Earth Federation Mobile Suit
RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam

Developed in parallel with the RX-77 Guncannon, the RX-78 Gundam was designed for close combat against enemy mobile suits. Thanks to recent Federation technological breakthroughs, the designers were able to equip the RX-78 with a compact beam rifle as powerful as a battleship cannon - as well as a new type of melee weapon, a lethal energy blade called a beam saber. Like its fellow Operation V prototypes, the RX-78 was protected by tough Luna Titanium armor, though since its armor was lighter it also carried a supplemental shield.

The RX-78-1, the first iteration of the Gundam design, was completed in July UC 0079. Development of the next version was already underway, and the improved RX-78-2 rolled out a couple of weeks later.

Illustration by Mark Simmons

Specifications

Model number / RX-78-1

Standard armament /
  60mm vulcan gun x 2
  beam saber x 2
  beam rifle x 1

Earth Federation Mobile Suit
RX-78-3 G-3 Gundam

Of the three Gundam prototypes that were being tested at the Side 7 research colony, only the second unit survived the Zeon attack unscathed. The remains of the two damaged units were loaded onto the assault carrier White Base and transferred to the Federation's Luna Two base. Here, the third unit was reconstructed using parts from the first, and this revived (and repainted) Gundam was used as a testbed for new technologies. Due to the upgrades it received, this test unit was assigned a new model number and consequently given the nickname "G-3."

The most noteworthy of the features tested on the G-3 was the magnet coating technology developed by Mosk Han. By increasing the efficiency of the field motors used in the G-3's joints, the magnet coating process boosted its manueverability by almost 30%. This process was ultimately applied to the second unit piloted by Amuro Ray.

Illustration by Mark Simmons

Specifications

Model number / RX-78-3

Standard armament /
  60mm vulcan gun x 2
  beam saber x 2
  beam rifle x 1