ZGMF-X88S Gaia Gundam

Model number(s): ZGMF-X88S (ZAFT); RGX-03 (Earth Alliance)
Code name: Gaia Gundam
Unit type: prototype attack use transformable mobile suit
Manufacturer: Integrated Design Bureau
Operator(s): ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty); Earth Alliance; Three Ships Alliance
First deployment: 2 October C.E. 73
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 17.80 meters (mobile suit mode)
Weight: max gross weight 69.85 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; VPS (Variable Phase Shift) armor; deuterion beam energy supply system, allows for remote recharging of energy with battleship
Fixed armaments: 2 x MMI-GAU25A 20mm CIWS, mounted in head; 2 x MA-M941 “Vajra” beam saber, stored on hips, hand-carried in use; 2 x MA-81R beam assault cannon, mounted on shoulders; 4 x MMI-GAU1717 12.5mm CIWS, mounted on head of quadruped mode, operable only in quadruped mode; 2 x MR-Q17X “Griffon 2” beam blade, mounted on main body, operable only in quadruped mode
Optional hand armaments: MA-BAR71XE high-energy beam rifle, mounted on main body in quadruped mode; MMI-RS1 mobile shield, mounted on left arm

Following the Bloody Valentine War, ZAFT unveiled its Second Stage of advanced new Gundam mobile suits. The ZGMF-X88S Gaia Gundam was first developed as a Silhouette pack used by the ZGMF-X56S/ζ Gaia Impulse Gundam, but ZAFT decided to produce it as a separate mobile suit instead. The Gaia Gundam was a transformable unit featuring a quadruped animal mode similar to the TMF/A-802 BuCUE. As with other Gundam designs, the Gaia Gundam was equipped with Variable Phase Shift armor that blocked conventional weapon attacks. Because the Junius Treaty banned the use of N-Jammer Cancelers, ZAFT developed the deuterion beam energy supply system to recharge batteries on the battlefield. When energy reserves were low, the Gaia Gundam could receive an incoming energy beam from its mothership and recharge its batteries. Although the Gaia Gundam transformed into a BuCUE-like alternate form, its armaments were more varied. Weapons included two beam assault cannons, a beam rifle, vulcan guns, beam blades and beam sabers.

For its initial testing, the Gaia Gundam was assigned to ZAFT test pilot Riika Sheder. On October 2, C.E. 73, the Gaia Gundam was stolen from ZAFT’s military PLANT Armory One by Stella Loussier, an artificially enhanced Extended pilot from the Earth Alliance’s secret Phantom Pain unit. Redesignated as the RGX-03, the Alliance reverse engineered its design and created the limited production GAT-X399/Q Wild Dagger. On Earth, Stella attacked the Minerva alone when the ship discovered the Alliance lab that created the Extendeds in Lodonia, East Europe. After a short battle with ZAFT pilots Shinn Asuka and Athrun Zala, Stella was captured and the Gaia Gundam was returned to ZAFT’s custody. However, the Gaia Gundam was later stolen again and was repainted for use by Three Ships Alliance pilot Andrew Waltfeld.

Pilot(s): Stella Loussier, Riika Sheder, Andrew Waltfeld
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara

Head

MA-BAR71XE high-energy beam rifle

MMI-RS1 mobile shield

Rear view (Mobile suit mode)

Rear view (Quadruped mode)