RX-79BD-2 Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 2

Model number(s): RX-79BD-2; RX-80EXAM-2
Code name: Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 2
Unit type: prototype EXAM mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator(s): Earth Federation Forces; Principality of Zeon
Rollout: UC 0079
First deployment: December 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
Performance: 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 hand armaments: beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap; 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 and the RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1. Moses also created the RX-79BD-2 Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 2, which featured multiple modifications from Unit 1, including retaining its Gundam-type head. Unit 2 could also switch backpacks to operate on the ground or in space, and it lacked the EXAM limiter from Unit 1, which made it more likely to go berserk.

Unit 2’s armaments included the same vulcan guns, beam sabers, machine guns and wired missiles as Unit 1, plus the beam rifle from the RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type and a shield similar to the one from the RGM-79G GM Command. Unit 2 was intended to be delivered to the EFF’s 11th Independent Mechanized Composite Corps, but in December UC 0079 it was stolen by Zeon pilot Nimbus Schterzen, who previously piloted the EXAM-equipped MS-08TX[EXAM] Efreet Custom. Nimbus repainted Unit 2’s shoulders to match the color scheme of his former Efreet Custom. Nimbus was eventually killed during a final showdown with Yuu’s RX-79BD-3 Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 3 in an abandoned colony at Side 5.

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

100mm machine gun (Version 1)

Backpack comparison with RX-79[G] (Version 1)

Beam rifle (Version 1)

Beam saber (Version 1)

Head comparison with RX-79[G] (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 1)

Short shield (Version 1)

Torso comparison with RX-79[G] (Version 1)