Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Red Gundam is the RX-78-02 White Gundam that was modified by the Principality of Zeon after it was captured by Char Aznable and customized to suit Char's specifications. It is identical to the White Gundam, except that it was repainted in Char's colors and equipped with the Alpha-type Psycommu system to interface with six wireless Psycommu-control remote weapons called Bits.
History
Originally created in UC 0079 by the Earth Federation Forces as the RX-78-02 Gundam, it was captured during the One Year War by the Principality of Zeon's ace mobile suit pilot, Char Aznable. It was repurposed to Char's specifications with the addition of the new Alpha-type Psycommu system and related weapon Bits onto the mobile suit, and is then assigned to the Zeon assault ship , with the mobile suit becoming Char's personal machine.
The Red Gundam was first deployed near the end of the One Year War to harass the Federation fleet docked at Solomon using its remote-controlled Bits. Later, the Red Gundam would be deployed to recapture Solomon, which had been set on course by the Federation to crash into Granada. Due to extensive combat, four of the Red Gundam's bits would run dangerously low on fuel, leading Char to to kamikaze the Bits onto nearby Federation ships. Inside Solomon, Char would use the Red Gundam to disable the MS-06 Zaku's repurposed as bombs to divert Solomon's course, as he was intent on sabotaging Zeon's plans to save Granada. Along the way the Red Gundam is engaged in single combat by a tri-colored RGM-79 Light-Type Guncannon, but before Char lands the killing blow his Newtype senses alert him to the Light Cannon's pilot being his sister Artesia, causing him to hesitate. This allows the Light Cannon to shoot the cavern they're in, causing a cave-in that buries the Red Gundam and allowing the Light Cannon to escape.
After the Red Gundam frees itself from its burial, an inexplicable Newtype reaction causes the Alpha Psycommu to act erratically, causing a massive explosion that knocks Solomon off course and saves Granada. The phenomena, now known as Zeknova, results in both the Red Gundam and Char disappearing into parts unknown.
In UC 0085, the Red Gundam is discovered to be active at the Izuma colony at Side 6 by the , which had been hunting down reports of Red Gundam sightings. The gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX is sortied from the Sodon to make contact with the Red Gundam, but the Red Gundam attacks, leading to a confrontation that sees both Gundams crashing inside the colony, and in the subsequent fight the Red Gundam loses both its Bits. After the colony's military police forces arrive the Red Gundam uses the ensuing confusion to escape into the colony's interior maintenance tunnels.
The Red Gundam would later resurface when Shuji Itō, who turns out to be the Red Gundam's new pilot, is invited by Amate "Machu" Yuzuriha to participate in a Clan Battle against the Four Snake Eyes. Shuji would pilot the Red Gundam to fight alongside the GQuuuuuuX now piloted by Machu, with their teamwork allowing the pair to win against their more experienced opponents.
The Red Gundam, continued to achieve victories for the Pomeranians in Clan Battles alongside the GQuuuuuuX. Shuji expresses his desire traveling to Earth with the Red Gundam (To go looking for a particular “rose”), hoping to fund this journey through his earnings from Clan Battles. Amate shares this aspiration. Illegal courier, Nyaan, is informed by her handler about a bounty placed on the Red Gundam. Shuji and Amate participate in a battle between them and the CRS clan, against Shiiko Sugai, the CRS's fighter and a former Earth Federation super ace, who is obsessed with taking vengeance on the Red Gundam. Shuji activates a Newtype Flash, bringing Shiiko and Amate into the moment. During this encounter, Shiiko discloses that somebody is communicating to Shuji through the Red Gundam. However, the revelation is short-lived, as Shuji ultimately kills her by destroying her cockpit.
Challia Bull meets with Pomeranians leader Annqi and cuts a deal with her to turn over both the Red Gundam and Shūji to Zeon in exchange for a large bounty. Amate later overhears Annqi discussing with Nabu that they have tracked the location of the Red Gundam and Shūji by placing a tracker on Amate. Amate, realizing that Shūji and the Red Gundam are in danger, reluctantly works with Nyaan to devise a plan for their escape.
As Shūji Itō and Nyaan were hiding from the Side 6 Military Police while they were escaping. Shūji said the Red Gundam told him that the "Rose" was awakening. The Red Gundam suddenly triggers another Zeknova and vanishes, taking Shuji along with it.
Later, after Amate was held in custody by Challia, the Yomagn'tho nears completion, Zeon is focused on final preparations for the grand opening. Challia directs Amate to activate the Rose of Sharon, the main power source for the Yomagn'tho. Amate and Nyaan stumbled upon a tense standoff with Kycilia and Char. In the midst of the confrontation, Char made a swift escape with Amate, leading them into a shaft where they spotted the Red Gundam at the depths of the chamber. Char tells Amate that he first met Shuji when he was known as Shirouzu. He entrusted the Red Gundam to Shūji Itō, seeing him as a powerful Newtype, and hoped he would support his mission. Char boards the Red Gundam to return the Rose of Sharon to its original universe, aiming to stabilize reality. He secretly designed the Yomagn'tho for this purpose. Amate attempts to intervene in the GQuuuuuuX, but just then, Shūji emerges from the other side in a white mobile suit.
In the Kira-Kira, Amate questions Shuji about his intentions, but their conversation is cut short by Char's arrival. Just as they begin to engage, an attack from Kycilia interrupts the moment. Challia fires from the MAN-03 Kikeroga at Kycilia's warship, forcing it to dodge. Kycilia is stunned to see Char in the Red Gundam, armed with a beam bazooka from a downed Police Zaku. Char then bids her farewell and fires the bazooka at the ship's bridge, killing her. Amate makes amends with Nyaan, and together they join forces to confront Shuji.
After confirming Kycilia's death, Challia turns against Char, seeing him as a threat to Zeon's stability and humanity's future. Char thrusts the beam saber of the Red Gundam upward, striking down Challia's Kikeroga before both mobile suits finally succumb to their damage. Char quickly ejects from his Core Fighter, abandoning both Zeon and the Red Gundam. Xavier urges Challia to take steps to reshape Zeon to better support Newtypes.