RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam – MechaBay | Char's Counterattack Beltorchika's Children

The RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam was a prototype Newtype use ultrahigh efficiency mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for Londo Bell during the Second Neo Zeon War.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “X” indicated that it was an experimental mobile suit. The “93” in the model code denoted it was developed in UC 0093. The “ν2” indicated it was the second variant of the ν Gundam.

The RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam was an improved version of the RX-93 ν Gundam used by Londo Bell ace pilot Amuro Ray during the Second Neo Zeon War in UC 0093. The original ν Gundam was manufactured by Anaheim Electronics, which continued development after delivery of the mobile suit to Londo Bell.

Development

Originally developed in the Anaheim Electronics facility near Von Braun, the RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam’s basic design was an update of past Gundam Type mobile suits, returning to the basics of Federation-made mobile suits and going against the trend of larger and more complex mobile suit designs at the time.

As a “gift” to Bright Noa for his new role as the commander of Londo Bell, the Earth Federation Forces assigned a new mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics to his unit. This mobile suit was then installed with a Psycommu system designed by Amuro himself, becoming the Hi-ν Gundam.

Originally, the system only served as the control mechanism for the Fin Funnels. However, after Londo Bell captured a MSN-03-2 Psycho Doga used by Neo Zeon, the Psycho-Frame technology obtained from it was incorporated into the Hi-ν Gundam, improving its responsiveness via brainwave controls. Because of Amuro’s modifications, the suffix “-ν2” was added to its original model number of RX-93.

The Hi-ν Gundam was completed within three months, this was the result of the maturation of movable frame technology, the tireless effort of engineers, as well as Amuro’s own deep understanding of mobile suits.

Design

The upgraded Hi-ν Gundam featured improved avionics and armaments compared to the original version. Half of the remote-controlled fin funnels were moved to the other side of the backpack, which improved the suit’s balance and center of gravity. The Hi-ν Gundam could also mount two optional propellant units that could be ejected upon depletion.

Transplanted from a captured MSN-03-2 Psycho Doga, the Psycho-Frame was a material made of microscopic Psycommu chips forged into the mobile suit frame at the molecular level. It was installed around the Hi-ν Gundam’s cockpit, enabling sharper response for all-range weapons like Funnels. According to Amuro, it also has a tendency to push the pilot’s thoughts to be more aggressive.

The learning computer system allowed the Hi-ν Gundam to collect battle data and adapt to its pilot’s fighting style. This system proved particularly effective when paired with Amuro Ray’s Newtype abilities.

Armaments

The Hi-ν Gundam was equipped with a comprehensive array of weapons for both close and long-range combat, including advanced remote weapons controlled through its Psycommu system.

Vulcan guns

A pair of vulcan guns were mounted in the Hi-ν Gundam’s head. The vulcan guns were used primarily against light-armored support units and for missile defence. Sustained fire from the guns could damage mobile suits and were often used in close distance combat.

Machine gun

A machine gun was mounted on the right forearm, providing additional close-range firepower during combat situations.

Beam sabers

The Hi-ν Gundam carried three beam sabers for melee combat, stored in recharge racks on the left forearm and backpack fin funnel racks. The beam sabers used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade.

Beam rifle

The beam rifle was powered by rechargeable energy caps and served as the Hi-ν Gundam’s primary ranged weapon. The rifle provided firepower equivalent to battleship-class beam cannons whilst remaining portable for mobile suit use.

New hyper bazooka

The new hyper bazooka was clip-fed with 4 rounds per clip plus 1 round in the chamber, and could be stored on the backpack storage rack when not in use. This weapon delivered devastating damage against heavily armored targets.

Hyper mega bazooka launcher

The Hi-ν Gundam could also utilize the powerful hyper mega bazooka launcher in place of its standard beam rifle. This weapon provided exceptional firepower for engaging heavily fortified positions or multiple targets.

Shield

The shield mounted on the left forearm included a beam cannon and 4 small missiles, providing both defensive protection and additional offensive capabilities.

Fin funnels

Six fin funnels were stored on backpack storage racks and served as the Hi-ν Gundam’s primary all-range weapons. The fin funnels were also updated to have longer operational time before needing to recharge.

The fin funnels were remote-controlled weapons that could be deployed independently to attack targets from multiple angles. Each fin funnel was equipped with a beam weapon and could operate at considerable distances from the main mobile suit.

Service history

The Hi-ν Gundam was deployed during the final phase of the Second Neo Zeon War in UC 0093. Amuro Ray piloted the mobile suit in several key engagements against Char Aznable’s Neo Zeon forces.

During the conflict, Amuro utilised the Hi-ν Gundam’s enhanced Psycommu capabilities and improved fin funnel configuration to engage multiple enemy units simultaneously. The mobile suit’s advanced learning computer system proved particularly effective when combined with Amuro’s Newtype abilities.

The Hi-ν Gundam participated in the final battle to prevent the asteroid Axis from colliding with Earth. The mobile suit’s psychoframe technology played a crucial role in the events that ultimately saved the planet, though the exact outcome differed from the standard timeline due to the alternate circumstances depicted in Beltorchika’s Children.

Known pilots

Amuro Ray

Behind the scenes

Izubuchi Yutaka was the original mechanical designer of the Hi-ν Gundam. The mobile suit first appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack - Beltorchika’s Children, a 1988 novel written by Yoshiyuki Tomino.

The original storyline proposed by Tomino for the Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack movie was rejected and released instead as this novel. Hi-ν is merely called the ν Gundam in the Beltorchika’s Children novel; it was intended to be an alternate rendering of the ν Gundam as seen in Char’s Counterattack.

The Hi-ν Gundam has appeared in numerous video games and model kit lines, cementing its status as one of the most popular mobile suit designs despite never appearing in animated form.

Gunpla

Bandai has released multiple model kit versions of the Hi-ν Gundam across different scales and product lines. Notable releases include the Master Grade 1/100 scale kit in 2007, the Master Grade Ver.Ka version in 2014 supervised by Hajime Katoki, the High Grade Universal Century 1/144 scale kit in 2009, and the Real Grade 1/144 scale kit in 2021.

The Ver.Ka version features enhanced detail and proportion updates based on Katoki’s reinterpretation of the original design, whilst the Real Grade version incorporates advanced engineering techniques for maximum articulation and detail in the smaller scale.

External links

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