RGM-96X Jesta Cannon is the heavy-armed variant of the Jesta, a limited-production special-operations machine fielded by Londo Bell in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010, U.C. 0096). Anaheim Electronics built it, and the OVA gives the one confirmed example to Watts Stepney of the Tri-Stars Team aboard the Ra Cailum.
What it does in the story
Watts flies the Jesta Cannon when the Tri-Stars order the Garencieres to stop, moving in close to demand the Unicorn Gundam come out and firing on the ship after getting no answer. Later the Ra Cailum launches its teams at Cheyenne Base to stop the Gryps 2 colony laser, and Watts lands his machine on an MSZ-006A1 Zeta Plus A1 as the latter tries to lift off in waverider form, driving it back into the ground.
What makes it different
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The main gun draws straight from the generator.
A beam cannon sits on the backpack over the right shoulder, wired directly to the reactor so it can fire continuously at high output. It is meant for medium-range support and works together with a high-performance sensor unit in the head.
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The other shoulder carries a four-barrel launcher.
The quadruple multi-launcher sits over the left shoulder. It is not only a damaging weapon: it can be loaded with special rounds such as flares depending on what the situation needs.
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The extra armour is designed to come off.
Added body armour, including a shield fixed to the left arm, is kept to a minimum to protect weight balance, and the whole set can be purged instantly on explosive bolts when the pilot wants the agility back.
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It carries twelve hand grenades, launched from the racks.
Three grenades sit in each of four racks on the sides of the waist and legs, and they can be thrown directly from the rack as self-propelled projectiles. One waist rack can be swapped for an optional beam saber rack, which is where the saber moves once the shield takes the left arm.
How big is it?
- Head height: 19.3 m, per the machine's official spec listing, at 39.7 t dry and 75.5 t gross
- 1/144: roughly 13.4 cm
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Frequently asked questions
1. What does the Cannon add over a standard Jesta?
A backpack beam cannon, a quadruple multi-launcher, twelve hand grenades instead of the standard load, added body armour and an expanded beam rifle. The rifle keeps the Jesta's basic weapon but gains an aiming device on the barrel and a grenade launcher underneath, plus a rapid-fire mode.
2. Can the Jesta Cannon still fight in the front line?
Yes. Machines with Cannon in the name are usually mid-range fire support, but the Jesta Cannon's fire control was upgraded to handle the extra weapons, and it is described as able to operate at the front without trouble.
3. How many Jesta Cannons were there?
It is a limited-production variant. One confirmed machine served in the Ra Cailum's mobile suit teams with the Tri-Stars, and the ship also carried the parts needed to convert four more Jestas into the same configuration.
4. Can it mount the standard Jesta's movable shield?
It can, but not while the extra kit is fitted. Fitting the backpack-mounted movable shield, with its two twin-tube missile launchers, means removing the beam cannon and the multi-launcher mount.
Background sources: RGM-96X Jesta Cannon — Gundam Wiki · ジェスタ — 日本語版 Wikipedia
