The GM Cannon (Thunderbolt Ver.) is one of the mid-range support mobile suits deployed by the Earth Federation Forces. It shares about 60% of its parts with the RGM-79 GM (Thunderbolt Ver.) and uses the same handheld armament. While the GM Cannon (Thunderbolt Ver.) appears to be a cannon-type configuration of the GM (Thunderbolt Ver.), it is actually classified as simplified mass production version of the RX-77 Guncannon (Thunderbolt Ver.) in terms of mobile suit development genealogy. It was developed as a low-cost support unit in the Earth Federation Forces' quest to mass produce the Guncannon (Thunderbolt Ver.).
Like the GM (Thunderbolt Ver.), the GM Cannon (Thunderbolt Ver.) has added sensors on its head for better search capabilities in the debris-filled area and its joints are covered in special seals to protect them from the debris. The GM Cannon (Thunderbolt Ver.) has a large backpack with a rocket cannon mounted on the right and a sub arm on the left. This large backpack is a modified version of the one used by GM (Thunderbolt Ver.) and can be purged when needed. The mobile suit also added thrusters on its calves, which are utilized to counteract the recoil of the rocket cannon, and added targeting sensor on the right shoulder, above the chest.