The RDF roundel
The Robotech Defense Force (RDF) was a military force that was part of the United Earth Forces. It was created specifically to defend Earth against the alien presence discovered with the crash of the giant alien spaceship in 1999.
History[]
- Main article: First Robotech War
The Robotech Defense Force was secretly formed by the United Earth Government once their understanding of the alien Space Battlefortress' technology was high enough to allow them to replicate it for military purposes. Pilots from across North America and Europe were handpicked to test the first Veritech vehicles such as prototypes of the VF1-Valkyre, YF4-Lightning and the Destroids.
Most of the Robotech Defense Force was stationed on Macross Island when first contact was made with the invading Zentraedi, leading to a considerable number of members being folded alongside the Island when the SDF-1 Macross attempted to fold to the back of the moon, but instead folding near Saturn. Following the disappearance of the Island and the SDF-1, the United Earth Government decided to ramp up the development of Robotech armament to fight the alien invaders.
When the royal Zentraedi fleet arrived on Earth, the RDF immediately dispached the Defense fleet, only for them to be decimated when the Zentraedi fleet began their carpet bombing of Earth, with the bombing only stopping when the Grand Cannon in Alaska obliterated a good portion of the Zentraedi fleet, allowing the SDF-1 and their Zentraedi allies to destroy Dolza's battleship and surrounding ships. Most of the RDF's leadership died during the Battle of Earth.
Following the devastation of Earth, the RDF became the de facto military police of the planet, with them being in constant conflict with the Malcontent Zentraedi for at least 9 years.
- Main article: Second Robotech War
By 2022, the RDF had split into three organizations; the Robotech Expeditionary Force under Lisa Hayes-Hunter and Emil Lang, the Army of the Southern Cross under Anatole Leonard, and the Global Military Police. Both the Southern Cross and the GMP would go to fight the invading Robotech Masters during the Second Robotech War, which ended on a pyrrhic victory for Earth's forces, while the Expeditionary forces became embroiled in a 20 years war with the Invid under command of the Regent in the Local Group of Fantoma, with the REF establishing a human colony in the Robotech Masters' homeworld of Tirol. (Robotech II: The Sentinels, Robotech: The Masters Saga)
- Main article: Third Robotech War
When the Invid invaded Earth following the Second Robotech War, many members of the RDF were forced to evacuate Earth to their bases on Mars and the Moon. Eventually, this remnant of the RDF became part of the Earth Reclamation Force when the Expeditionary Force began sending fleets to liberate Earth. (Robotech: Love, Live, Alive, Robotech: The New Generation)
Methods[]
The force made heavy use of Robotechnology and was equipped with advanced weapons systems such as Veritech fighters, VF-1 Valkyrie and VF-4 Lightning and Destroid combat mecha.
Equipment[]
Mecha[]
- VF-1 Valkyrie
- VF-1A
- VF-1D
- VF-1J
- VF-1S
- VEF-1
- VF/B-1D
- YF-4 Lightning
- VF-X-6 Genia
- MBR-04-Mk VI Destroid Tomahawk
- MBR-07-Mk II Destroid Spartan
- ADR-04-Mk X Destroid Defender
- SDR-04-XII Destroid Phalanx
- HWR-00-MK. II Destroid Monster
Conventional aircraft[]
- SF-2 Hunter
- SF-3 Lancer
- QF-300E Ghost
- ES-11 Catseye Recon
- F-203 Dragon II
- EC-33B Tiger's Eye
- VC-33
- VC-27 Tunny
- Comanchero
- Sea Sergeant
- Howard LH-2000
- S-12 Avenger II
- RDF jet
Ground vehicles[]
- LACV-60
- RDF tank
- M101 Sagittarius
- M299
- DL-88 Centipede
- Centaur tank
- M299 MMUV
- M399 Low-Gravity Roving Vehicle
- M499 GPV
- M100 Atlas
- KX1300P
- M777 Refueling Vehicle
- MT-12 Heavy Aircraft Tug
- MT-10 Medium Aircraft Tug
- TP-500 Mobile Elevated Work Platform
- CT-20 Cargo Truck
Vehicles and Spacecraft[]
- SDF-1 Macross
- Armor-class
- Oberth-class
- Star Goose shuttle
- RC-4 Rabbit
- EVRP-1 Spider Bug
- CVS-101 Prometheus
- SLV-111 Daedalus
- Leviathan-class Tactical Missile Submarine
Equipment[]
Known Members[]
- Rick Hunter
- Roy Fokker
- Maximillian Sterling
- Ben Dixon
- Henry Gloval
- Lisa Hayes
- Sammie Porter
- Kim Young
- Vanessa Leeds
- Claudia Grant
- Vince Grant
- Kramer
- Justin Black
- Bobby (Reconstruction Blues)
- Dan
- Greg Arnold
- Shawn Arnold
- Rolf Emerson
- Jonathan Wolfe
- Jansen
- Jack Archer
- Izzy Randal
- Helena Chase
- Hiro Ishi
- Scout Lawrence
- Skull Squadron
- Vermillion Squadron
- Control Squadron Alpha
- Green Squadron
- Blue Squadron
- Yellow Squadron
- White Squadron
- Orange Squadron
- Red Squadron
- 23rd Platoon
- Fury Squadron
- Crimson Squadron
- Cutter Squadron
Notes and trivia[]
- Although unclear after the retcon brought about by Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, it seems that the RDF was gutted to provide personnel and resources for the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF). The Robotech: Roleplaying Game (book number four), published by Palladium Books, makes reference that only two RDF bases did in fact remain on Earth after the departure of the REF. This would be in keeping with the fact that the United Earth Forces would need the Army of the Southern Cross to take over the defense of Earth after the Pioneer Mission left.
- Other vehicles from non-canon sources include Power Armor, Macross Jet, DZ90 Super Bomber, Cerberus, LCT-73 Tornado Combat Tank, MBT-62 Dark Knight Combat Tank, Gladius Destroid, Destroid Defender (prototype), Light Insurgence Battloid, Tornado Battle Bike Armor, M.A.C. Mini-Monster, Guardian VTOL, Aggressor VTOL, LRV-558 Veritech Car, and VFI2 Veritech.
- In the novels, the RDF became the Global Military Police as a result of inter-faction rivalries.
 For the similar military force in the Macross Timeline, visit U.N. Spacy. |