The RAS-96 Anksha

The RAS-96 Anksha was developed as the successor to the NRX-044 Asshimar, but shares many interior components with the RGM-89 Jegan, and this allows its production cost to be reduced. Just like the Asshimar, the Anksha is capable of high-altitude atmospheric flight without the help of a sub-flight system while in its disk-shaped mobile armor mode. With the application of magnetic-coating technology on the unit's joints and large moving parts, the Anksha can transform between mobile suit and mobile armor modes in a matter of seconds. The Anksha was able to serve as a sub-flight system for other mobile suits in the same fashion as a Base Jabber. It was also able to respond flexibly to high-altitude interceptor missions.
Unlike the Asshimar and more like Federation suits of the era, the Anksha abandons its predecessor's mono-eye sensor in favor of the typical compound sensor unit as seen on the Jegan and RGZ-95 ReZEL. Similar to the Asshimar, the head is equipped with internal differential pressure sensors and air traffic control radar. Further enhancements made to the Anksha from the Asshimar's original design include a larger number of flight-surfaces, increasing the unit's maneuverability (especially while operating high in the atmosphere) It was completed as a transformable mobile suit specialized for use in the atmosphere, and stationed aboard the giant airlifter Garuda to provide aerial fighting strength. In U.C. 0097, a squad of Ankshas were deployed alongside some FD-03 Gustav Karls and RGM-89D-ESC Jegan Type D Escort Types to escort Martha Vist Carbine. Jona Basta engaged one of the Ankshas in a MSK-008 Dijeh and lost its right forearm in the process.