Technology & Combat Characteristics
Despite the theft of the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam by ZAFT forces, the Earth Alliance still had plans to create a Striker Pack based upon the Buster's weaponry for use on its mass production GAT-01A1 Dagger. However as a result of seeking higher performance, the plan was changed and a simplified version of the Buster is built using the Dagger as a base, resulting in the GAT/A-01E2 Buster Dagger. Thus, it shares many parts with the Dagger, resulting in ease of production.
The Buster Dagger features identical weaponry as the Buster Gundam, including the 350mm gun launcher and the 94mm high-energy rifle. The shoulder-mounted missile pods are retained, but scaled down to three missiles each in comparison to the original's six. It can also optionally mount a pair of beam sabers on its forearms, granting it close combat capability, which the Buster Gundam lacks. Like the Dagger, the Buster Dagger is equipped with laminated armor, granting it superior resistance against beam weaponry.
History
An unknown amount of Buster Daggers were built and rolled out late in the First Alliance-PLANT War. One unit was notably piloted by ace pilot, Rena Imelia, who used it in Operation 8.8, a large scale attack by the Earth Alliance on ZAFT's Carpentaria Base. Rena's unit, with a few others, eventually took part in the Second Battle of Jachin Due, in which she fought against Shiho Hahnenfuss in her YFX-200 CGUE DEEP Arms. Her unit was later disabled in combat against Kira Yamato's ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam.