GN-001 Gundam Devise Exia

Model number: GN-001
Code name: Gundam Devise Exia
Unit type: general purpose close combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Celestial Being
Operator: Celestial Being
Rollout: AD 2307
First deployment: AD 2307
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.3 meters
Weight: unknown
Armor materials: E-Carbon
Powerplant: GN Drive, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: GN verniers, total output unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Trans-Am System; optical camouflage; communication jamming; 2 x sub-arm, mounted on GN Devise Backpack; GN particle storage tank, mounted in GN Devise Backpack
Fixed armaments: 2 x GN Vulcan Gun, mounted on forearms; 2 x GN Beam Saber, mounted on rear shoulders, hand-carried in use; 2 x GN Beam Dagger, stored in rear waist, hand-carried in use
Optional hand armaments: GN Sword, can convert to rifle mode, mounted on right forearm; GN Shield, mounted on left forearm; GN Long Blade, mounted on waist; GN Short Blade, mounted on waist; Proto GN Luster Sword, mounted on GN Devise Backpack

The GN-001 Gundam Devise Exia was a special configuration of Celestial Being’s GN-001 Gundam Exia. Engineer Ian Vashti developed the GN Devise Backpack as an upgrade for Celestial Being’s third generation Gundams. The GN Devise Backpack, fitted over the Gundam Exia’s GN Drive, was designed to include a second GN Drive, which would align with the other drive for increased GN particle output to boost mobility. However, due to the fact that Celestial Being only possessed a total of four original GN Drives in 2307, the role of the second drive was filled by a GN particle storage tank. The GN Devise Backpack was also equipped with a pair of sub-arms that could handle additional weapons. The Gundam Devise Exia’s new armaments included a Proto GN Luster Sword, which was coated with GN particles to create the effect of a beam saber while still being a physical weapon.

In 2307, Celestial Being conducted a mock battle in an Earth desert to test the GN Devise Backpack on both the Gundam Devise Exia and the GN-002 Gundam Devise Dynames. Beam weapon strength was lowered for the mock test, and the Proto GN Luster Sword was meant to freeze before impact to prevent causing actual damage. However, during the mock battle, Setsuna F. Seiei’s attack speed greatly exceeded all estimates, so the Proto GN Luster Sword moved too fast for the cutoff to kick in, allowing him to damage the Gundam Devise Dynames. Ian concluded not only that the test of double drives for the fourth generation was successful, but that GN particle tanks were also more useful than he had presumed. The Proto GN Luster Sword would serve as the basis for later GN Swords, and the double drive concept was successfully implemented in the GN-0000 00 Gundam‘s Twin Drive System.

Pilot: Setsuna F. Seiei (aka Soran Ebrahim)
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Revealed Chronicle
Original mechanical designer: Kanetake Ebikawa

GN Beam Saber

GN Shield

GN Sword

Leg

Rear view