Editing MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:Halo3MC.png|200px|thumb|John-117 in his Mark VI Mjolnir armor]]
{{Quote|Project MJOLNIR will make the Spartans into something . . . new. Something I could never forge them into. I can’t fully explain — that damned ONI spook is still here listening — just trust [[Dr. Halsey]].|CPO [[Mendez]] to [[John-117]] about final phase of Spartan training}}
The '''MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor System'''{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/armor|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Armor|D=7|M=11|Y=2012}} (pronunciation:''ˈmjɔːlnɪər'', ''myol-neer'') is a technologically advanced [[Powered exoskeleton|combat exoskeleton system]] designed to vastly improve the strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and durability of a [[SPARTAN Program|Spartan]] supersoldier. Though the development program is rendered in all capital letters (''i.e.'' Project: MJOLNIR), the armor itself is called '''Mjolnir'''.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=229}} The suit is named after the [[Wikipedia:Mjölnir|hammer of Thor]] in Norse mythology.

==Overview==
[[File:Still 01.jpg|thumb|The Mark V MJOLNIR armor.]]
Created parallel to the [[SPARTAN-II program]] by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Materials Group]], the Mjolnir armor is the most advanced piece of tactical military hardware in human hands. Each suit alone costs as much as a small starship. The brainchild of [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], MJOLNIR is an attempt to create a powered exoskeleton capable of taking full advantage of the physical capabilities of a Spartan.{{Ref/Book|Id=sybex|Halo: Combat Evolved PC Strategy Guide|Page=page 5}} MJOLNIR is considered by the [[Librarian]] to be the fulfillment of a millennia-old [[geas]] she had implanted in humanity a hundred millenia earlier, intended to help them [[Reclaimer|reclaim]] the [[Mantle]].{{Ref/Level|H4|H4:Reclaimer|Reclaimer}}

Spanning over three decades of development, Project MJOLNIR encompassed more than just a suit of armor, but as a pioneering effort intended to shatter current technological barriers. In its final iteration, Mjolnir is a highly advanced suit capable of further enhancing the Spartans' physical performance while also doubling as a platform capable of handling an artificial intelligence network.{{Ref/Book|Id=ENCY|Enc09|Page 88}}

Unlike the powered exoskeletons that preceded it, the Mjolnir battlesuit was designed from the ground up as a suit of armor; its design philosophy would serve as a basis for all future powered and semi-powered armor system designs.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}} Each generation of the Mjolnir battlesuit is composed of major fundamental components; construction of the suit is done in overlapping layers and has been remarked of it being akin to a giant three-dimensional puzzle.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''' ''page 116'' (2001 edition), ''page 133'' (definitive edition) ''page 138'' (2010 edition)</ref> The armor's shell is composed of a multilayer alloy of remarkable strength and has been augmented with a refractive coating capable of dispersing a limited amount of Covenant [[Directed energy weapon|energy weapon]] strikes.<ref name="xbox">''Xbox.com'': The Master Chief's Armor: An Overview (defunct, [[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo/Armor|Archived]])</ref><ref name="FoR1">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 114-115'' (2001 edition) ''page 131'' (definitive edition) ''page 137'' (2010 edition)</ref> The suit contains a gel-filled layer underneath a thick black armored bodysuit. The gel layer regulates temperature and can reactively change its density. The inner skinsuit is made of a moisture-absorbing synthetic material linked to an environment control computer and the occupant's UNSC-issue [[neural interface]].{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}{{Ref/Reuse|FoR1}}

The battlesuit is a sealed system, capable of [[extra-vehicular activity]] for a limited amount of time or operations in toxic atmosphere.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} It is hardened against [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]] and [[radiation]], and has filters that are completely effective at removing toxins and bacteria from local atmosphere.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} Between the external armor and the internal padding is the most devastating weapon the suit carries: a layer of [[polymerized lithium niobocene]], a liquid metal crystal that deforms along a preferred axis when exposed to an electric charge.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}{{Ref/Book|Id=journalsep|Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Detail=September 1, 2525}} Woven by molecular tools into a capillary system, this layer is amorphous, yet amplifies force, doubling lifting capability and increasing reaction time by a factor of five. Because the Mjolnir system is so reactive, it can only be worn by a physically augmented human; ordinary people are unable to use the suit without injuring themselves.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}<ref name="FoR2">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 115'' (2001 edition) ''page 132'' (definitive edition) ''page 137'' (2010 edition)</ref>{{Ref/Book|Id=journal1|Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Detail=June 30, 2525}}

The Mjolnir battlesuit's greatest advantage, however, is a super-dense optical computer memory. This revolutionary solid-based crystalline layer forms a network within the suit's frame of proper size and capability of housing the types of artificial intelligence usually reserved for starships. Essentially a piggyback system, an AI can be delivered to the suit via a [[data crystal chip]] storage device no larger than a personal credit card. The AI's personality and processing matrices can be carried by the armor and in conjunction with the user, can neurally link with a being that has nearly unfettered control over mathematics, information and body control. Such technology did not exist when work began on the Mark I prototypes.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}{{Ref/Book|Id=ENCY2|Enc09|Page=89}}

The functionality of the Mjolnir system is unprecedented. Rather than being a traditional suit of body armor, the Mjolnir battlesuit works on a biomechanical level, allowing for direct user-controlled movement. Each human being has a molecular fiber network called the nervous system within their brain. Upon induction, all military personnel are issued a [[neural interface]], which is implanted at the base of the [[skull]] and cannot be removed.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 118'', (2001 edition) ''page 135'', (definitive edition) ''page 140'' (2010 edition)</ref> Spartan-IIs received a [[SPARTAN neural interface|modified]] version of the neural lace specifically for the Mjolnir armor.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} This neural lace, which consists of two core processor chips which is linked to receptors in the subject's brain, which is connected to an interface connection at the rear of the skull;{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}} reads the electrochemical signals sent from the brain and then translates these chemical signals into digital code.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} As the electrochemical impulse travels down the axon to the muscle, the digital code is routed through the interface connection, to the suit's on board sensors, the input from the sensors is then read by the onboard computer and then like the human body itself sends an electrical impulse through the suit, as the impulse from the motor neuron hits the muscle, the electrical impulse from the suit causes the polymerized lithium niobecene to deform along a preferred axis, overlapping each other more, so that the layer gets shorter and fatter.{{Ref/Reuse|journal1}}{{Ref/Book|Id=journaljul|Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Detail=July 30, 2511}} When the impulses from the suit stop, the polygonal pieces slide back to their original positions. At the same time, as the muscle fibers are responding to the impulses, signals are sent to the suit that this is occurring, as the muscle twitches the force being applied to the suit is accelerated through force-multiplying circuits, which amplify the force of the muscular twitch by a positive feedback loop in the armor. The end result is a fully neurally linked machine, the user's thoughts move the suit and in return the suit moves the user. The synthesis of machine and mind is so fast that it is almost impossible to chart reaction time.{{Ref/Reuse|FoR2}}{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY2}}

The suit also possesses other features that enhance its wearer's abilities. It has numerous clips, belts, and magnetic holsters for the attachment of additional weapons and ammunition; an advanced [[heads-up display]] (HUD), linked to sensors in the gloves which can detects the type of weapons and devices held, and to project shield strength, ammunition count, a [[Reticle|targeting reticle]], [[Navigation point|waypoints]], a [[COM|radio uplink]] for communication, health monitoring and restoration system, regenerative food materials and other helpful data.

In its final phase, the Mjolnir battlesuit weighs half a short ton, or 1,000 pounds,{{Ref/Novel|Id=TFoRP|TFoR|Chapter=Prologue}} and is a fully neural-linked system. With an on board AI using the human mind for parallel processing, the Spartan/Mjolnir combination is designed to be the most devastating intelligence tool ever created.{{Ref/Reuse|sybex}}{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}

==Armor generations==
Before Dr. Halsey initiated Project MJOLNIR, the [[UNSC Navy]] had developed various designs and prototypes for powered exoskeletons and armour systems, including the [[Mark I prototype exoskeleton|Mark I exoskeleton]],<ref name="FoR3">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 71'', (2001 edition) ''page 81'', (definitive edition) ''page 90'' (2010 edition)</ref> the [[Mark III exoskeleton]],{{Ref/Book|Id=EVGCyclops|EVG|Pg=44}} [[ORION armor]],{{Ref/Site|Id=CF|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/anniversary-armory|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Anniversary Armory|D=03|M=11|Y=2021}} and [[HRUNTING Mark I exoskeleton|HRUNTING Mark I]].{{Ref/Reuse|journal1}} In [[2510]], Halsey inspected much of this previous work while performing a program review of [[Project HRUNTING]] on behalf of ONI. She judged HRUNTING to be an "interesting failure" for its lack of innovation, and inability to exploit recent technological breakthroughs.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p77|Enc22|Page=77}} Later, during the early stages of planning for Project: MJOLNIR, Halsey would ultimately choose to start from scratch, due to both the limitations inherent in the previous antiquated designs,{{Ref/Reuse|journal1}}{{Ref/Reuse|FoR3}} and an unwillingless to shoulder the administrative burden of taking over and reforming an existing project such as HRUNTING. Instead, Halsey preferred to start fresh with an entirely new team, who were unbound by pre-existing dogma and assumptions about powered exoskeleton design.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}}

The initial genesis of what would become Project: MJOLNIR can be traced back to as early as [[2511]]. By that year, Halsey was in communication with [[UNSC rank structure|Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth|Hieronymus Stanforth]] regarding the production of an armour system to complement the SPARTAN-II program, and had begun to brainstorm names for the project. In July, she penned an entry in her [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|personal journal]] speculating that the [[Wikipedia:Piezoelectricity|reverse piezoelectric effect]] could be used to produce a bodysuit that enhanced the wearer's strength, by causing the suit to intelligently deform in response to the wearer's nerve impulses, adding extra force to their movements. This would become one of the defining features of MJOLNIR armour.{{Ref/Reuse|journal1}}

Work on Project: MJOLNIR would not begin in earnest for a further four years, however, with development beginning in [[2515]].{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}} In that year, the project opened with a experimental phase, with a development platform that would be retroactively termed "Mark I" being used as a testbed for numerous trials and experiments over the following years.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}} The armour underwent significant iteration in the decade following, with at two further distinct prototype platforms emerging and forty prototype suits being produced across these three platforms, before the first production model - what would come to be known as Mark IV - was finalised. Mark IV was put into production in mid-[[2525]] and issued to the surviving SPARTAN-II candidates in November of that year.{{Ref/Reuse|FoR2}}{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}

Initially, MJOLNIR was envisaged as an evolving platform, constantly and continuously updated with the latest technology as it became available. After a full decade, however, the Office of Naval Intelligence decided that it was no longer possible to facilitate this approach, much to Halsey's chagrin. In [[2535]], they mandated that MJOLNIR adopt a generational categorisation system, for the purposes of serialisation, prioritisation and progress-tracking, and as a means of fiscal oversight. Despite her reservations, Halsey agreed to the introduction of such a system, and produced a roadmap for future generations of the armour, in the hopes that it would "keep the accountants out of [her] hair and [her] work". The system devoted Marks I, II and III to prototype platforms produced between 2515 and 2525, while categorising all production models of MJOLNIR up until that point as Mark IV. Three further planned iterations, Marks V, VI and VII, were included in the roadmap, complete with rough technical specifications.{{Ref/Book|Id=journal2|Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Detail=January 7, 2535}} Nevertheless, Halsey rarely used the "Mark" verbiage to describe the suits, due to her objections with its imposition by ONI.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}}

After the end of the Human-Covenant War, the Materials Group developed the second system-wide generation of MJOLNIR, simply designated GEN2, as a response to the SPARTAN-IV project. GEN2 is lighter than the Marks IV through VI and is far more modular than previous systems. The previous iterations of MJOLNIR were retroactively designated GEN1 to distinguish them from the GEN2.<ref name="O+A">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/ordnance-armor/cbbca9b3-5108-41aa-aa21-9b523de68266 '''Halo 4''': ''ORDNANCE + ARMOR'']</ref><ref name="Gameplay">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!halo-evolved/gameplay/31afe32b-0e07-45c0-9424-3adc6e1eadca '''Halo 4 Official Site:''' ''GAMEPLAY'']</ref>

===Pre-production prototypes===
<!-- They should call this GEN0 in canon -->
Before any generation of MJOLNIR made it into formal production, a full decade was spent in the research and development phase of the program. Three major distinct development platforms emerged over this period, which would be retroactively designated Mark I, II and III, with each successively refining and building upon the last. Across these three platforms,{{Ref/Note|Id=EncFortySuits|The 2009 and 2011 editions of the ''Halo Encyclopedia'' claim that these manufactured suits were of the Mark I generation specifically, and that they were later "scrapped" - suggesting an intention to actually put them into service. However, the 2022 edition of the Encyclopedia revises this claim, stating that the "at least forty" manufactured suits were of the Mark I, II and III platforms overall (not Mark I specifically), and establishes that they were only ever testbeds for experimentation, never production-ready suits of armour. Due to the recency of the 2022 edition, and the frequent inaccuracies in the 2009 and 2011 encyclopaediae, this article favours the 2022 edition.}} at least forty different physical suits were assembled, each to a varying stage of completeness with regards to systems integration and functionality. Suits from this prototypical generation of MJOLNIR were never intended to be put into service, instead serving merely as development platforms for Halsey and her team to iterate on.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}} Ultimately, the key failing of all three of these prototype platforms was the reliance on a local, external power source, requiring either a physical tether or for the user to remain within range of [[broadcast power]]. This made the designs impractical on the battlefield, as their range was severely limited by the lack of a mobile power source.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}

====Mark I====
First developed in [[2515]], the Mark I was a development platform which served as a testbed for Halsey and her team to experiment with during the early stages of MJOLNIR development. Though bulky, unwieldy and difficult to control, the Mark I nevetherless pioneered the artificial muscles, embedded computer systems and control software that would become core to the MJOLNIR armour in later generations.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}} The suit also contained a cutting-edge onboard computer that could assist the wearer by transmitting tactical and communications information to the standard neural implant issued to a soldier, though the suit did not possess the ability to carry an AI.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}} Despite these successes, the Mark I had one fatal flaw which would have to be overcome before MJOLNIR could ever be truly practical in the field: due to the tremendous amount of energy needed to power it, it had to remain physically tethered to a power source while in use.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}}{{Ref/Note|The 2009 and 2011 editions of the ''Halo Encyclopedia'' also claim that the Mark I allowed the user to lift up to two tons (4,000 pounds) and run at 32&nbsp;km/h (19.88&nbsp;mph) for extended periods of time. However, these statistics were ascribed to the unrelated [[Mark I prototype exoskeleton]] by ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', and misattributed to MJOLNIR Mark I by the ''Encyclopedia''. Thus, they are not listed on this article.}}

Research and development for the Mark I was carried out at Section Three's headquarters inside [[CASTLE Base]] on [[Reach]], though the final assembly of components occurred at the [[Damascus Materials Testing Facility]] on [[Chi Ceti IV]]. The Mark I remained in development for a considerable amount of time before being succeeded by Mark II and later generations.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}{{Ref/Note|The 2009 and 2011 editions of the ''Halo Encyclopedia'' state that it took a decade to develop the MJOLNIR Mark I. However, given that development of MJOLNIR only began in 2515, and that Mark IV was submitted to evaluation for mass production in February 2525, this would leave only 2 months for Mark II, III and IV to be produced. Given the implausibility of this, and the fact that the 2009 and 2011 ''Halo Encyclopediae'' are known to be frequently inaccurate, this article chooses to ignore this stated timeframe.}} Numerous Mark I suits were produced in various stages of completion, but as prototypes, they did not see use in battle.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}}{{Ref/NoteReuse|EncFortySuits}}

====Mark II====
A successor to Mark I, the Mark II platform was a refinement on the same basic system as the Mark I, which increased the suit's mobility and range.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}} This greatly improved mobility was enabled by the suit's slimmer profile. The Mark II also included a refractive coating to help disperse heat from explosions or directed energy weapons, and improved self-sealing systems in the event of damage while the unit was in a vacuum or an inhospitable atmosphere. However, the suit still needed to be physically tethered to a fusion generator, so despite being the most powerful piece of military hardware of its time, it was still impractical for battlefield deployment.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}

====Mark III====
Similar to the Mark II, the Mark III system was a further refinement on the same systems pioneered with the Mark I, and also featured increased mobility and range versus its predecessors.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p77}} Its major innovation, though, was that it was the first iteration to incorporate a wireless power receiver so that power could be transmitted directly to it, via [[broadcast power]]. This eliminated the need for a physical connection to the power source.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}

Though an improvement, this design was still quickly rejected, for two main reasons. First, the armor still had a limited operational range as it had to remain within range of a bulky, immobile [[generator]]. Second, if said generator was disabled or destroyed, the suit would become inoperable, leaving its user locked inside the now-inoperable shell, helpless against enemy attacks.{{Ref/Reuse|ENCY}}

===GEN1 - First generation===
[[File:MarkIV model.jpg|thumb|The first iteration of the Mark IV Mjolnir platform]]
After a decade of research and development, MJOLNIR would, in [[2525]], enter what retroactively became known as GEN1 - the first generation of MJOLNIR to be actively deployed in the field. This generation lasted throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]], and was described as "revolutionary, in both form and function". Over the course of the generation, the design would see significant iteration and refinement, with the addition of many notable upgrades, including personal [[energy shielding]] and the ability to host an on-board AI to assist the wearer.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p78|Enc22|Page=78-79}} Nevertheless, GEN1 was not without its drawbacks: it required extremely complex manufacturing methods to create, and each suit had to be custom-tailored for its Spartan wearer.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p80|Enc22|Page=80}}

====Mark IV====
{{Main|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV}}
Despite the failure of the three earlier iterations of MJOLNIR, the MJOLNIR Mark IV armour would become the first MJOLNIR suit to see mass production and deployment onto the battlefield. Spearheaded by Dr. Catherine Halsey, the Mark IV was a radical redesign of the previous iterations. Most notably, it used an embedded miniature fusion reactor within the armour itself to power the suit, eliminating the cumbersome external generators that had plagued previous iterations. The MJOLNIR Mark IV armor was first fielded in November 27, 2525 and remained in service until November 24, 2551,<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_012910 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 01.29.10'']</ref> though it received innumerable iterative upgrades in the interim.

====Mark V====
{{Main|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V}}
The Mjolnir Mark V is the first major upgrade of the system and introduced two revolutionary technologies for battlefield purposes: energy shielding reverse-engineered from Covenant technology, providing the user added protection against plasma weapons, and the ability to link a soldier and an [[artificial intelligence]] together to provide the soldier instant intel in the field, along with other functions. In addition to major changes from the Mark IV, hundreds of other technical improvements are incorporated into the Mark V: for example, the fusion packs used to power the suits are half the size of their predecessors. The Mark V was fielded from [[2551|November 24, 2551]] to [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]].

====Black====
{{Main|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Black}}
Created by a top-secret parallel development lab in [[Seongnam]], [[Korea]], MJOLNIR: Black was a standalone "skunkworks" prototype of the Mark VI issued exclusively for [[Team Black]]. It features a number of advances over contemporary Mjolnir exoskeletons. It was used on [[Raid on Verge|Verge]] during the Covenant invasion of the [[Epsilon Eridani system]] and during [[Operation: BLOWBACK]] some time after.

====Mark VI====
{{Main|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI}}
The Mjolnir Mark VI is the third primary version of the system. It introduces several technical improvements while refining advanced technologies introduced in the previous system. The first improvement made to the system is a faster recharge time on the suits' energy shield system so that the Spartan-II super soldier does not have to remain in cover for an extended period of time. The second is improved synchronization between the suit and user, this allows the Spartan to jump higher, run faster, and hit harder than a Spartan could previously.

====Mark VII====
{{Main|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VII}}
The Mark VII is the fourth major iteration of the Mjolnir armor introduced in [[2553|January 2553]]. It is lighter than the previous first-generation suits,{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Chapter=12}} with new features including limited energy shield shaping and a nanotechnology repair suite. Ultimately, the Mark VII was never widely issued as it was deemed too complex and expensive for mass-production, particularly in light of the development of the more versatile GEN2 platform which enabled more economical optimization for the different Spartan generations in service, while the first generation was mainly optimized for the Spartan-IIs.{{Ref/Site|Id=wp mjolnir|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/mjolnir|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=MJOLNIR|D=27|M=11|Y=2015}}

===GEN2 - Second generation===
[[File:H4-MJOLNIR-GEN2.png|thumb|[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Warrior|Warrior]], the mainline set of the GEN2 MJOLNIR armor]]
{{Main|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)}}
Generation 2 Mjolnir [GEN2] is a program-wide overhaul of the system primarily developed for the Spartan-IVs.{{Ref/Reuse|wp mjolnir}} Its most notable feature is the radical streamlining of the exoskeleton architecture, with the number of complex components reduced by an order of magnitude in comparison to GEN1 suits.{{Ref/Book|Id=HOSFM|OSFM|Page=178-179}} The GEN2's design philosophy is geared toward integrating the vast majority of the armor's vital hardware into the bodysuit, known as a techsuit, enabling more streamlined production and easier implementation of specialized components.{{Ref/Reuse|wp mjolnir}} Howev