The XM-X1 Crossbone Gundam X-1, a prototype mobile suit, emerges from the developmental efforts of the Earth Federation's Strategic Naval Research Institute (SNRI), as featured in the Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam manga series. This distinctive unit, designated F97, is purposefully engineered by the SNRI for operations near Jupiter, where the intense gravitational field poses significant propulsion challenges.

Conventional mobile suits operating on Earth and in Earth's orbit utilize distributed thrusters for high mobility. However, Jupiter's gravitational influence necessitates larger thrusters to maintain mobility, leading to an increase in size and mass. This presents a cascading challenge, as larger thrusters demand more powerful reactors, further contributing to mass concerns.

To overcome this dilemma, the F97 is innovatively equipped with a set of four movable thrusters arranged in an X-shaped array. These thrusters, in conjunction with the unit's AMBAC (Active Mass Balance AutoControl) system, facilitate exceptional mobility around Jupiter's orbit without the need for enlarging the mobile suit's size and mass. When consolidated into a single colossal thruster column, they have the capability to significantly boost the unit's top speed. However, this specialization comes with tradeoffs, as a unit designed for these unique conditions, like the F97, becomes challenging to control on or near Earth due to its distinctive thruster configuration. The Crossbone Gundam X-1, with its cutting-edge design tailored for specific environmental challenges, represents a testament to SNRI's ingenuity in mobile suit development.