Given the Federation's penchant for finding unusual weapons platforms, it wasn't long before they took the humble worker pod up for a design of their own. The RB-79 "Ball" as it is affectionately called is exactly that: an armed ball. The two manipulator arms were kept from the original construction pod design. A thin armor plating has been added across the hull, designed to give the Ball at least some rudimentary protection from enemy fire.

As a primary weapon, the Ball is equipped with a single 180mm recoiless cannon on a rotating base. Its rate of fire and accuracy leave something to be desired, but it is at least powerful enough to inflict significant damage against Zeon mobile suits.

Though originally intended to be their own attack units, the Ball's terrible speed and maneuverability had them quickly pulled back to act as point-defense units for Federation warships, freeing up otherwise engaged Saberfish fighters or GM mobile suits to fight the enemy.