RGM-96X Jesta Cannon

The RGM-96X Jesta Cannon is a heavily armed mobile suit developed as a variant of the RGM-96X Jesta, tailored specifically for fire support and heavy assault roles within the Earth Federation’s Londo Bell task force. While the base Jesta was engineered to escort and support the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam with speed and precision, the Jesta Cannon sacrifices some mobility in exchange for overwhelming firepower and battlefield endurance. Standing over nineteen meters tall, the unit is equipped with reinforced armor and an upgraded fire-control system designed to manage its complex array of weapons. Its most recognizable loadout includes a large beam cannon on its right shoulder, capable of delivering sustained high-output blasts, and a four-barrel multi-launcher on its left shoulder, which can fire a wide variety of ordnance ranging from flares to anti-mobile suit rounds. These heavy weapons are supported by a customized beam rifle with an under-slung grenade launcher, additional magazines mounted on its forearm, and multiple racks storing up to a dozen hand grenades for close combat or area denial.

For added flexibility, the Jesta Cannon also carries a shield with anti-beam coating that can be fitted with missile pods, as well as traditional melee armament in the form of a beam saber. Its head-mounted vulcan system provides rapid-response fire against incoming missiles or light targets. Despite its extra bulk, the design incorporates explosive bolt systems that allow the operator to jettison the additional armor and heavy weapons in emergencies, instantly restoring some of the mobility of a standard Jesta. This adaptability makes the unit equally capable of laying down suppressive fire from the rear lines or stepping forward into frontline combat when required.

In practice, the Jesta Cannon was deployed aboard the Ra Cailum as part of Londo Bell’s anti-Newtype task force, with Watts Stepney of the Tri-Stars team piloting a unit during the events of UC 0096. It played an active role in several engagements, including battles against Zeon remnants and the Garencieres team, where it proved itself as a reliable and resilient machine. The combination of superior firepower, defensive strength, and tactical flexibility allowed the Jesta Cannon to stand out as one of the most formidable Federation mobile suits of its time, complementing the high-speed assault capabilities of its Jesta counterparts while reinforcing the Federation’s reliance on adaptable, multipurpose combat units.