With the outbreak of war, the Earth Alliance’s Atlantic Federation begins a secret project to develop mobile suits to counter ZAFT’s mass-produced ZGMF-1017 GINN as well as operate free of interference from the N-Jammers. The GAT-X103 Buster Gundam is one of five initial prototype mobile suits that the Alliance develops secretly with the Orb Union. As an artillery mobile suit, the Buster Gundam’s main armament consists of a 350mm gun launcher and a 94mm high-energy rifle. These two weapons can be used independently or both interchangeably combined to form two powerful long-range weapons. The Buster Gundam is also equipped with two 6-barrel missile pod launchers on its shoulders. Like the other prototype Gundams, the Buster Gundam is equipped with the new Phase Shift (PS) armor technology. When in Phase Shift mode, the Buster Gundam is nearly impervious to attacks from shell-firing artillery or melee weapons. However, use of Phase Shift for extended periods of time is a massive drain on the energy battery. Later on, the Alliance introduces the GAT/A-01E2 Buster Dagger, a simplified mass production version of the Buster Gundam. On January 25, C.E. 71, the Buster Gundam is stolen by ZAFT pilot Dearka Elsman during ZAFT’s assault on the neutral colony Heliopolis. Following the escape of the Earth Alliance battleship Archangel, Dearka and his Buster Gundam continue to harass the Archangel’s crew during the later period of the war. In one battle near the Orb Union, the Buster Gundam is seriously damaged, forcing Dearka to surrender. He is captured by the Archangel and is held captive until the Archangel defects from the Earth Alliance to the Orb forces. When the Earth Alliance attacks Orb, Dearka reclaims the Buster Gundam and fights alongside the Archangel to defend Miriallia Haw. In the last battle of the war on September 26, C.E. 71, the Buster Gundam is heavily damaged while fighting Rau Le Creuset’s ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam. Later, a second unit piloted by Shams Couza is upgraded to the GAT-X103AP Verde Buster.
