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Project HAYABUSA

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Hayabusa
GEN3
HINF - Helmet icon - Hayabusa.png
GEN1 Mark VI
HTMCC H3 Hayabusa Crop.png
In the Halo 3 multiplayer map Guardians, a Spartan-II, clad in the Project HAYABUSA Mjolnir variant, is wielding a M7 SMG. Screenshot from Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Production overview

Manufacturer(s):

RKD Group[1]

Type:

Role(s):

Heavy lifting and extra-vehicular activity

 

Project HAYABUSA is a UNSC powered armor program developed independently from, and as a rival to Project MJOLNIR. The program later produced a MJOLNIR variant for the Mark VI platform[2] alongside MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN3).[3]

GEN1 overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The Hayabusa armor's advanced materials decreased its weight by nearly one-third,[1] and was aesthetically designed after ancient Japanese samurai armor. It includes spiked shoulder pauldrons similar to traditional Japanese sode designs.

The Hayabusa armor's helmet was designed with a defensive and ultraviolet-protective visor. Like all UNSC helmets, the visor is the weakest part. Thus, a small visor was designed to be more difficult to accurately penetrate. As such, the small visor provides for better protection of the wearer as well as better camouflage. The Hayabusa was designed with greater emphasis on heavy lifting and extra-vehicular activity than the MJOLNIR. It is slightly slower and less dexterous than its MJOLNIR counterpart, though it is nonetheless highly effective and possesses most of the design features of the MJOLNIR Mark VI.[4]

Development history[edit]

The Hayabusa is a powered battle armor system, similar to the MJOLNIR armor, except stemming from Project HAYABUSA as opposed to Project MJOLNIR. It was developed by the RKD Group, an Earth-based think tank, in the year 2536, fifteen years before the MJOLNIR Mark V entered production. It was presented to the UNSC Ordnance Committee as an answer to the self-contained powered armor problem.[1]

Originally, RKD developed Project HAYABUSA without knowledge of the classified Project MJOLNIR. After contacts were made between RKD and the Office of Naval Intelligence's Materials Group, the two pooled their research resources, resulting in the creation of a MJOLNIR-compatible HAYABUSA variant. Featuring a number of stylistic and functional improvements, it became a crucial piece of hardware in the later years of the Human-Covenant War.[2]

GEN3 overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

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In-game information[edit]

Halo 3[edit]

The Hayabusa armor permutation is a special unlock in Halo 3, and can be fully obtained by finding every skull hidden within the game's campaign. Halo: The Master Chief Collection would have the Hayabusa armor, along with every other base set in Halo 3 unlocked by default.

Helmet Description Unlock requirements (Halo 3) Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
HTMCC H3 Hayabusa Menu Render.png
Hayabusa 		Helmet description (H3): The critical innovation brought about by RKD's involvement in the development of power armor is in the use of advanced materials-reducing the weight of current generation armor by nearly a third. Obtain all thirteen skulls. Unlocked by default.
Shoulder description (H3): Although the two projects were developed wholly independent of one another, projects HAYABUSA and MJOLNIR mirrored each other in many ways. Obtain nine skulls
Chest description (H3): In late 2536, RKD -an Earth-based think tank- presented the UNSC Ordnance Committee with the answer to the self-contained powered armor problem: Project HAYABUSA. Obtain five skulls
Description (MCC): While wholly independent of one another, projects HAYABUSA and MJOLNIR mirrored each other in many ways. N/A

Halo Infinite[edit]

Hayabusa would finally return in Halo Infinite as part of the Legacy Operation. It can be acquired as part of the Hayabusa Zokuhen bundle in the Exchange between June 9 and July 8, 2025.[3] Unlike its Halo 3 or intended Halo 4 counterparts, the Hayabusa variant featured within Infinite is only a helmet, without any accompanying shoulder or chest armor.

Armor Manufacturer Lore Rarity Introduced In Unlock Requirements
HINF - Helmet icon - Hayabusa.png
Hayabusa 		RKD Group RKD continues to press forward with its "Yaiba" assault body suit initiative, with technological innovations adapted to sustaining its Project HAYABUSA in collaboration with Materials Group. Unlike traditional active jamming and Forerunner-derived stealth systems requiring significant power draw, HAYABUSA utilizes lightweight, AI-formulated metamaterial surface treatments and specialized geometry to naturally diffuse and distort electromagnetic signatures. These technologies, refined through years of covert weapons testing and battle analysis, have resulted in minimal sensor signature without compromising traditional defensive capabilities. Legendary Legacy Purchase "HAYABUSA ZOKUHEN" Bundle from The Exchange for Spartan Point 40,000
HINF - Helmet attachment icon - Sigma Dragon.png
Sigma Dragon 		Projects HAYABUSA and MJOLNIR were conceived wholly independently of each other to solve a common problem: the creation of self-contained powered armor suitable for use by augmented warfighters. However, the two projects mirror each other, with the UNSC Ordnance Committee eventually requiring many components be cross-compatible. The stealth and stylistic features of HAYABUSA remain a key technical and marketing differentiator, as demonstrated with the Sigma Dragon reconnaissance module, which provides a range of cutting-edge reconnaissance and surveillance functionality with minimal impact on the suit's emission profile.

Production notes[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

The Hayabusa armor bears a resemblance to the armor worn by feudal-era samurai. The armor is named after Ryu Hayabusa, the protagonist of the Ninja Gaiden series and a combatant in the Dead or Alive series. The helmet is almost an exact copy of the "ninja of the future" costume in Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox. Bungie likely created the Hayabusa armor as a tribute to Team Ninja for adding Nicole-458 into Dead or Alive 4. Team Ninja, the developers of the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series, are mentioned in the credits for Halo 3.

The Hayabusa armor was at some point intended for inclusion in Halo 4's multiplayer component. Concept art was created for a [GEN2] iteration of the armor by artist Gabo Garza.[5] A high-poly model of this armour was later created by 3D artist Ashish Parashar at Liquid Development, a studio which assisted in the creation of Halo 4's multiplayer armour sets. However, this version of Hayabusa has never been seen implemented within the game engine, and was not present in the final game.[6] The Shinobi armor developed for Halo 5: Guardians was designed as a spiritual successor to Hayabusa.[7]

Gallery[edit]

Halo 3[edit]

  • Close-up of the Hayabusa armor.

    Close-up of the Hayabusa armor.

  • Hayabusa with katana. Available upon unlocking 49 of 79 achievements.

    Hayabusa with katana. Available upon unlocking 49 of 79 achievements.

  • A flaming Hayabusa helmet, triggered by the Bungie employee-only chest plate.

    A flaming Hayabusa helmet, triggered by the Bungie employee-only chest plate.

  • A Spartan-II clad in full HAYABUSA armor.

    A Spartan-II clad in full HAYABUSA armor.

  • A view of the back of the HAYABUSA armor with the Katana.

    A view of the back of the HAYABUSA armor with the Katana.

Halo 4[edit]

  • Concept art for many Halo 4 armors, including Hayabusa (third row, third column).

    Concept art for many Halo 4 armors, including Hayabusa (third row, third column).

  • Front and back renders of the Hayabusa armor in Halo 4.

    Front and back renders of the Hayabusa armor in Halo 4.

  • Angled front and back renders.

    Angled front and back renders.

Halo Infinite[edit]

  • Two Spartans wearing the Hayabusa helmet, with one employing the Sigma Dragon attachment.

    Two Spartans wearing the Hayabusa helmet, with one employing the Sigma Dragon attachment.

  • Two Spartans wearing the Hayabusa helmet, with one employing the Sigma Dragon attachment.

    Two Spartans wearing the Hayabusa helmet, with one employing the Sigma Dragon attachment.

  • Front view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark VII armor core.

    Front view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark VII armor core.

  • Angled view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark VII armor core.

    Angled view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark VII armor core.

  • Closeup of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark VII armor core.

    Closeup of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark VII armor core.

  • Front view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark IV armor core.

    Front view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark IV armor core.

  • Angled view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark IV armor core.

    Angled view of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark IV armor core.

  • Closeup of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark IV armor core.

    Closeup of a Hayausa-clad Spartan on the Mark IV armor core.

  • Front view of the Hayabusa helmet.

    Front view of the Hayabusa helmet.

  • Angled view of the Hayabusa helmet.

    Angled view of the Hayabusa helmet.

  • Front view of the Hayabusa helmet with the Sigma Dragon attachment.

    Front view of the Hayabusa helmet with the Sigma Dragon attachment.

  • Angled view of the Hayabusa helmet with the Sigma Dragon attachment.

    Angled view of the Hayabusa helmet with the Sigma Dragon attachment.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo 3, Spartan Armor Customization: HAYABUSA Description
  2. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 96
  3. ^ a b X.com, Halo (@Halo): "The legendary Dragon Ninja returns 🐉Get ready to earn the Hayabusa helmet in the HAYABUSA ZOKUHEN bundle available in The Exchange starting tomorrow through July 8. #OperationLegacy arrives June 10!" (Retrieved on Jun 9, 2025) [archive]
  4. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 93
  5. ^ ArtStation, SPARTANS MP, Gabo Garza (Retrieved on Apr 27, 2021) [archive]
  6. ^ ArtStation, Hayabusa Halo 4: "Hayabusa Hires Model for Halo4 Game" (Retrieved on Mar 12, 2025) [archive]
  7. ^ Halo Waypoint, Community Update - Prepare for (Big Team) Battle (Retrieved on Oct 30, 2021) [archive]

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Powered exoskeletons of humanity
Project: HRUNTING
HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL
Armor Defense System (ADS) Mark I ADS • Mark II ADS • Mark IX Mantis ADS
Mark I ADS variants Mark I [J] "Green Machine"
Mark II ADS variants Mark II [D] Geyrion • Mark II [J] Colossus
Mark IX Mantis ADS variants Corp Mantis • Hannibal Mantis • ONI Mantis • Isabel's Mantis • Tundra Mantis • Urban Mantis • Woodland Mantis

Command Mantis: Theseus

MJOLNIR
Mainline armor developments Mark I • Mark II • Mark III • Mark IV • Mark V • Mark VI • Mark VII
Armor generations GEN2 • GEN3
Variants GEN1 variants • GEN2 variants • GEN3 variants • Miscellaneous variants
Offshoot projects Buccaneer • Project: HAYABUSA • Rakshasa • Shinobi
Other UNSC exoskeletons
Nightfall armor (ODST armor variants) • Mark I prototype (Unknown program) • Mark III ([A1]) (Unknown program) • Orion exoframe (MELAENO) • SPI armor • Skyfire Exosuit
Independent exoskeletons
Other human exoskeletons
To see the Silver Timeline version of this template, click here.

v • d • e
 
List of armor permutations by game title

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List of armor permutations in Halo 3
Bungie (Flaming Head) • CQB • EOD • EVA • HAYABUSA • Mark V • Mark VI • ODST • Recon • Rogue • Scout • Security • Katana
MCC-exclusive Spartan armor
Air Assault • Aviator • COS • Compass • Deadeye • Demo • Hammerhead • Hivemind • Infiltrator • Lancer • Mirage • Navigator • Nomdagro • ODST (COMM • DEMO • HVY • TAC) • Pioneer • Rhine • Soldier • Suture • Tanker • Warrior
MCC-exclusive Elite armor
Fractures Spartan armor
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List of armor permutations in Halo Infinite
Spartan armor
Mark VII Achilles • Agitator • Anubis • Armet • Argus • Aviator • Barrister • Brawler • Camazotz • Cavallino • Celox • Cestus • Champion • Cohort • Courier • Deadeye • Dokkaebi • Dominar • Eclipse • Emissary • Enigma • Firefall • Flanker • FOTUS • Hawker • Hayabusa • Helioskrill • Hermes • ISR • Kai-125 • Linebreaker • Magister • Mark V Zeta • Mark VI • Mark VI MOD • Mark VII • Menachite • Mercury • Prefect • Raider • Rampart • Renegade • Riz-028 • Rockeye • SECOPS • Security GEN1 • Security GEN3 • Soldier • Sovereign • Spartanstein • Stormfall • Talon • Thremaleon • Trailblazer • Trendlock • Trooper • Torchbearer • Tormenter • Vannak-134 • Venator • Vindicator • Volant • War Master • Warmonger • Wetwork • Winterknight • XM55 ACH • Zvezda
Mark V [B] Air Assault • Commando • CQB • CQC • EOD • EOD GEN1 • EVA • EVA GEN1 • Grenadier • GUNGNIR • HAZOP • JFO • Liberator • Mark V • Mark V [B] • Mark VI • Military Police • ODST • ODST Hardshell • Operator • Pilot • Recon • Rogue • Scout • Scout GEN1 • Security
Rakshasa AKIS II-GRD • Artaius • Assailer • Bunyip • Cambion • Conqueror • Cutthroat • Echo Nine • Lechuza • Locus • Morrigan • Negotiator • Rakshasa • Rasetsu • Scorn • Shikari • Stribog • Taskmaster • Ullr • Viper
Mirage IIC Athlon • Balor • Belus • Bruma • Erinyes • Extender • Hermes IIC • Inciter • Infractor • Mirage IIC • Neith • Nexus • Orion IIC • Responder • Savage • Skymarcher • Squire • Street Viper • Tyro • Veles
HAZMAT Ashmaw • Burrowlens • Farkas • Mark VI CBRN • Notus • Oberon • OSTEO • Ogun • Project CORSAC • Serket • Skarbnik • Steelheart • Temfor • Voidspear
Mark IV Ardent • Emil • Hellcat • Isidor • Mark IV • Orcus • Paladin • Theodor • Ulrich • Valiant • Wilhelm • Xantippe • Ypsilon • Zacharias • Ärger • Ökonom
Spartan armor accessories
AAP • FC • FCI • SAP • TAC (Assault) • UA (Collar • Type FJ) • UTIL (HP)
Other
Fractures Spartan armor
Yoroi Azechi • Chonmage • Hakushika • Hikeshi • Ikari • Jingasa • Kabuto • Kawari • Kendo • Otomosho • Yokai
Eaglestrike Boggart • Brodie • Eaglestrike • Kerberos • Lancejack • Leadbelcher • M199X • Sky Marshal
Chimera Abatur • Chimera • Deltajock • Flenser • Fomorian • Geist • Grendel • Grimghast • Merrow • Mimir • Peaceweaver • Strigoi • Sundered Star • Thresher • Wendigo
For a complete list, check out our armor category.

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List of armor permutations by generation

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MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor
Mainline armor generations
Mark I • Mark II • Mark III • GEN1 (Mark IV • Mark V • Black • Mark VI • Mark VII) • GEN2 • GEN3
Armor components
Competing and related projects
ARTAIUS • Buccaneer • COBALT • HAYABUSA • HRUNTING • MELAENO • Mirage • OSTEO • Rakshasa • Orcus • Shinobi • SPI • YGGDRASIL
Armor permutations (by generation)
Supplemental equipment
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GEN1
Marks
Variants
Air Assault • AKIS • Argus • B • Centurion • COBALT • Commando • CQB • CQC • Emil • EOD • EVA • Grenadier • GUNGNIR • HAYABUSA • HAZOP • Hoplite • Isidor • JFO • Mariner • Military Police • Mirage • MJOLNIR/Black • ODST • Operator • Orbital • Pilot • Raider • Ranger • Recon • Rogue • Scout • Security • Strider • Theodor • Tracker • Ulrich • Valiant • Venator • Wilhelm • Xantippe • Ypsilon • Zacharias • Ärger • Ökonom
Post-War Mark IV sets
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GEN3
Mark variants
Mark V (Zeta) • Mark VI (GEN3 • MOD) • Mark VII (GEN3)
Variants based on GEN1
Variants based on GEN2
New variants
For a complete list, check out our MJOLNIR armor category.
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