MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV
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| MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV | |
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  Mark IV on the GEN1 (left) and GEN2 (right) platforms.
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- "You're the only ones who can use them, Petty Officer. Who else could we give them to?"
- — Doctor Catherine Halsey to John-117.[1]
Despite its name, MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor Mark IV was the first production model of MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. The suit was issued to Spartan-II commandos on November 27, 2525,[2] and was in service until it was replaced by the Mark V on November 24, 2551.[3][Note 1] A hybrid variant could still be requisitioned by Spartan personnel as late as October 2558, albeit upgraded to function with the MJOLNIR [GEN2] suite; such suits are notably still used by select Spartan-IIs.[4] With the advent of the MJOLNIR [GEN3] in 2559, the Mark IV was upgraded to be fully compatible with the new platform, and it can be requisitioned by Spartan personnel as late as 2560.[5][6]
Introduction[edit]
Developed parallel to the SPARTAN-II program[7] by the Office of Naval Intelligence's Materials Group, the MJOLNIR powered assault armor was a radical redesign from previous large, bulky exoskeletons, streamlining their design into a compact suit of armor practical for use in the field. The brainchild of Dr. Catherine Halsey, the MJOLNIR armor represented her vision of creating a slim powered exoskeleton capable of taking full advantage of the physical capabilities of a SPARTAN-II.[7] Planning and research for the revised MJOLNIR battlesuit began in 2511[8] alongside the SPARTAN-II project; over the course of 14 years, its development gave birth to many new technologies that would later see major adoption throughout the military.
MJOLNIR is a sealed system capable of extra-vehicular activity or operations in toxic atmosphere and vacuum. It is hardened against electromagnetic pulse and radiation, and has filters that are completely effective at removing toxins and bacteria from local atmosphere.[9][10]
The armor's outer shell is composed of a multilayer alloy of remarkable strength which has been augmented with a refractive coating capable of dispersing a limited amount of Covenant energy weapon impact.[9][11] Underneath the alloy shell is a thick black armored titanium nanocomposite bodysuit. Underneath that layer is a gel-filled layer. The gel layer regulates temperature and can reactively change its density in a few seconds.[9][11] The inner skinsuit is made of a moisture-absorbing synthetic material linked to an environmental control computer and the occupant's special-issue neural interface.[9][11] This network translates electrochemical signals to digital code and routes them through an interface connection at the rear of the skull.[9] Through this interface the user's thoughts commands the armor's movement and weapons and input from the on-board sensors comes directly to the user's mind.[9] The synthesis of machine and mind is so fast that it is almost impossible to chart the reaction time. Unfortunately, the system is so reactive that normal human beings cannot use the suit without injuring or even killing themselves. Only humans who have undergone the skeletal, neural and muscular augmentation shared by the Spartans are able to safely operate the suit.[1]
Sandwiched between the external armor and the internal padding is the most devastating weapon the suit carries: a layer of polymerized lithium niobocene, a form of reactive metal liquid crystal.[9] Woven by molecular tools into a super-dense layer, this layer is amorphous, yet it amplifies force, doubling lifting capability and decreases reaction time by a factor of five.[7] Such technology did not exist when work began on the Mark I prototypes.[7][12]
Because of these advancements, the design is more akin to a conventional suit of armor as opposed to a powered exoskeleton; the user moves the suit and in return the suit moves the user. This allows for a highly compact design when compared to other combat systems. The armor contains numerous features including an integrated computer system which continuously monitors weapons and biological functions, as well as a limited function motion sensor system. The suit also contains a built-in rebreather system that can provide air for up to 90 minutes.[10] The suit's helmet also features imaging and video recording, and thermal sensors among other features.
In its final phase, a Spartan 2 wearing the armor weighs half a short ton (453.6 kilograms).[13] At the time of its creation, it was the most advanced piece of tactical mil