Project GUNGNIR

Project GUNGNIR, also known as the GUNGNIR Program, was a UNSC program under the supervision of Section Three of the Office of Naval Intelligence, designed to provide supplementary matériel for the SPARTAN Program. Section Three's then-head Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth had some degree of involvement with the project.

M6 Spartan Laser
Project GUNGNIR was developed to provide supplementary matériel for the SPARTAN Program. The project's most notable creation was the Model 6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle, more commonly known as the Spartan Laser. A directed-energy anti-vehicle weapon, the Spartan Laser was refined over time, resulting in multiple variants, such as the enhanced M6/E variant (originally mounted on AV-22 Sparrowhawks), the cheaper M6V Spartan Laser, and the M8C G/GNC mounted on the G79H-TC Pelican.

Supplementary armor systems
Project GUNGNIR also developed supplementary armor systems, including the G variant of the MJOLNIR Mark V armor, which consists of a helmet, shoulder pauldrons, and knee guards,  as a modification of the standard Mjolnir armor for optimizing the use of the Spartan Laser. These modular armor components, including the shoulder pauldrons and knee guards, were also employed on the cross-branch Battle Dress Uniform, which was adapted into the UNSC Army BDU, the UNSC Marine Corps BDU, and a variant of the ODST armor.

After the Human-Covenant War, the rights to creating the Gungnir-class Mjolnir were acquired by Hannibal Weapon Systems, which developed and tested the MJOLNIR [GEN2] variant of the armor at WG/Facility 93-00/Kotka on New Carthage. The armor has evolved into a well-rounded suit, with some Spartan-IVs favoring the helmet for its isolated video optics, Wyrd III sensory optimization, and enhanced cranial plating. The results of the project would also see use outside its original scope: the target acquisition and tracking system from the GUNGNIR helmet was adapted into various UNSC weapon systems, while elements of the Mjolnir Mark V[G] armor, including the shoulder pauldrons, was adapted into the SAP armor accessories in the MJOLNIR [GEN3] armor.

Production notes

 * In Norse mythology, Gungnir ("swaying one") is Odin's magical spear, which is an infallibly accurate weapon. The Spartan Laser's abbreviation, M6 G/GNR, bears a notable resemblance to the name "Gungnir." Like the Gungnir of mythology, the Spartan Laser is an extremely accurate weapon. The symbol for Project GUNGNIR is also derived from the Norse Gungnir symbol. The symbol is located on the side of the Spartan Laser, and on the faceplate of the GUNGNIR helmet in Halo: Reach.
 * The GUNGNIR symbol can also be seen on the side of the forklift in Halo: Reach.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo: Helljumper
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo Legends
 * The Package
 * Halo: Reach
 * Dr. Halsey's personal journal
 * Halo 4
 * Halo 5: Guardians