ASTOL-MB93
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The ASTOL-MB93 (93式メーサー攻撃機 is a Kyūsanshiki Mēsā Kōgekiki, lit. Type 93 Maser Attack Aircraft)Maser-equipped fighter jet that appears in the 1992 Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. Mothra.
Name
The ASTOL-MB93 is referred to in Japanese as the Type 93 Maser Attack Aircraft (93式メーサー攻撃機 Kyūsanshiki Mēsā Kōgekiki)[1]:58—"93" referencing the year of its completion, 1993—or simply Maser Attack Aircraft (メーサー攻撃機. Mēsā Kōgekiki)[2][4] Toho's official English website also uses the name Maser Attack Aircraft Type-93,[5] while the ASTOL model possessed by G-Force is described by the full title ASTOL-MB93 Maser Attack Aircraft (ASTOL-MB93メーサー攻撃機 in Asutōru Emubī Mēsā Kōgekiki)Godzilla vs. G-Force Superweapon Manual.[1]:102 The craft is nicknamed the Maser helicopter (メーサーヘリ, despite behaving more like a jet. Mēsā heri)[4]
Its designation ASTOL-MB93 (
Origins
The ASTOL-MB93 was jointly developed by Bill, Co. of the United States and Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan.[1]:58[4] Equipped with dual turbojet engines and the latest in Maser technology,[1]:58 the ASTOLs were employed by the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, despite being aerial vehicles.[4] While it was originally believed impossible to fit a fighter jet with Maser cannons, the reduced power consumption of the newly developed Type 93 Masers allowed for the ASTOLs' success.[1]:58
Despite not appearing in another film after Godzilla vs. Mothra, numerous books including Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Super Complete Works describe G-Force as possessing ASTOL-MB93s in their arsenal,[6][7] possibly featured in cut footage from Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. The publication Godzilla vs. G-Force Superweapon Manual goes into further detail, describing the ASTOLs as the "primary forces" of G-Force's Air Force.[1]:102 While their firepower was inferior to that of G-Force's ground forces due to their comparatively more streamlined frame, the ASTOLs' aerial bombardment capabilities provided a significant advantage on the battlefield.[1]:102 A typical assault force consisted of twin ASTOLs.[1]:102
History
Heisei series
Godzilla vs. Mothra
The ASTOL-MB93s were created with the same beam technology as the MBAW-93s and the MBT-MB92s, but were meant to be a flying aircraft. They were deployed to attack Godzilla after he had emerged from Mount Fuji.
Weapons
- Capable of flight at 650 kilometers per hour.[1]:58[2]
- Equipped with dual 800,000-volt Type 93 Maser cannons.[1]:58
- Outfitted with dual 20mm Vulcan Gatling guns and a 70mm rocket launcher.[1]:58
Filmography
- Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)
Comics
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1992-1993) [volumes 1-2]
Godzilla, King of the Monsters
Shortly after the defeat of Megalon and Neo Biollante, Godzilla appeared in Tokyo and began to rampage. Hideo Kaneko and his brother, Yosuke knew that something was wrong, and Yosuke ran off, much to Hideo's objections. Shortly afterwards, Yosuke returned piloting an ASTOL-MB93 owned by G-Team, and began firing on Godzilla to try and drive him back. After shooting at 'Godzilla' several times, some of the giant monster's skin on its head and upper right arm fell off, exposing metal underneath and foiling its disguise. After firing several blasts out of his hands, the giant machine shed its failed disguise, and revealed itself to be Mechagodzilla III.
Yosuke's ASTOL-MB93 was later deployed during the fight between Godzilla and Anguirus at the dinosaur expo festival, and fired its missiles at the two monsters. Godzilla managed to catch one of the two missiles launched from the ASTOL-MB93 and jammed it down Anguirus's throat. Anguirus attempted to escape, but the missile detonated, killing him instantly and destroying KIDS in the process.
Yosuke continued to use the ASTOL-MB93 throughout the rest of the manga; it was ultimately destroyed by King Godzilla in the penultimate chapter when Yosuke attempted to mobilize it against the chimeric kaiju.
Video games
- Godzilla: Battle Legends (1993) - NEC/Hudson Soft TurboDuo / PC Engine Duo
- Godzilla: Trading Battle (1998) - Sony PlayStation
- Godzilla (2014) - Sony PlayStation 3 and 4
- Godzilla: Kaiju Collection (2015) - Android and iOS
- Godzilla Defense Force (2019) - Android and iOS
Godzilla (PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4)
Alongside MBT-MB92 Maser Cannons, ASTOL-MB93s spawn once the player reaches Disaster Level 4, and behave in a similar way as the Mitsubishi F-2 fighter jets encountered at lower levels, making low passes towards the player's monster while firing their Maser beams at them.
Gallery
Concept art
Screenshots
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Post-production
Video games
Godzilla: Trading Battle
Merchandise
Toys
S.H. MonsterArts ASTOL-MB93s in the Super X3 effect pack
Trivia
- Though the ASTOL-MB93 is a fighter jet, it appears to be largely based on attack helicopters such as the Apache helicopter and the Cobra helicopter.
- The sound the ASTOL-MB93s make in flight resembles that of TIE fighters from Star Wars.
Notes
- ↑ The 2012 publication Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works (p. 234) erroneously lists the ASTOL-MB93's length as 13.2 meters.
References
This is a list of references for ASTOL-MB93. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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