RMS-099 Rick Dias

The RMS-099 Rick Dias was a mass production heavy assault mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG).

The AEUG designated the Rick Dias as RMS-099, while the Anaheim used MSA-009

The “R” in the type code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “MS” meant it was a mobile suit. The “09” in the code number denoted its development at Gryps while the “9” indicated it was the ninth design created there.

For Anaheim’s own model code system, “MS” stood for mobile suit and “A” meant it was an Anaheim design. The “009” code number meant it was the ninth design.

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. “Dias” was named after Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who discovered the Cape of Good Hope.

History

As the Titans grew in power within the Earth Federation, the AEUG accelerated their armament process. They commissioned Anaheim Electronics to develop a new mass production mobile suit. Many former Principality of Zeon engineers who joined Anaheim Electronics brought with them information on the Gundarium γ 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 Project RMS-099 to develop a mass production design using technology and data from the Prototype Rick Dias. The Rick Dias became the first mass-produced mobile suit to use Gundarium γ armor.

The Rick Dias saw its first major deployment during the AEUG’s mission to infiltrate Gryps and steal the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II. Three units participated in the infiltration, led by Quattro Bajeena in his custom red Rick Dias. The successful mission proved the Rick Dias’s effectiveness.

For subsequent missions, Rick Dias units were assigned to AEUG’s top pilots who did not have custom units like the Gundam Mk-II or MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki. The standard color scheme was initially black and dark gray, but was later changed to match Quattro’s red unit.

Although technologically advanced at the start of the Gryps Conflict, the Rick Dias was gradually overshadowed by newer designs from both the AEUG and Titans. By the First Neo Zeon War, only a few operational units remained. The RGM-86R GM III succeeded it as the mainstay mobile suit for the AEUG and Karaba.

Design

Anaheim Electronics developed the Rick Dias from the RX-098 Prototype Rick Dias. Due to the involvement of former Zeon engineers, it featured many Zeonic design elements, including a mono-eye sensor system.

The Rick Dias was originally designated as γ Gundam due to its use of Gundarium γ alloy armor. This new material offered strength comparable to standard Gundarium while being lighter, allowing for increased fuel capacity.

One notable design feature was its head-mounted cockpit, unlike the standard torso placement in most mobile suits. The Rick Dias was among the first mobile suits to use a 360-degree panoramic cockpit with linear seat, and was the first AEUG design to incorporate this technology.

The mobile suit featured specialized launchers built into its hands that could deploy fire-suppressing gas or binding adhesive. Its standard sensors provided detection up to 11,500 metres.

A pair of ejectable Random Binders mounted on the backpack combined vernier thrusters with propellant tanks. These were capable of Active Mass Balance Auto-Control (AMBAC), enhancing the suit’s mobility. The main propulsion came from two rocket thrusters generating 37,400 kg of thrust each.

Armaments

The Rick Dias’s standard weapons were twin 55 mm vulcan phalanx guns for close defense, beam sabers for melee combat, and various optional ranged weapons.

55 mm vulcan phalanx

A pair of fire-linked twin-barrel 55 mm vulcan phalanx guns were mounted in the Rick Dias’s head, covered by hinged hoods when not in use. Each vulcan gun carried 600 rounds of ammunition and fired at a rate of 1,600 rounds per minute.

The vulcan guns were primarily used against light-armored targets and for missile defense. Sustained fire could damage mobile suits at very close range.

Beam saber

The Rick Dias carried a single beam saber with a power rating of 0.4 MW, stored in a recharge rack under the backpack. The beam saber used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within a blade shape that could cut through almost any material not treated with anti-beam coating.

BP-L-86 beam pistol

The Rick Dias typically carried two BP-L-86 beam pistols specifically designed for it. Despite their compact size, each pistol generated 2.2 MW output—enough power to destroy an enemy mobile suit with one shot. The pistols were stored on the backpack-mounted rack and could fire while stowed, albeit with limited arc.

Beam rifle

The Rick Dias could equip the same beam rifle used by the RMS-117 Galbaldy β. The rifle drew power from rechargeable energy capacitors (E-caps).

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

An innovative weapon designed to fire adhesive rounds that immobilized rather than destroyed enemy units. The clay bazooka could also fire conventional explosive or pellet shot rounds. It carried one round in the chamber and seven in a reloadable magazine.

The bazooka featured a retractable hook for mounting on the Rick Dias’s backpack when not in use.

Known pilots

• Quattro Bajeena
• Apolly Bay
• Roberto
• Emma Sheen
• Amuro Ray
• Kamille Bidan
• Franklin Bidan
• Asuna Elmarit
• Jack Bayard
• Botty
• Batch
• Tripper
• Hodge
• Souichi Obino

Variants

• MSA-099 Rick Dias (Delphi Squad) — A variant developed for Delphi Squad
• MSA-099 Rick Dias Stutzer — Enhanced variant created for Gabriel Zola
• RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias — Improved version specialising in hit-and-run missions, supplied to Neo Zeon
• RMS-099NT Röten Dias — Variant equipped with Psycommu system
• RMS-099S Rick Dias S — Heavy assault variant mass-produced for the AEUG

Behind the scenes

Nagano Mamoru was the original mechanical designer.

Gunpla

Bandai released various Rick Dias model kits in different scales:

• Original 1/144 RMS-099 Rick Dias (May 1985)
• Original 1/144 RMS-099 Char’s Rick Dias (August 1985) — included a 1/48 scale Quattro Bajeena figure
• Original 1/220 RMS-099 Rick Dias snap-fit kit (December 1985)
• HGUC 1/144 RMS-099 Rick Dias (June 2000)
• HGUC 1/144 RMS-099 Rick Dias Quattro Bajeena custom (August 2002)
• MG 1/100 RMS-099 Rick Dias (May 2004)
• MG 1/100 RMS-099 Rick Dias Quattro Bajeena custom (December 2004)

Premium Bandai (P-Bandai) released exclusive editions with monochromatic box art:

• HGUC 1/144 RMS-099 Rick Dias Quattro Bajeena custom (2020)
• HGUC 1/144 RMS-099 Rick Dias (2021)

Appearances

Anime

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

Manga

• Mobile Suit Gundam Ecole du Ciel
• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ Side Story: Mirage of Zeon
• Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny
• Char’s Deleted Affair: Portrait of a Young Comet
• Gundam Legacy

Novel

• Char’s Return

Games

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: AEUG vs Titans
• Gundam Evolve
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs Gundam
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs Gundam Next
• Dynasty Warriors Gundam
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme vs
• Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme vs Full Boost
• Gundam Versus

External links

• RMS-099 Rick Dias on the Gundam Wiki
• RMS-099 Rick Dias on MAHQ

Footnotes

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