KG-7 Areion

KG-7 Areion
Unit Type
Appearances
Anime	ALDNOAH.ZERO~2
Profile
Operator	United Forces of Earth Silver Squad Aldaniti Platoon Appaloosa Platoon Falabella Platoon Friesian Platoon Mustang Platoon Shire Platoon Oldenburg Platoon Andalusia Platoon Belgian Platoon Clydesdale Platoon Ghanaati Platoon Harbinger Platoon Harroway Platoon Lokai Platoon Maremmano Platoon Pottok Platoon Rhinelander Platoon
Known Pilots	Inko Amifumi Koichiro Marito Rayet Areash Yuki Kaizuka
General Characteristics
Overall Height	13.5 meters
Armaments
75 mm Cannon with optional Grenade Launcher Pistol Knife
Special Equipment and Features
Stabilizers
Optional Equipment
Recoil-less Cannon Grappling Hooks

The Areion (アレイオン, Areion^?) is a cutting-edge Kataphrakt featured in the ALDNOAH.ZERO television series. It was used and mass-produced by the United Forces of Earth.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The current generation Kataphrakts were developed by the U.E. in the face of the Martian threat. The standard machine has limited hovering capability.

The KG-6 Sleipnir was the predecessor to the Areion, but now is relegated to being a training unit. The Areion boasts a thicker (and hence, heavier) armor than the Sleipnir, along with a larger power plant keeping the power to weight ratio the same while adding additional survivability.  

Although it is Earth's most sophisticated mobile suit, it - along with practically everything else used by UEF - is woefully outclassed by the Martian Kataphrakts of the Vers Empire, each of which possesses individual special abilities, which enable them to destroy these mass-produced Areion units with ease. However, an advantage the Areion has over their Martian counterparts is the ability to be outfitted with various armaments to suit the requirements of different strategy, mission, and environment.

Special Equipment and Features

• Stabilizers

A set of wings and small thrusters attached to both legs that grant the Areion limited hovering abilities. When active, the stabilizers open up into an "X" shaped array of wings on the either side of the legs. They can also be used as a shield, but the destruction of the stabilizers impairs the Areion's ability to fly and possibly its ability to walk and run as well.

Armaments

Ground Force Load-out

• 75 mm Cannon with optional Grenade Launcher

This bullpup automatic rifle serves as the Areion's main offensive armament and is equipped by every Areion unit. It is capable of switching between firing High Explosive (HE) or Armor-piercing (AP) rounds depending on the situation. The rifle can also be attached with an optional grenade launcher, mounted in front of the trigger and below the 75mm cannon. The grenade launcher can be used to fire traditional grenades for offensive purposes, or smoke grenades as a form of utility.

• Pistol

A pistol is stored on the waist of the Areion and acts as its secondary CQC weapon of choice.

• Knife

A short tantō knife is stored in the backpack of the Sleipnir and acts as its main CQC weapon of choice. It is produced by "Clibanarius Defence Alternatives", a defense contractor for the United Forces of Earth.

• Grappling hook

A grappling hook is stored in the wrist - similar to the Sleipnir - and is capable of holding the weight of the Kataphrakt.

Space Load-out

• Recoil-less Cannon

In space battles, Areions are equipped with high-caliber long-barrelled recoil-less cannons, which direct the back blast of rounds out the back of the weapon when fired. This served to keep the craft stationary, even when drifting in the middle of space. In battle they were capable of firing high-explosive rounds.

• Grappling Hooks

The Areion can also be equipped with grappling hoops, allowing them to maneuver in the Satellite Belt.

History

The KG-7's were first known to have been deployed by the UFE against the Vers Empire's Operation Earthfall. They have been preparing for it for 15 years. (AZ: "Beyond the Horizon")

Despite the long preparation, the KG-7 proved outclassed against their Martian counterparts. Significant numbers of KG-7s were destroyed within the first minutes of conflict. This mass-produced unit formed the mainstay of the UEF Kataphrakt forces and was all that kept the UFE fighting during the war. Despite their obvious obsolescence, they remained the UFE's workhorse for the rest of the war.

Gallery

Designs for the Sniper Rifle and Knife.

Initial Appearance.

Areions deploying at the War's outbreak.

KG-7s in action at the start of the 2nd Earth-Mars War.

Initial assault on Miami Landing Station.

Areions defending the Wadatsumi.

An Areion with a pistol.

Engaging Scandia with a Sniper Rifle.

Engaging multiple Ortygia at the same time.

First person view of the cockpit.

Areions boarding Saazbaum's landing castle

Areions with space gear.

Areions firing their recoiless-rifles

KG-7s in action in Yemen

An Areion deployed with a recoiless-rifle

Trivia

• The KG-7 Areion appears to be named after Arion from Greek Mythology.
• The wings on the back of the KG-7 Areion seem to be a simplified version of the wings on the KG-6 Sleipnir.
• The wing stabilizers on the upper leg bear a vague similarity to the Jump Units employed by the human Tactical Surface Fighters in the Muv Luv Unlimited and Alternative timelines. Both are mounted in the same general location, and both play a role is three-dimensional mobility of their parent machines. Like the TSFs, the Terran Kataphrakts suffer from a high casualty rate in battle.
• The OZ-06MS Leo from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing bear many similarities to the KG-7 Areion; both were the Earth faction's main mass-produced unit outclassed by the outer space force's more powerful machines.
  • Furthermore, the KG-6 Sleipnir is reminiscent of the Leo Early Type, in which both were the first versions with less armor than the modern-day ones.