Technology & Combat Characteristics
An experimental Mobile Suit (MS) developed by Strategic Naval Research Institute for their "Formula Project", a project that focused of producing a high performance miniaturized MS. Due to SNRI lack of expertise in MS manufacturing, the F89 was made as technological verification unit to test state of the art technology to a 18-meter type mobile suit. its frame was newly designed but had the compatibility to use parts made by Anaheim Electronics. Since it was made to test all kind of technology, it disregarded the production cost, but it was worth the effort as the F89 surpassed the performance of a fifth-generation MS, even though it was classified as an older 18-meter type second generation MS. The operational data of the F89 was implemented to make a miniaturized version of it which resulted the F90 Gundam F90. SNRI made two units in total, the first unit painted tri-color scheme and features a curved v-fin, while the second unit painted in red and white color with a straight v-fin.
Since the F89 was made as the prototype for the F90, it also featured an early version of the hardpoint system for the F90 mission packs. The "Beam Cannon Type" is a pair of long beam cannons attached to the backpack unit, which was specialized for long range combat, but it was a flawed design that can only fire three shots before it became unusable. Despite its failure the data gathered from "Beam Cannon Type" pack would be SNRI's future VSBR based unit.
History
In U.C. 0112, the F89 piloted by Gideon Brondan was deployed in a mock battle to test its performance against the F90F Gundam F90 F-Type piloted by Patsy Angelika, at a secret SNRI facility. During the battle, the F90 F-Type struggles a lot due to Gideon's piloting skill, but Patsy was able to use the sub-arms to disable one of the F89's hands and defeat it. Sometime later it was deployed by the Earth Federation Forces' F90 Team B, and assigned as "Aggresor unit" alongside several FD-03 Gustav Karls on a mock battle against the F90K Gundam F90 Keep Type. During the battle it was ambushed by several RGM-86R GM III (GBG Specifications) but managed to fend them off. Shortly after it engages with a RGM-86R-FA Full Armor GM III while trying to rescue the F90 N-Type, but forced to retreat after the F90 N-Type was destroyed by its own hilt funnels.
Later in U.C. 0115, the F89 was assigned to Space Ark class ship the Fairlady. This unit piloted by Gideon Brondan served as the commander unit of the Fastest Formula (FF) Corps. During the FF Corps siege of Zeon Remnants' "Insel" asteroid base, the F89 was escorted by the F90 NG-Type and 70 Cannon Gundam. While the F90 NG-Type engages several AMX-107 Bawoos, It and the F70 would find the other Zeon Remnants MS, and manage to destroy them with ease thanks to his superior piloting skills and state of the art technology.
In U.C. 0116, the unit was converted into the F89 (Commander Specifications) and was deployed in a mock battle between FF Corps against Luna II 4th Aggressor unit that used ten RGM-111Y Proto Hardygun units, During the battle it was ambushed by a Proto Hardygun Commander Type, piloted by Karl Schwitz, he managed to evade the attack and perform on par with it. Shortly after the Battle, the F89 was equipped with a Chaser equipment and served as the escort unit for the F90 Gundam F90 (Prototype Minovsky Drive Test Configuration). During the test it managed to catch up with the F90 after its Minovsky drive unit entered high speed runaway mode, but was heavily damaged after the Minovsky drive unit exploded.
Sometime after, the F89 was deployed to quell a terrorist attack by AEUG Remnants on Side 1 Colony 107 Bharat, and manage to secure both the the Colony's city hall and its council members while recovering intel regarding on Zeon Remnants large scale attack to Trimurti Satellite Cannon. During the siege of Trimurti by Zeon Remnant "Legacy Fleet", the F89 was converted into the F89 (Final Equipment Type) alongside the FF Corps to engage with Legacy forces. During the battle it engages with a MSA-120 Draig, piloted by Cypher and manage to perform on equal terms, but was heavily damaged after it was shot by the Draig's funnel missiles. Later it was seen aiding the F90 Gundam F90 FF Type against the Draig, and managed to deal some damage to the unit before being stabbed by hijacked hilt funnels. Unfortunately the damage it sustained caused lethal injuries to Gideon, which he then passed away moments later, forcing the F90 FF Type to abandon it alongside Gideon's body on a wrecked Clop-class ship. Jean's unit is equipped with the High-Mobility Type pack and has been given a large physical shield. Following this refurbishment, all remaining spare parts for the F89 were used up, so it is considered its final configuration.
