RX-78SP Gunner Gundam

The RX-78-SP Gunner Gundam (aka Gunner) first appear in MSV-R. It's originally a winner design in Gundam Ace 2nd granprix contest call Gundam Sniper Type, the design was cleand-up by Kunio Okawara.

Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Gunner Gundam features a jamming suite on the backpack, which also mounts four large thrusters. Although it has visor to protect the eyes sensor and thick armor on legs and forearms which are similar to FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam, there seems to be no connection between them. The Gunner Gundam unit is built using the same frame of an RGM-79 GM instead of a Gundam to save cost and development time. The Earth Federation then integrated technology from the RX-78-2 Gundam into the Gunner Gundam. The body armor uses a Luna Titanium Alloy and its equipped with high performance sensors. The main weaponry of the Gunner Gundam are two beam sabers, two vulcan guns, and a specialized beam rifle based on the MS-14A Gelgoog's beam rifle.

Armaments

 * Specialized Beam Rifle
 * Designed to hit targets over a distance, this beam rifle is based on Zeon's beam rifle. It is also designed for high energy output.


 * Beam Sabers
 * Stored on the legs, presumed to have the same output as those of the RX-78-2 Gundam.

History
In 0080 U.C, after the fall of Zeon, there were still many Zeon remnants the Earth Federation had to counteract with. To counter this threat, the Earth Federation Forces developed a series of new mobile suits, which should also provide the basis for future post-war mobile suits. One of these new models was the Mobile Suit RX-78SP Gunner Gundam. The Gunner Gundam was design to study the mid-to-long range gunfight in mobile suit combat. While no operable Gunner Gundam exists, there is a functional mock-up model built using the same frame of an RGM-79 GM and integrated technology from the Gundam. The development for the Gunner Gundam was later halted and the unit was never seen in action.