MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant

The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant, colloquially known as Recon armor, is a stealth-oriented variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor that was commissioned and developed by the Office of Naval Intelligence. The helmet is also used with a specialized variant of the ODST armor.

GEN1
The Recon armor was developed parallel to the Scout armor in the Office of Naval Intelligence's Beta-5 Division Ordnance Testing Facility in Swanbourne, Perth, Western Australia. The armor was designed to provide the wearer with stealth capabilities and with little or no loss of endurance, specifically by reducing its infrared signature, reflective surfaces, and Cherenkov radiation emission. A similar helmet was also used in the Recon variant of the ODST armor.

GEN2
As a result of the Ordnance Commission, Imbrium Machine Complex took over production of the Recon variant after the Human-Covenant War. The GEN2 variant was tested at Ankara, Mare Imbrium, Luna. It offered improved movement stabilizers and adjustable shield distribution channels for versatility during deep-field reconnaissance.

Helmet
Unlock (Halo 3): After March 2012, unlocked for online profiles by default. Previously, it was unlocked by completing the Vidmaster Challenges and clicking "Unlock My Recon" in Bungie.net Service Record.

Unlock (Halo: Reach): The base helmet becomes visible in the Armory after attaining the rank of Commander, and it requires Colonel rank to purchase. It costs 100,000 cR.

The helmet has large, rounded features, with a rise along the top of the head with two black triangles pointing out the front of the head on each side of the rise. It has a thin visor and an area of black alloy beneath it that covers the nose, surrounded by armor. The helmet is largely angular with a pair of what look like breathers, on each side of the mouth and a small outdent on the forehead. Marathon symbols can be found on the sides of the helmet.

In Halo: Reach, two upgrades are available for the helmet, the first adds a Hardened Uplink Module on the right side (HUL), and costs 75,000 cR. The second adds an Up-Armor plate with a Hardened Uplink Module-3rd Generation on the right side (UA/HUL[3]). The UA/HUL[3] variant was an exclusive permutation in Halo: Reach to those who bought the game on the launch day at North American retail stores, or made a pre-order reservation at participating retailers such as GameStop for those outside of North America. It was also available in some post-launch copies.

Shoulder pauldron
Unlock (Halo 3): After March 2012, unlocked for online profiles by default. Previously, it was unlocked by completing the Vidmaster Challenges and clicking "Unlock My Recon" in Bungie.net Service Record.

Unlock (Halo: Reach): Available for purchase at the rank of Corporal, for 1,500 cR.

The shoulder pauldrons look like a more angular version of the EVA, with a box-like shoulder piece and a section jutting out and down the arm, at a 90-degree angle from the shoulder piece.

Chest
Unlock (Halo 3): After March 2012, unlocked for online profiles by default. Previously, it was unlocked by completing the Vidmaster Challenges and clicking "Unlock My Recon" in Bungie.net Service Record.

Unlock (Halo: Reach): Not available.

The chest piece is similar to the Mark VI but instead of being made up of smooth plates reflecting the human body, it is more angular and flat like the other parts of the armor and reflects it with a few small changes. This chest piece like all armor permutations, is an attachment on to the standard Mark VI armor.

Halo 4
Unlock: Available at Spartan Rank 26.

The Recon variant is available as a customization option for the MJOLNIR (GEN2) armor system. Recon's GEN2 class is not substantially different to that of GEN1.

Trivia

 * On 7/7/09, players that beat a team of Bungie employees in Matchmaking were awarded Recon Armor.
 * Unlocking the Vidmaster Endure Achievement will unlock Dare's Recon helmet as a wearable "hat" for the player's Xbox LIVE avatar.
 * On March 31, 2012 Bungie.net transferred all Halo 3 and Halo: Reach record-keeping to Halo Waypoint. As part of the transition Recon armor was unlocked by default for all online Halo 3 profiles.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo: Glasslands
 * Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo 4
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation