MJOLNIR (B)

The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/B variant refers to two distinct sub-models of MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, created for the Mark IV and Mark V generations. The latter iteration of the [B] variant served as the initial production model of the Mark V MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.

Design details
While its physical architecture is derived from the Mark IV(b), the Mark V[B] was the first mainline model of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor to incorporate energy shielding technology. The Mark V[B] is largely similar to the final version of the Mark V. The only major difference between the two is the [B] variant's lack of an accompanying upgrade to the wearer's neural lace enabling the wearer to interface with a smart AI. This did not come to fruition until John-117 and Cortana successfully tested the final Mark V on August 29, 2552.

Development history
Along with the Security and Rogue variants, the Mark V[B] was designed and manufactured by private organizations hired by the UNSC rather than developed by the Materials Group due to numerous problems with funding. The development of Mark V[B] was conducted in secret, with its prototypes tested by Spartan-III personnel. The physical architecture of two later MJOLNIR variants, the GEN1 Mark VII prototype and the GEN2 DECIMATOR-class Mjolnir, closely resembled the design of Mark V[B]. As late as 2560, the Mark V[B] armor could still be requisitioned by Spartans, upgraded to be roughly equivalent to GEN3.

Usage
The Mark IV(b)'s first known use was by Frederic-104 during an operation against Insurrectionists sometime before the Battle of Circinius IV on April 26, 2526. Fred continued to wear the armor during this battle when Blue Team was sent to evacuate the survivors from the Corbulo Academy of Military Science. The Mark V[B] entered service with the Spartan-IIs and select Spartan-IIIs on November 24, 2551. The Mark V[B] helmet's only adopter was SPECWAR Group Three. Mark V[B] was the standard Mjolnir variant issued to Spartans assigned to SPECWAR Group Three, including NOBLE Team. While most members of NOBLE Team modified their Mark V[B] suits to varying extents, Thom-A293 wore a full, unaltered set of Mark V[B] armor. Thom's replacement, SPARTAN-B312, also wore a largely unaltered set of Mark V[B] armor. A replica of B312's helmet was later hosted for display in the Outpost Discovery program, following the war's end.

Because the Mark V[B] helmet was not used outside SPECWAR Group Three, the standard helmet worn with the Mark V[B] was instead based on the architecture of the original Mark IV model. This would later be used as the basis of the final iteration of the Mark V helmet.

By 2559 some Spartans at the Avery J. Johnson Academy of Military Science made use of the upgraded Mark V[B] armor. This armor is particularly popular among Spartans assigned to UNICOM/SPECWAR.

Halo: Reach
"The Mk.V[B] helmet is one of several 'privatized' variants of previously classified war material."

The Mark V[B] is the default suit of armor in Halo: Reach. The second generation of the Mark V is seen in Halo: Combat Evolved. This helmet is the starting helmet for all players, and is purchased and equipped by default. The helmet is the only component of the set that can be specifically selected in the armory. In Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the helmet variants are attainable in the Season 1: Noble progression system, with an additional robot arm variant of the chest introduced in Season 5: Anvil.

Halo Infinite
The MARK V [B] is unlockable for attaining level 1 on the Premium Battle Pass Season 01: Heroes of Reach, the first season of Halo Infinite multiplayer. It is the default suit of armor for the MARK V [B] armor core in Halo Infinite. During Season 01: Heroes of Reach, the SAP/FJ shoulder pads was designated as the SAP/MKVB shoulder pads. The names and descriptions were corrected at the release of Season 02: Lone Wolves.

Attachments

 * CNM/BNR/FARNDALE
 * CNM/BNR/TYPHON
 * HUL-I/XFTREC/FLAMINGO
 * TAC/RS/STARLIGHT
 * TAC/RS/WILLOW
 * UA/Type B1
 * UA/Type C1
 * UA/Type O5

Production notes

 * In the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, there were two different upgrades available for the Mark V[B] helmet. The Command Network Module (CNM), a standard issue module for Special Forces unit commanders (1000 cR), and the Hardened Uplink (HUL), an intelligence collection sensor for use during sensitive operations (5000 cR).
 * In the final release, the CNM and HUL attachments in the beta were merged into the Up-Armored (UA) helmet attachment. The HUL became a camera/sensor-like attachment on the side of the helmet, rather than being located on the top.


 * In the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, a number of armor pieces had different names from the final release. FJ/PARA shoulders were originally called Mark V[B], and UA/Multi-Threat shoulders were called FJ/PARA. When the default, unarmored shoulders were changed to Mark V[B], FJ/PARA was changed to UA/Multi-Threat, and Mark V[B] was changed to FJ/PARA.


 * Fred-104's Mark IV[B] armor in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn was kitbashed from the Mark V[B] suit used in Deliver Hope. The armor was later canonized as Mark IV[B] on Halo Waypoint.

List of appearances

 * Deliver Hope
 * Halo: Reach
 * Dr. Halsey's personal journal
 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
 * Halo 4
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Halo: Ground Command
 * Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual
 * Halo: Outpost Discovery
 * Halo Infinite