Macross In
Macross, the VF-1 was developed by
Stonewell/Bellcom/Shinnakasu for the
U.N. Spacy by using alien
Overtechnology obtained from the
SDF-1 Macross alien spaceship. It was preceded into production by an
aerodynamic proving version of its
airframe, the VF-X. Unlike all later VF vehicles, the VF-X was strictly a
jet aircraft, built to demonstrate that a jet fighter with the features necessary to convert to Battroid mode was aerodynamically feasible. After the VF-X's testing was finished, an advanced concept atmospheric-only prototype, the VF-0 Phoenix, was flight-tested from 2005 to 2007 and briefly served as an active-duty fighter from 2007 to the VF-1's rollout in late 2008, while the bugs were being worked out of the full-up VF-1 prototype (VF-X-1). The VF-1's combat debut was on February 7, 2009, during the Battle of South Ataria Island - the first battle of Space War I, and was the mainstay fighter of the U.N. Spacy for the entire conflict. Introduced in 2008, the VF-1 would be out of frontline service just five years later, replaced by the far more advanced
VF-4 Lightning III. However, the fighter would continue to show its worthiness years later when, during the events of
Macross 7, Milia Jenius (a major character in the original series) would use her old fighter in defense of the colonization fleet.
Robotech In
Robotech, development of the Valkyrie began at the end of the Global Civil War, when an alien spaceship crashed into Macross Island in the South Pacific. After learning of the existence of large aggressive humanoid aliens, a United Earth Government was formed and development began on the mecha by the Robotech Defense Force to combat the alien threat by using
Robotechnology obtained from the SDF-1 alien ship. In the
Robotech continuity, the VF-0 did not exist; the non-transformable VF-X was followed by a version which had only fighter and Guardian mode. Not until June 2007 was the final version of the VF-1, which could transform into battloid mode, released. It unofficially saw its first combat in early 2007, when test pilot
Roy Fokker "borrowed" the first production-model aircraft - a VF-1S that would remain his mount for the rest of his life, and become
Rick Hunter's aircraft after his death - to thwart an Anti-Unification plot to destroy the three primary symbols of UEG power. Officially, the first combat of the VF-1 was, like
Macross, February 7, 2009, during the Battle of Macross Island - the first battle of the First Robotech War. Much like its
Macross counterpart, the VF-1 would remain in service for the remainder of the conflict.
Modes The VF-1 is different from modern fighter aircraft in that it can transform into three different configurations or modes for different combat environments, and can perform the task of more than one fighting vehicle: In Fighter mode it can act as a jet fighter or a space fighter; in GERWALK (or Guardian in
Robotech) mode it acts as a
VTOL unit or a "
chicken walker" mecha; in Battroid mode (or Battloid in
Robotech) it acts as a humanoid
mecha. The legs are formed by the aircraft's engines and intakes, bent down and forward. The arms are stored between the engines in fighter mode and fold out to the sides, reaching around from behind the legs. In GERWALK mode, the gun pod is held by the fighter's manipulator "hands" and acts in all respects as a very large automatic rifle. This mode is the intermediate one which was originally intended to simply allow the craft to land in a combat zone with a maximum of defensive ability. However, many pilots soon realized that this mode's considerable maneuverability combined with its speed made it formidable in low level aerial combat as well as when making flanking maneuvers on the ground, and most took advantage of these characteristics for such situations. Valkyrie pilots also have the option to deploy the legs alone, leaving the arms in storage. According to an article in
Animerica magazine, the form came about partially by accident. Early in the development cycle for
Macross, the creators planned a main mecha called "GA-WALK", with an
ostrich-like leg configuration (similar to the enemy battle pods from the finished series). However, the idea met with resistance from the initial sponsor, which wanted a more conventional robot for the hero to pilot. When creator Shoji Kawamori designed the transforming "Breast Fighters" (later redesigned and renamed the "VF-1 Valkyrie" fighters) instead, he had no real thoughts of a third mode. But when the manufacturer
Takatoku Toys sent along the prototype of a Valkyrie toy for his input, the prototype's legs were not yet locked into place in Fighter mode, causing the legs to swing down. This was reminiscent to him of the discarded "GA-WALK" mecha idea that had been shot down early in pre-production. He liked the idea, and worked to incorporate the third mode, now renamed "GERWALK," into
Macross. In GERWALK mode, the VF-1 has a maximum speed of flying, walking.
Battroid mode In Battroid mode (called "Battloid Mode" in
Robotech), the VF-1 looks like a fighter airplane folded up to resemble a 12.7-meter-tall (42-foot-tall) humanoid. The legs are now straight and bend in the normal direction; the sides of the nose now resemble a human chest and shoulders (where the arms attach), and the laser turret is now a head. While the Battroid mode has some limited altitude control, its primary purpose is for ground
hand-to-hand combat, which enabled Earth forces to fight the
giant alien invaders on their own scale as the military had anticipated they would need. • VF-1A: a standard soldier's fighter. Has one
laser cannon on its head. • VF-1D: a two-seat variant of the VF-1A. Has two lasers. (Used as a trainer in
Robotech). • VF-1J: a team leader/squadron commander's fighter. Has two lasers. • VF-1S: a squadron commander/
Commander Air Group's fighter. Has four lasers. • VF-1R: a variation of the VF-1A as a mid-life upgrade to improve survivability. It features powerplant and armor upgrades, as well as an additional pulse cannon mounted as a third cannon on the head which will automatically target incoming missiles without pilot input and free up the pilot's mind for more important tasks. Originally thought to be an animation mistake in Episode 32, but Harmony Gold capitalized on it in the 2000s to introduce a new character (Jack Archer from the Robotech: Battlecry video game) and model. • VT-1: a two-seat unarmed primary trainer (
Macross only). • There are several less frequently used variants.
Macross variants Information listed here is only canon for the Macross
continuity. This list is incomplete. Robotech variants Models referenced here are only from the Robotech
continuity. This list is incomplete. ==Replicas==