RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1

Model number: RX-79BD-1
Code name: Blue Destiny Unit 1
Unit type: prototype EXAM mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Rollout: UC 0079
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.0 meters
Weight: empty 52.8 metric tons; max gross 73.0 metric tons
Armor materials: Luna Titanium alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: total output unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; EXAM System
Fixed armaments: 2 x vulcan gun, mounted on head; 2 x wired missile launcher, mounted in chest; 2 x machine gun, mounted in chest; 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks in legs, hand-carried in use
Optional fixed armaments: see RX-79BD-1FA Blue Destiny Unit 1 (Full Armed); RX-79BD-1ST Blue Destiny Unit 1 (Stealth)
Optional hand armaments: 100mm machine gun, clip-fed, 2 spare clips stored on hip armor; shield, mounted on either forearm

During the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon’s Flanagan Institute conducted research on Newtypes, particularly to find ways to use them in combat. One of the institute’s researchers, Professor Chlust Moses, feared that Newtypes would eventually dominate Oldtypes, so he created the EXAM System, which offered Newtype-level performance by containing the soul of Newtype test subject Marion Welch. Eventually, Moses defected from Zeon and gave his EXAM research to the Earth Federation Forces, where he continued development with the test unit RGM-79BD-0 Blue Destiny Unit 0. However, Unit 0’s test results proved unsatisfactory, so the RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type was used as the basis for the RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1. Due to the EXAM system’s components and limiter being housed in Unit 0’s head, it was transferred to Unit 1. Unit 1 also featured a different backpack design with box-type thrusters at the bottom and thrusters at the top that activated when EXAM was in use. Additional leg thrusters improved Unit 1’s ground mobility. Unit 1’s armaments included a pairs of chest-mounted machine guns and wired missiles, vulcan guns, a machine gun, two beam sabers and a shield.

In November UC 0079, the EFF’s 11th Independent Mechanized Composite Corps (aka Marmot Team) attacked a Zeon base, but their mission was interrupted by the appearance of the out of control Unit 1. RGM-79 GM pilot Yuu Kajima successfully fought off Unit 1, and he later used a RGM-79D GM Cold Districts Type to fight Nimbus Schterzen’s EXAM-equipped MS-08TX[EXAM] Efreet Custom. Based on his combat ability, Yuu was subsequently assigned as the new pilot of Unit 1. On December 4, the two EXAM-equipped units met in combat during the EFF’s effort to recapture the California Base. Despite the loss of both machines, the EXAM-fueled rivalry continued when Nimbus stole the RX-79BD-2 Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 2.

Pilot(s): Yuu Kajima, Claire Kilmer
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny
Original mechanical designer(s): Kunio Okawara (original design), NAOKI (updated design)

100mm machine gun

Beam saber

Short shield