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RX-78-2 Gundam — Specifications, Lineage & Appearances

RX-78-2

RX-78-2 Gundam at a glance

Timeline
Universal Century
First appearance
Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
Developed from
RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam
Led to
39 units — Amakusa, CAPG-78 Captain Gundam, Dino Gundam and 36 more
Gunpla kits
95 catalogued

Interactive development tree and full data sheet: www.mobilesuit.dev/mobile-suit/rx-78-2-gundam

RX-78-2 Gundam Prototype Close Quarters Combat Mobile Suit from Gundam Universal Century
RX-78-2 Gundam

The RX-78-2 Gundam is a prototype close quarters combat mobile suit from the Universal Century timeline of the Gundam franchise. It was manufactured by Earth Federation Project V. Within the franchise it is considered canon.

The RX-78-2 Gundam (RX-78-2 ガンダム, Āru Ekkusu Nanajū Hachi no Ni Gandamu?) is the titular mobile suit of the anime Mobile Suit Gundam. Part of the RX-78 Gundam series, it was primarily piloted by Amuro Ray.

Within the story, the RX-78-2 Gundam first appears in September 18, 0079 U.C. and was last seen in December 31, 0079 U.C.

The RX-78-2 Gundam was developed from RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam. It in turn led to 39 derived units — Amakusa, CAPG-78 Captain Gundam, Dino Gundam, FA-78-1 Full Armor Gundam, G-Armor and G-Electraptor and 33 more. Both directions are mapped on the interactive tree above.

The RX-78-2 Gundam has appeared in 112 Gundam releases across 1979–2026, debuting in Mobile Suit Gundam (1979). Later appearances include Mobile Suit Gundam novelization, Mobile Suit Gundam I, Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow and Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space and 107 more.

It was fielded by 13th Autonomous Corps, Earth Federation Forces, Eisengrad Army and Time Sphere Liberation Army and piloted by Amuro Ray, Aiko Anna Pruna, Hal Vizardt, Hiroto Kuga and Mercury Promenade and 6 more.

95 Gunpla model kits have been catalogued for the RX-78-2 Gundam, alongside 7 figures and other collectibles.

Specifications

Model number
RX-78-2
Classification
Prototype Close Quarters Combat Mobile Suit
Production type
Prototype
Weapon class
Gundam
Manufacturer
Earth Federation Project V
Canon status
canon
Weight
43.40 t
Power source
Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor
Power output
1380 kW 1,850.61 hp
Armor
Luna Titanium
First deployment
Gundam Rising
First seen
September 18, 0079 U.C.
Last seen
December 31, 0079 U.C.

Special Equipment & Features

  • Core Block System
  • Hardpoints
  • Learning Computer
  • Magnet Coating (field upgrade)
  • Heatproof Film/Heatproof Field
  • Autopilot

Production Timeline

The RX-78-2 Gundam has appeared in 74 releases from 1979 to 2026.

  1. 1979 — Mobile Suit Gundam — TV Anime · 43 episodes (debut)
  2. 1979 — Mobile Suit Gundam novelization — Novel
  3. 1981 — Mobile Suit Gundam I — TV Anime
  4. 1981 — Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow — TV Anime · 1 episodes
  5. 1982 — Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space — TV Anime
  6. 1984 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Record of MS Wars — TV Anime · 1 episodes
  7. 1987 — Side Story of Gundam Zeta — TV Anime
  8. 1988 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Outer Gundam — Other
  9. 1988 — Outer Gundam — TV Anime
  10. 1989 — All That Gundam — Other · 1 episodes
  11. 1992 — Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 — TV Anime
  12. 1993 — Gundam 0079 - Nightmare of Solomon — TV Anime
  13. 1994 — Mobile Fighter G Gundam — TV Anime · 49 episodes
  14. 1996 — Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny — Other · 2 episodes
  15. 2000 — Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu — TV Anime
  16. 2001 — Gundam Pilot Series of Biographies: The Brave Soldiers in the Sky — TV Anime
  17. 2001 — Mobile Suit Gundam-san (Manga) — Manga
  18. 2001 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Deleted Affair: Portrait Of Young Comet — TV Anime
  19. 2001 — Tony Takezaki presents GUNDAM manga — Manga
  20. 2002 — Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam: Skull Heart — TV Anime
  21. 2004 — Gundam Legacy — TV Anime · 1 episodes
  22. 2004 — Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War — OVA · 3 episodes
  23. 2004 — Mobile Suit: Gundam Pilot's Locus — Manga · 1 episodes
  24. 2005 — Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation II - Lovers — TV Anime
  25. 2005 — Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Day After Tomorrow - From Kai Shiden´s Report — Manga
  26. 2006 — Ganota no Onna — TV Anime
  27. 2006 — Gundam MS Graphica — Other
  28. 2006 — Mobile Suit Gundam Alive — TV Anime
  29. 2006 — Mobile Suit Gundam Climax U.C.: The Bonds of the Bloodline — TV Anime
  30. 2006 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire — Other · 1 episodes
  31. 2006 — Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam 1/2 UC 0087: Another Story — TV Anime
  32. 2007 — Gundam Crisis — TV Anime
  33. 2007 — Mobile Suit Gundam – U.C. War Chronicle Memories of Char Aznable — TV Anime
  34. 2008 — Mobile Suit Gundam Zero Old Zakus — TV Anime
  35. 2009 — 30th Gundam Perfect Mission — Other · 1 episodes
  36. 2009 — Mobile Suit Gundam Battlefield Record U.C. 0081 -The Wrath of Varuna- — TV Anime · 1 episodes
  37. 2009 — Mobile Suit Gundam Battlefield Record: Avant-Title — Other · 1 episodes
  38. 2009 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Battlefield Record U.C. 0081 — Other · 2 episodes
  39. 2009 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Day After Tomorrow - Kai Shiden´s Memory — TV Anime
  40. 2010 — Mobile Suit Gundam UC Testament — Manga
  41. 2010 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Principality of Zeon Military Preparatory School — TV Anime
  42. 2010 — Mobile Suit Gundam: The Light of A Baoa Qu — TV Anime
  43. 2010 — Model Suit Gunpla Builders A — TV Anime
  44. 2010 — Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G — OVA · 3 episodes
  45. 2011 — Mobile Suit Gundam The MSV: The Mobile Suit Variations — MS Variation
  46. 2011 — Mobile Suit Gundam U.C. Hardgraph: IRON MUSTANG — TV Anime · 2 episodes
  47. 2012 — Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R Legend of the Universal Century Heroes: The Fabulous Shin Matsunaga — MS Variation · 2 episodes
  48. 2012 — Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (Manga) — Manga
  49. 2012 — MSV-R: Legend of the Universal Century Heroes: Rainbow's Shin Matsunaga — MS Variation · 2 episodes
  50. 2013 — Gundam Build Fighters — TV Anime · 25 episodes
  51. 2013 — Gundam Build Fighters Amazing — TV Anime
  52. 2013 — Gundam Stand at Jaburo — TV Anime
  53. 2013 — Mobile Suit Gundam UC: The Man Who Could Not Ride the Rainbow — Manga
  54. 2014 — Gundam Build Fighters Try — TV Anime · 25 episodes
  55. 2014 — Mobile Suit Gundam Anaheim Record — Manga
  56. 2014 — Mobile Suit Gundam Side Stories — Other
  57. 2014 — Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link — Other · 1 episodes
  58. 2014 — Mobile Suit Gundam UC: Neo Zeong Strikes Odaiba! — TV Anime
  59. 2015 — Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny (2015 Manga) — Manga
  60. 2016 — Gundam Behind the Front — TV Anime
  61. 2016 — Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 — TV Anime · 22 episodes
  62. 2017 — Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight Axis (Manga) — Manga
  63. 2017 — Mobile Suit Moon Gundam — TV Anime
  64. 2018 — Gundam Build Divers — TV Anime · 26 episodes
  65. 2019 — Making Gundam: The Inside Story — Other
  66. 2020 — Grand Generation Char and Amuro — TV Anime
  67. 2020 — Gundam: Beyond — TV Anime
  68. 2021 — Mobile Suit Gundam Pulitzer -Amuro Ray Beyond the Aurora- — Manga
  69. 2022 — Mobile Suit Gundam N-Extreme — TV Anime
  70. 2022 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Rust Horizon — TV Anime · 3 episodes
  71. 2023 — Mobile Suit Gundam Wearwolf — TV Anime
  72. 2023 — Mobile Suit Gundam: The battle tales of Flanagan Boone — TV Anime
  73. 2024 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom — TV Anime
  74. 2026 — A boy with Gundam — Other

Games featuring the RX-78-2 Gundam

The RX-78-2 Gundam is playable in 38 Gundam games.

  1. 1995 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Cross Dimension 0079
  2. 1996 — Gundam 0079: The War for Earth
  3. 1998 — Gundam: The Battle Master 2
  4. 2000 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo
  5. 2001 — Gundam Battle Assault
  6. 2001 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon
  7. 2001 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front
  8. 2002 — Gundam Battle Assault 2
  9. 2002 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles
  10. 2003 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
  11. 2004 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam
  12. 2005 — MS Saga: A New Dawn
  13. 2006 — Gundam Battle Royale
  14. 2006 — Mobile Suit Gundam Climax U.C.
  15. 2006 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield
  16. 2007 — Dynasty Warriors Gundam
  17. 2007 — SD Gundam G Generation Spirits
  18. 2008 — Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2
  19. 2008 — Mobile Ops: The One Year War
  20. 2009 — Gundam Battle Universe
  21. 2009 — Mobile Suit Gundam Vs. Gundam Next
  22. 2009 — SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online
  23. 2010 — Dynasty Warriors Gundam 3
  24. 2010 — Gundam Assault Survive
  25. 2010 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.
  26. 2012 — Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (Game)
  27. 2012 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation
  28. 2012 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Full Boost
  29. 2013 — Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn
  30. 2014 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost
  31. 2016 — Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON
  32. 2017 — Gundam Versus
  33. 2018 — Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. 2
  34. 2018 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2
  35. 2021 — Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. 2 XBoost
  36. 2021 — Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield II
  37. 2022 — Gundam Evolution
  38. 2022 — SD Gundam Battle Alliance

Development Lineage

Developed from

Develops into & variants

Related mobile suits

Other machines catalogued alongside the RX-78-2 Gundam — same series where one exists, otherwise the same timeline. Each links to its own development tree.

Pilots: Amuro Ray, Aiko Anna Pruna, Hal Vizardt, Hiroto Kuga, Mercury Promenade, Ryu Jose, Sayla Mass, Shiro Kyoda, Takeshi Iori, Tokio Kurono, Tristan

Operators: 13th Autonomous Corps, Earth Federation Forces, Eisengrad Army, Time Sphere Liberation Army

RX-78-2 Gundam Model Kits

95 catalogued model kits for the RX-78-2 Gundam (plus 7 figures and other collectibles), including these 8:

See all RX-78-2 Gundam kits, prices and community builds

Frequently asked questions about the RX-78-2 Gundam

What is the RX-78-2 Gundam?
The RX-78-2 Gundam is a prototype close quarters combat mobile suit from the Universal Century timeline of the Gundam franchise. It was manufactured by Earth Federation Project V. It is considered canon within the franchise. The RX-78-2 was the second of three Gundam prototype units constructed on Side 7 in U.C. 0079, as part of the Earth Federation's V Project.
What was the RX-78-2 Gundam developed from?
The RX-78-2 Gundam was developed from RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam. Its full development lineage is mapped on the RX-78-2 Gundam evolution tree.
What mobile suits were developed from the RX-78-2 Gundam?
39 units were developed from or built as variants of the RX-78-2 Gundam: Amakusa, CAPG-78 Captain Gundam, Dino Gundam, FA-78-1 Full Armor Gundam, G-Armor, G-Electraptor, GPB-X78H-S1 Avalanche Gundam and Gundam Hang-On (plus 31 more).
Who piloted the RX-78-2 Gundam?
The RX-78-2 Gundam was piloted by Amuro Ray, Aiko Anna Pruna, Hal Vizardt, Hiroto Kuga, Mercury Promenade, Ryu Jose, Sayla Mass, Shiro Kyoda, Takeshi Iori and Tokio Kurono (plus 1 more).
Which factions operated the RX-78-2 Gundam?
The RX-78-2 Gundam was operated by 13th Autonomous Corps, Earth Federation Forces, Eisengrad Army and Time Sphere Liberation Army.
How big is the RX-78-2 Gundam?
The RX-78-2 Gundam weighs 43.40 t, produces 1380 kW 1,850.61 hp, is armoured in Luna Titanium.
Which Gundam series does the RX-78-2 Gundam appear in?
The RX-78-2 Gundam appears in 74 Gundam releases, debuting in Mobile Suit Gundam (1979): Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam novelization, Mobile Suit Gundam I, Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow, Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space and Mobile Suit Gundam: Record of MS Wars (plus 68 more).
Which Gundam games is the RX-78-2 Gundam in?
The RX-78-2 Gundam is playable in 38 Gundam games: Mobile Suit Gundam: Cross Dimension 0079, Gundam 0079: The War for Earth, Gundam: The Battle Master 2, Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo, Gundam Battle Assault, Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon, Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front and Gundam Battle Assault 2 (plus 30 more). It originally appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam (1979), not in a game.
Are there Gunpla model kits of the RX-78-2 Gundam?
Yes — 95 model kits are catalogued for the RX-78-2 Gundam, alongside 7 figures and other collectibles, listed with grade, scale and release year on its Gunpla page.

Explore the full interactive development tree for the RX-78-2 Gundam above, or browse every Gundam mobile suit. Browse RX-78-2 Gundam Gunpla kits & merchandise (102). Reference: Gundam Wiki.