RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type) – MechaBay

The RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type) was a special operations mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for the Earth Federation’s ECOAS special forces unit.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “GM” indicated that it was a Gundam mass production mobile suit. The “89” in the model code denoted that it was developed from the RGM-89 Jegan, the “D” indicated it was based on the Type D variant, and the “e” suffix stood for ECOAS.

History

Anaheim Electronics developed the RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type) as a specialised version of the RGM-89D Jegan Type D for use by the Earth Federation’s special task group ECOAS. The ECOAS Type was designed for missions that were expected to involve direct combat with mobile suits, requiring enhanced survivability and combat capabilities.

The ECOAS Type was designed for missions involving mobile suit combat and featured enhanced sensors and additional armour to increase pilot survivability. First deployed in UC 0096, these units saw action during the Laplace Incident, where they served alongside regular Londo Bell forces in various operations against the Sleeves.

During the conflict, ECOAS Type Jegans participated in multiple engagements, including the defence of Federation assets and offensive operations against Neo Zeon remnant forces. A notable customised unit was used by ECOAS deputy commander Conroy Haagensen, featuring additional modifications to suit his combat style.

Design

The RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type) was a specialised version of the RGM-89D Jegan Type D designed specifically for the operational requirements of ECOAS. The most notable modifications included a special visor with additional sensors and extra chest armour to increase pilot survivability in high-intensity combat situations.

The ECOAS Type featured enhanced sensor capabilities with a detection range of 20,160 metres, significantly improved over the standard Type D’s 16,800-metre range. This enhancement was crucial for the reconnaissance and surveillance missions that ECOAS frequently undertook.

The mobile suit retained the same basic powerplant as the Type D, with an ultracompact Minovsky fusion reactor generating 1,870 kW of output. The propulsion system provided 62,000 kg of total thrust, maintaining the mobility expected of special forces equipment.

The most distinctive visual feature was the combat visor that could be deployed over the main camera, providing additional protection for the mobile suit’s primary sensor and giving the ECOAS Type its characteristic “four-eyed” appearance when activated.

Armaments

The ECOAS Type’s armaments were similar to the Type D’s, but it lacked the vulcan pod system and could also carry a bazooka for increased firepower.

Combat visor

The ECOAS Type featured a special visor with additional sensors that enhanced its reconnaissance capabilities. The visor could be deployed to protect the main camera during combat operations and provided improved target acquisition and battlefield awareness. When activated, the visor gave the mobile suit a distinctive four-eyed appearance.

Beam saber

Like the Jegan Type D, the ECOAS Type stored a beam saber in a rack on the right side of the waist, and its output could be adjusted as it had two beam emitters. Via selecting the output and emitter, this close combat weapon could emit a flat beam blade for slashing, or a slim beam blade with high penetration ability. The beam saber rack contained an accelerator equipped capacitor system for rapid recharge of the weapon.

The beam saber used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam saber to cut through almost any material.

Hand grenades

Three hand grenades were carried in the grenade rack mounted on the left side armour. They could be thrown and timed to explode after several seconds as set by the pilot, or set to detonate when its sensors detected the metallic signal of extremely nearby enemy machines.

Beam rifle

The standard ranged armament of many mobile suits was the beam rifle. The ECOAS Type used the same beam rifle as the Jegan Type D, powered by rechargeable energy caps. The rifle fired particle beams that could penetrate almost any armour that had not been treated with specific counter-measures.

Bazooka

The ECOAS Type could be equipped with a bazooka for missions requiring heavy firepower. This portable launcher provided effective anti-mobile suit capabilities and could be loaded with various warhead types depending on mission requirements.

Shield

The ECOAS Type used a shield that featured 2 x 2-tube missile launchers, providing additional firepower whilst maintaining defensive capabilities. The shield was used to protect against physical attacks and had anti-beam coating on its surface for defending against beam attacks.

Known pilots

ECOAS personnel
Conroy Haagensen (customised unit)

Variants

RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type/Conroy Use)

A heavily customised variant used by ECOAS deputy commander Conroy Haagensen. This unit featured additional sensor equipment on its visor, custom armaments including a handgun, dagger knife, box beam saber, and fire nut grenades, all tailored to Conroy’s fighting style.

Behind the scenes

Katoki Hajime was the original mechanical designer for the ECOAS Type Jegan, as part of his work on the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn series. The design emphasised the special forces nature of the unit through its distinctive visor and enhanced sensor capabilities.

The ECOAS Type represented the Earth Federation’s approach to creating specialised variants for specific military units rather than developing entirely new mobile suit designs, demonstrating cost-effective adaptation of existing technology.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

External links

RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type) on the Gundam Wiki
RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type) on MAHQ

Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩