MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2]
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- "They were outfitted with Mjolnir GEN2 armor, the next evolution of the armor Halsey had fashioned decades earlier."
- — Curator on GEN2 MJOLNIR[1]
| MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor | |
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| Production overview | |
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Type: |
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Role(s): |
General combat |
| Technical specifications | |
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Feature(s): |
Scanner Tool, Energy Shield |
The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2] is the second system-wide generation of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. GEN2 introduces many improvements to the suit's core architecture, specifically tailored for use by the Spartan-IV supersoldiers.[2][3][4]
The production of second generation Mjolnir armor uses a spiral-development model, allowing the United Nations Space Command and its various contracted, corporate partners to create and design armor systems much faster and more efficiently than before.[5] While MJOLNIR GEN2 would largely be replaced by MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN3) by late 2559,[6] GEN2 would see continued use for years.[7]
History[edit]
Early history and development[edit]
- "Spartan Thomas, you will get your armor when you show me you deserve to wear it."
- — Commander Musa-096, to Spartan Joel Thomas and several other Spartan-IV trainees[8]
The GEN2 Mjolnir armor was initially developed and created by the Office of Naval Intelligence's Materials Group as a response to the emerging SPARTAN-IV program, initiated on January 7, 2553.[9] Several early models of the GEN2 Mjolnir armor were field tested by Spartan Tedra Grant.[10] Some of the first contemporary models of the GEN2 Mjolnir armor were first tested in combat in 2553 when New Colonial Alliance forces launched a raid on the UNSC Infinity and the five Spartan-IVs in-training aboard the warship were forced to don the armor to help combat the insurgents.[8]
As of 2558, GEN2 armor is standard-issue for nearly all active Spartans, having replaced the Semi-Powered Infiltration armor of the Spartan-IIIs.[11] The remaining active Spartan-IIs, such as those on Blue Team, have since donned GEN2 armor.[12] Initially, Spartan-II Naomi-010 used MJOLNIR Mark VII Powered Assault Armor, the last iteration of the first generation of Mjolnir armor.[13] However, the Mark VII never saw full implementation with the rest of the Spartan-IIs due to its complexity and expense. Eventually, the UNSC determined that continuing to fund the first generation of Mjolnir armor that was only focused on the Spartan-IIs was not worth the costs, particularly given the escalating costs and capabilities of the newer Spartan-IIIs and Spartan-IVs in GEN2 armor.[5] As a result, the Mark VII has largely been phased out of production in favor of the GEN2 Mjolnir, though many technologies developed for the Mark VII have since been incorporated into the GEN2 armor.[14]
Although the GEN2 armor meant a radical simplification of the Mjolnir platform, to the point it could be mass-produced, by October 2558 some operatives in the Spartan Operations branch were dissatisfied with its minimal performance improvement over the old GEN1 systems. With that reason in mind, the UNSC decided to develop and manufacture GEN2's successor, the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN3].[15]
Expansion of contractors[edit]
While the previous iteration of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor was often—though, not always—created and manufactured by organizations, departments, and branches of the United Nations Space Command, the Unified Earth Government has contracted numerous corporations to design GEN2 armor variants. For example, RKD Group was responsible for designing the MIRMILLION-class armor variant, though the group contracted Korolev Heavy Industries to produce the armor and licensed the suit's BIOS from Applied Heuristics. Even major military-industrial concerns, such as Beweglichkeitsrüstungsysteme, no longer control all aspects of their armors' tactical packages and software,[16] both within the military and among private contractors. Production of some GEN1 variants was shifted between corporate entities, while other contracts were transferred from the military to private industries. In addition to these larger corporations, a major policy shift within the UEG has led to smaller corporations and businesses being given the opportunity to compete in the paramilitary, military, and security markets.[17] Many smaller industrial design firms and military subcontractors have used the common GEN2 Mjolnir software and exoskeleton as a springboard for their own innovations.[16] Nonetheless, UNSC organizations, such as Materials Group and the Watershed Division, still continue to manufacture several variants of the GEN2 Mjolnir armor.[12]
In addition to human corporations, select other species have had a role in the development of some iterations of GEN2 Mjolnir armor and its components. Notably, the HELIOSKRILL-class Mjolnir was designed by a Sangheili artisan-armorer designer who had managed to reverse-engineer the Mjolnir armor in an effort to test her skills against humanity's best armor manufacturers. This Mjolnir variant is designed by Sanghelios' Kolaar Manufactorum and fielded among the Spartan-IVs.[18] Some VISR designs have been created using high-tier nanolaminates and scanning elements provided by the Sangheili,[19] while others are even compatible with the Sangheili combat harness.[20] As ties between the Swords of Sanghelios and UEG strengthen, many Sangheili artisans have gained interests in working with GEN2 armor.[16] The "King" VISR utilized by some Spartans was initially created by a bored Huragok and subsequent attempts to copy the design have been met with varying levels of failure.[21] Even Forerunner technology has been incorporated into the armor.[11] Additionally, VISR kits with an unknown manufacturer have been found by ONI operatives in the arms markets of the insurgent-controlled Venezia.[22]