RECON-class Mjolnir

The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant, colloquially known as Recon armor, is a stealth-oriented variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor that was commissioned and developed by the Office of Naval Intelligence. The helmet is also used with a specialized variant of the ODST armor.

GEN1
A prototype was created prior to the Fall of Reach concurrently with the Mark VI Prototype. Field tests from the armor where to improve the final model. But the armor was already shown to reduce armor silhouettes without decreasing survivability. Spartan-B312 applied to use the Armor in its testing phase, and was allowed to use it. Though if he got to test it before his death is unknown.

The Recon armor was developed parallel to the Scout armor in the Office of Naval Intelligence's Beta-5 Division Ordnance Testing Facility in Swanbourne, Perth, Western Australia. The armor was designed to provide the wearer with stealth capabilities and with little or no loss of endurance, specifically by reducing its infrared signature, reflective surfaces, and Cherenkov radiation emission. A similar helmet was also used in the ODST S-1/ONI Recon BDU.

GEN2
As a result of the UNSC Ordnance Commission, Imbrium Machine Complex took over production of the Recon variant after the Human-Covenant War. The GEN2 variant was tested at Ankara, Mare Imbrium, Luna. It offers improved movement stabilizers and adjustable shield distribution channels for versatility during deep-field reconnaissance. The GEN2 Recon helmet also contains a highly-classified Auspex battlenet uplink featuring state-of-the-art ONI counter-cyberintrusion and firewall routines. The armor itself is fitted with emissions baffling and plasma electronic support activity sensors for observation missions behind enemy lines.

Halo 3
Unlock: After March 2012, unlocked for online profiles by default. Previously, it was unlocked by completing the Vidmaster Challenges and clicking "Unlock My Recon" in Bungie.net Service Record.


 * Helmet Description: The Mjolnir VI/R variant was developed concurrently with the Mjolnir Mark VI Powered Assault Armor. The goal was to increase stealth capability without impacting endurance.
 * Shoulders Description: In developing the Mjolnir VI/R variant, the goal was to increase the armor's overall stealth capabilities with little or no loss of endurance. This was achieved by relying on several tried-and-true methods.
 * Body Description: In developing the Mjolnir Mark VI Powered Assault Armor/R, the emphasis was to increase stealth capability, specifically by reducing it's IR signiture, reflective surfaces, and Cherenkov radiation emission.

Helmet
The MJOLNIR, Prototype[R] is being developed concurrently with the Mark VI MJOLNIR PAA. Base Price: 100,000 cR, Colonel HUL Price: 75,000 cR, Colonel UA/HUL[3]: Pre-order
 * Description: Data gathered from these field tests will be used to improve the final production model.
 * Description: External hardened uplink for MILINT acquisistion; reserved for sensitive OPs.
 * Description: Up-armored variant with hardened 3rd-generation uplink module for MILINT acquisition.

Shoulders
Unlock: 1,500 cR, Corporal
 * Description: The MJOLNIR[R] prototype reduces armor silhouette without decreasing survivability.

Halo 4
Unlock: Available at Spartan Rank 26 Available skins: SURG(Surge)
 * Description: Ankara's reowned IMC took ownership of RECON production after the war.
 * The SURG skin is obtainable by completing the Covenant Loadout Mastery commendation.

Halo 5: Guardians
Unlock: Common REQ card Available skins: BDA, ITG, and RSO BDA Unlock: Rare REQ card ITG Unlock: Ultra Rare REQ card RSO Unlock: Uncommon REQ card
 * Helmet Description: The heavily classified Auspex battlenet uplink in the RECON helmet contains the latest counter-cyberintrusion and firewall routines from ONI.
 * Body Description: RECON armor is fitted with emissions baffling and passive electronic support activity sensors for observation missions behind enemy lines.

Trivia

 * On 7/7/09, players that beat a team of Bungie employees in Matchmaking were awarded Recon Armor.
 * Unlocking the Vidmaster Endure Achievement will unlock Dare's Recon helmet as a wearable "hat" for the player's Xbox LIVE avatar.
 * On March 31, 2012 Bungie.net transferred all Halo 3 and Halo: Reach record-keeping to Halo Waypoint. As part of the transition Recon armor was unlocked by default for all online Halo 3 profiles.
 * BDA is a military acronym for "bomb damage assessment", and ITG is "Initial Terminal Guidance"

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo: Glasslands
 * Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo 4
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 5: Guardians