Manufactured since the early 2500's, the Chameleon is best known as the premier training 'Mech for hundreds of thousands of Inner Sphere MechWarriors. Though the Clan invasion has prompted many manufacturers to step up production of frontline 'Mechs, the Chameleon is still being produced in record numbers. These new Chameleons are being manufactured for the military academies, many of which have expanded their training programs to accommodate the flood of applicants interested in becoming MechWarriors.
       In 3052, Defiance Industries announced plans to sell all plans and molds for the Chameleon to free up more production lines for new front line 'Mechs. In June of 3053, Defiance sold its rights to the Chameleon to Jillianne Suliben, the daughter of a wealthy Tamar businessman killed during the Clan invasion. Using her father's government connections, Ms. Suliben purchased the remains of an old manufacturing plant on the planet Storfors and officially incorporated J.B. BattleMechs. In February of 3056, the first new Chameleons rolled off the production line.

       The Chameleon and its heavier counterpart, the Crockett, served as the SLDF's training 'Mechs for more than a hundred years. The Chameleon was the training vehicle for would be pilots of fast, jump capable medium and light 'Mechs. Its weapons, though average by battlefield standards, are well suited to the abilities of a relatively green pilot. A large laser and two medium lasers comprise the 'Mech's heavy firepower, while three small lasers and two machine guns help the new recruit fend off infantry attacks. To teach pilots-in training about the dangers of excess heat, the Chameleon's battle computer can be set to lock out all weapons and jump jets if the heat rises above a certain level. New recruits quickly learn the value of monitoring the heat scale indicator.

       J.B. BattleMechs has several combat variants of the Chameleon in the works. The 7W variant drops all the small lasers and both machine guns and adds two tons of armor and double heat sinks. An extended range large laser replaces the standard large laser, and the left arm mounted medium laser is upgraded to a medium pulse laser. The 7Z variant replaces the standard 300 Vlar engine with an XL engine and adds three and a half extra tons of armor for maximum protection. In addition, a second large laser and an ER large laser replace the small and medium lasers and machine guns. To help dissipate the extra heat generated by the new weapons, the design includes double heat sinks.

       The standard Chameleon 7V serves in MechWarrior academies throughout the Inner Sphere and the Periphery. The combat variants of the Chameleon have yet to see action.