C.E. 71
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.02 meters
Weight: max gross weight 55.31 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown
Fixed armaments: "Igelstellung" 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, fire-linked, mounted in head; ES01 beam saber, stored on right shoulder, hand-carried in use; shield, mounted on right arm
Optional hand armaments: M703 57mm beam rifle, power rating unknown, mounts grenade launcher

Technical and Historical Notes

With ZAFT having pioneered mobile suit development with the introduction of the ZGMF-1017 GINN, the Earth Alliance is forced to quickly catch up and develop mobile suits to replace the ineffective mobile armor TS-MA2 Moebius. The end result of that is the GAT-01 Strike Dagger, a mass production mobile suit based on the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam. As a mass production suit, the Strike Dagger lacks many design elements present in the original Strike Gundam, such as the Striker mission packs. It is armed with only one head vulcan, one beam saber and a beam rifle. The Strike Dagger also lacks EMP (electromagnetic pulse) shielding, which proves fatal in its debut at the Battle of Panama when ZAFT deploys its Gungnir System. These shortcomings are corrected later on with the GAT-01A1 Dagger. On a level of performance, the Strike Dagger generally exceeds the aging GINN in combat.The Alliance quickly produces a high number of Strike Daggers and sends them immediately to the front lines. Strike Daggers are used heavily during the assault on the Orb Union and later in space against ZAFT during the last battles of the war. Following the war, the Alliance creates another mass production successor to the Strike Dagger/Dagger series, the GAT-02L2 Dagger L.

Miscellaneous Information

Pilot(s): Saiga, Rinaldo, Edward Harrelson, Morgan Chevalier, Barry Ho
Appearances: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED; Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY B; Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY (OVA); Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY; Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY ASTRAY; Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY R; Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X ASTRAY; Battle Assault 3 featuring Gundam SEED; Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Never-Ending Tomorrow
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara