RMS-099 (MSA-009) Rick Dias

Gundam > Universal Century > Zeta Gundam > AEUG mecha

The RMS-099 (MSA-009) Rick Dias was a mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for the AEUG.

The “RMS” in the model code indicated that it was a remake mobile suit. The AEUG designated the Rick Dias as MSA-009. The “MSA” in the model code stands for mobile suit of AEUG. The “009” in the model code indicates that it was the ninth mobile weapon designed for AEUG.

The name Rick was first used in the space-use MS-09R Rick Dom to distinguish it from its ground-use predecessor, the MS-09 Dom. The Rick Dias was named after Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who discovered the Cape of Good Hope.

Production overview

Model number: RMS-099 (MSA-009)

Code name: Rick Dias

Type: Mass production assault heavy mobile suit

Completed: 2 March UC 0087

First deployment: 2 March UC 0083

Manufacturer: Anaheim Electronics

Operator: Earth Federation Forces, AEUG

Developed from

Developed into

Variants

General characteristics

Crew: Pilot only

Cockpit: Standard cockpit in head

Head height: 18.0 m

Total height: 18.7 m

Empty weight: 32.2 t

Gross weight: 54.7 t

Armour: Gundarium γ alloy

Sensors: Standard

Sensor range: 11,500 m

Performance

Power plant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor

Power output: 1,833 kW

Propulsion:

Rocket thrusters: 2 x 37,000 kg
Vernier thrusters: 7

Max speed: Unknown

180° turn time: Unknown

Thrust-to-weight ratio: 1.43

Equipment

Fixed

2 x 2-barrel 55 mm vulcan guns
1 x beam sabre

Handheld

2 x beam pistol
1 x beam rifle
1 x 300 mm clay bazooka

History

As the Titans grew in power within the Earth Federation, the AEUG ramped up their armament process. It commissioned the Anaheim Electronics to develop a new mass production mobile suit. Many Zeon engineers joined Anaheim Electronics after the One Year War, bringing with them the information on the Gundarium γ (gamma) alloy developed by Axis Zeon. They were working on the prototype RX-098 Prototype Rick Dias based on the RMS-117 Galbaldy-β to test the alloy.

Under the pretext of reverse engineering the MS-09SS Dowas Custom created by Axis Zeon, Anaheim Electronics started working on the project RMS-099 to develop a mass production design based on the Dowas Custom using technology created and data collected from the Prototype Rick Dias. The Rick Dias was the first mass produced mobile suit to use the Gundarium γ armour. Under the AEUG, the Rick Dias used the designation MSA-009 instead.

The lighter armour gave the Rick Dias better power performance and manoeuvrability. Anaheim Electronics also designed a variety of weapons for it, making it a versatile mobile suit that the AEUG fielded in all kinds of missions during the Gryps Conflict.

Anaheim Electronics later developed a variant, the MSA-099 Rick Dias (Delphi Squad), for use by Delphi Squad. It also created the MSA-099 Rick Dias “Stutzer” that equipped various enhancement parts for AEUG pilot Gabriel Zola.

Although the Rick Dias gave the AEUG an advantage at the start of the conflict, newer models used by the AEUG and the Titans overtook it and only several operational units were left in service by the start of the First Neo Zeon War. The RGM-86R GM III succeeded it as the mainstay for the AEUG and Karaba.

The Rick Dias design was the basis for several mobile suits. Anaheim Electronics developed the RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias, an improved version of the Rick Dias that specialised in hit and run missions. It supplied the Schuzrum Dias to Neo Zeon during the First Neo Zeon War. Anaheim Electronics also created the RMS-099NT Röten Dias using the design and data from the Rick Dias. It had a Psycommu system that could be used by Newtypes and non-Newtypes alike. Anaheim Electronics mass produced a heavy assault version of the Rick Dias, the RMS-099S Rick Dias S, for the AEUG.

Karaba developed the MSK-008 Dijeh from the Rick Dias left behind by the AEUG after the assault on Jaburo. Anaheim Electronics later developed the MSA-099-2 Rick Dias II for the AEUG as the successor to the Rick Dias. However, the Rick Dias II only progressed to the prototype phase before it was abandoned due to unrealistic cost of production.

Design

After the One Year War, engeineers from the Principality of Zeon joined Anaheim Electronics, bringing with them data on the Gundarim γ alloy developed by Axis Zeon. Anaheim Electronics started working on the RX-098 Prototype Rick Dias to test the Gundarim γ armour. Since many Zeon engineers worked on the prototype and based it on the RMS-117 Galbaldy-β design, it had a more Zeonic design style that was passed on to the RMS-099 (MSA-009) Rick Dias.

Anaheim Electronics developed the Rick Dias as a mass production mobile suit for the AEUG. The Prototype Rick Dias proved to be a success and it was modified for mass production as the Rick Dias.

The Rick Dias used a high output-generator without compromising its overall weight. Compared to the Galbaldy-β, the Rick Dias had a more powerful ultracompact fusion reactor that generated 1,833 kW to provide greater propulsion.

The Rick Dias became the first mass produced mobile suit to use the Gundarium γ armour. Gundarium γ alloy was lighter but more durable than the standard titanium ceramic composite or Gundarium used in mobile suit armour. This allowed the Rick Dias to have binder external propellant tanks on its backpack to enhance its propulsion. Even with the tanks, the Rick Dias was still lighter than the Galbaldy-β.

There were a pair of ejectable Random Binders mounted on its backpack. These were a combination of vernier thrusters with propellant tanks and are capable of Active Mass Balance Auto-Control (AMBAC), providing the Rick Dias with additional mobility control. The two rocket thrusters with a combined output of 74,800 kg provided main propulsion for the Rick Dias. Its main set of two thrusters had an output of 37,400 kg each, more than double the output of the Galbaldy-β’s.

Rick Dias panoramic cockpit with linear seat

The Rick Dias was one of the first mobile suits to use the new 360-degree panoramic cockpit with linear seat in its torso, and the first to use it among the AEUG mobile suits. Unlike most mobile suits, the Rick Dias cockpit was in its head instead of the torso.

It had a set of standard sensors with detection range up to 11,500m. The Rick Dias had sealant launchers in its fingers that spray sealant to mend breaches in warship hulls and signal flares for communication in the battle field.

Armaments

The Rick Dias has a variety of weapons designed for it. It’s standard weapons were a beam sabre for melee combat and an optional handheld weapon for ranged attack.

2-barrel 55 mm vulcan guns

A pair of fire-linked twin-barrel 55 mm Vulcan Phalanx guns were mounted on either sides of its head. They were covered by a hinged hood when not in use.

360-degree panoramic cockpit and Vulcan Phalanx in the head of the Rick Dias

Each vulcan gun was loaded with 600 rounds of ammunition and fired at a rate of 1,600 rounds per minute. It was used primarily against light-armoured support units. Sustained fire from the guns could damage mobile suits and were often used in close distance combat.

Beam sabre

The Rick Dias had a beam sabre for close combat. It had output rated at 0.4 megawatts.

The beam sabre used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. The beam sabre could cut through almost any material. Minovsky particles were channelled into the sabres through an energy capacitor (E-cap) attached to their hilts. The E-cap recharged with Minvosky particles from the mobile suit’s reactor when the sabre was stored in the recharge rack in the rear waist armour.

Beam pistols

The Rick Dias could equip a pair of BP-L-86 beam pistols. The beam pistol had a power output rating of 2.2 megawatts. The pistols were stored in the storage rack in the backpack when not in use. When stowed, they could still be fired, albeit with a limited firing arc.

BP-L-86 beam pistol

The beam pistol drew its rounds from energy capacitors (E-caps), clips of charged Minovsky particles. Minovksy particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam rifle bolts to penetrate even the thickest armour. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit.

Beam rifle rifle

The Rick Dias could carry a beam rifle for ranged attack. It was the same as the one the Galbaldy-β used.

Beam rifle

The beam rifle drew its rounds from energy capacitors (E-caps), clips of charged Minovsky particles. Minovksy particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam rifle bolts to penetrate even the thickest armour. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit.

300 mm clay bazooka

The Rick Dias could optionally equip the AE/ZIM.C-BAZ-531 300 mm clay bazooka that was also used by the MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki and MSK-008 Dijeh. It carried one round in the chamber and seven rounds per clip.

AE/ZIM.C-BAZ-531 300 mm clay bazooka

The clay bazooka was originally designed to fire adhesive rounds to immobilise enemies instead of destroying them. It could also fire conventional explosive rounds or pellet shots.

It had a retractable hook to store it on the mobile suit’s backpack when not in use.

Known pilots

Variants

Behind the scenes

Mamoru Nagano was the original mechanical designer.

Gunpla

The original 1/144 RMS-099 Rick Dias gunpla was released in May 1985 as part of the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Model Series. The 1/144 RMS-099 Char’s Rick Dias launched in August 1985 and included a 1/48 scale figure of Quattro Bajeena. The 1/220 RMS-099 Rick Dias snap-fit kit was introduced in December 1985.

Original 1/144 RMS-099 Char's Rick Dias — Original 1/144 RMS-099 Char’s Rick Dias

Original 1/220 RMS-099 Rick Dias snap-fit kit

Bandai released the HGUC 1/144 versions of the RMS-099 Rick Dias in June 2000 and the RMS-099 Rick Dias Quattro Bajeena custom in August 2002. The Premium Bandai (P-Bandai) exclusive editions, easily identifiable with their monochromatic box art, launched first with the RMS-099 Rick Dias Quattro Bajeena custom in 2020 followed by the RMS-099 Rick Dias in 2021.

Bandai launched the MG 1/100 versions of the RMS-099 Rick Dias in May 2004 and the RMS-099 Rick Dias Quattro Bajeena custom in December 2004.

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