MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2]

Warrior, the mainline version of the GEN2 suit.

The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2] is the second system-wide generation of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. The GEN2 introduces many improvements to the suit's core architecture, specifically tailored for use by the SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Background

The GEN2 was developed by the Materials Group as a response to the SPARTAN-IV project. The armor was designed to compensate for the SPARTAN-IVs' inferior physical augmentations in comparison to the previous two generations. As a result, the armor multiplies the strength of its wearer significantly more than the first-generation suits (comprising Marks IV through VI), granting the SPARTAN-IVs equal strength as their predecessors in Gen 1 MJOLNIR armor while wearing the suit.^[3] The GEN2 suit is also lighter in construction than the first-generation MJOLNIR line.^[1]^[2]

The GEN2 armor incorporates new ad hoc modification systems which give the armor the ability to use armor abilities, tactical packages, and support upgrades. GEN2 is produced by at least seven manufacturers, 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.^[1] Like its GEN1 predecessors, it is backwards compatible (through hardware and firmware upgrades) with previous armor systems, including the Mark V, the Mark VI, and the MJOLNIR variant of the ODST armor.^[4] Several early versions of MJOLNIR [GEN2] armors were tested by SPARTAN-IV Tedra Grant.^[5]

While the suit's primary production model bears less significance than in the previous MJOLNIR generations due to the GEN2's more distributed design philosophy, the Materials Group's Warrior variant is formally considered the mainline model of the GEN2 armor. Another prevalent model is the Recruit variant, issued to all SPARTAN-IVs upon induction.^[6]

Armor variants and upgrades

Air Assault - Utilized primarily by ONI security personnel on Earth's and Luna's space elevators and skyhooks.^{[note 1]}
Aviator - Required for use by Spartan F-41 Broadsword pilots.
CIO - A variant for Counter-Intelligence Operators.
Commando - A variant for special operations, upgraded from GEN1.
Deadeye - Designed for snipers.
Defender - Designed for general area denial and tactical defensive abilities.
EOD - A variant designed to facilitate explosive ordnance disposal, upgraded from GEN1.^[7]
Enforcer - A variant designed for remote security base detail.
Engineer - A variant designed for repairing and reconfiguring technology in combat.^[8]
EVA - A variant designed for extra-vehicular activity, upgraded from GEN1.
FOTUS - A variant based on Forerunner technology.^[9]
GUNGNIR - Upgrade of GEN1 model developed by Project GUNGNIR.
HAZOP - A variant for environments considered too hazardous for standard equipment, upgraded from GEN1.
Infiltrator - A variant designed for stealthy infiltration of enemy territory.
LOCUS - A variant ideal for its resiliency.
Mark V - Upgraded to function with the MJOLNIR [GEN2] suite.
Mark VI - Upgraded to function with the MJOLNIR [GEN2] suite.
Mark VII - One of the first MJOLNIR [GEN2] armor created.
ODST - Upgraded to function with the MJOLNIR [GEN2] suite.
Oceanic - Designed for combat in waterfront areas.
Orbital - A variant designed for EVA activity.
Operator - A variant designed to optimize vehicle operation, upgraded from GEN1.^[8]
Pathfinder - A variant designed for missions in intel-poor environments.^[7]
Pioneer - A variant designed for missions in unfamiliar, likely hostile environments.^[8]
Prefect - A variant based on Forerunner personal armor.^[4]
Protector - Variant designed for VIP security.
Raider - A variant designed with Samurai-like aesthetics for intimidation of hostiles.
Ranger - A variant designed for remote operatives engaging in hostile environmental conditions.
Recon - A variant designed for stealth reconnaissance operations, upgraded from GEN1.
Recruit - Issued to all SPARTAN-IV recruits prior to qualification for specialized models.^[7]
Ricochet - A variant designed for use in Ricochet combat training exercises.^[4]
Rogue - A variant designed for extended solo operations, upgraded from GEN1.^[8]
Scanner - A variant designed to aid search-and-rescue teams.
Scout - A variant designed for scouting operations, upgraded from GEN1.
Soldier - A variant with extra storage space designed for battlefield support.
Stalker - A variant designed to aid in covert shadowing of a target, derived from Jiralhanae Stalker stealth harnesses.^[8]
Strider - A variant for jaunt-combat excursions in isolated theaters.
Tracker - A variant designed to aid in long-range pursuit of targets.^[8]
Vanguard - A variant designed for face-to-face enemy assaults.
Venator - A variant optimized for single-enemy fighting.
Warrior - MJOLNIR's mainline armor kit.
War Master - Lethbridge Industrial's most popular and most exotic armor.
Wetwork - A variant designed for assassination operations.^[8]
Unidentified training armor - A variant used in combat training exercises.^[10]

The armor system is built to support a variety of attachments and equipment which allows it to utilize armor abilities. Some of them have been reverse-engineered from Covenant and Forerunner technology.

Active camouflage emitter - The active camouflage ability affords the wearer a brief period of near-invisibility, in addition to scrambling nearby motion detectors.
Autosentry - A Forerunner-created support drone used to suppress enemy combatants.
Hologram module - This component creates a holographic projection of the user that can draw enemy fire and attention.
Hardlight shield - A shield made from hard light reverse-engineered from Forerunner technology.
Overshield - A Covenant-developed technology that strengthens the user's energy shielding system.
S-12 Jump-Jet Pack - This component mitigates gravity, allowing mobility in challenging terrain.
Promethean vision - A sonar-like Forerunner-made visual enhancement system that displays movement through solid objects.
Regeneration field - Applies a force to remove hostiles from the presence of the user and then temporarily appropriates armor system functions, targeting biological and combat vitality oriented armor functions in order to repair the user.
Repel - An armor ability capable of freezing a small area and doing great damage to personnel and equipment in its blast radius
Seeker drone - A explosive homing drone.
Stun blast - Creates a short-range electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effect, which interferes with all electronic equipment within the radius of the pulse.
Teleport - Allows near-instantaneous transport over short distances.
Thruster pack - A booster pack used to propel the wearer forward or to either side.

Armor components

Biofoam injectors: Allow for physical injuries to be sealed and repaired without the use of external medkits.
Energy shielding: A protective barrier that surrounds the armor and protects the user from harm.
Inner skinsuit: The inner skinsuit is made of a moisture-absorbing synthetic material linked to an environmental control computer and the occupant's neural interface. It controls the suit's temperature and actively changes how the suit fits the user.^[11]
Microfusion reactor: The fusion reactor is the most essential part of the MJOLNIR system, as it provides power to all equipment on the MJOLNIR armor - the reactor is built into the suit and allows for nearly unlimited movement. The fusion reactor in all versions of the MJOLNIR armor are half the size of a normal fusion pack that conventional marines carry around.^[12]
Magnetic weapon holder strips: The MJOLNIR armor features very small, yet powerful magnets placed on the legs, waist, and back of the suit that are used to hold any equipment or any weapons with a magnetic property. The suit also contains a magnet system within its boots that allows its wearer to stay attached to a metal surface in zero G environments and can be toggled on or off by the wearer.
Power supply control unit: Manages the power supply of the armor.
MJOLNIR GEN2 BIOS: The basic input/output system, standard firmware interface to the GEN2.
VISR 4.0: Up to version 4.09, these visor installments are optimized and customized to facilitate specialized tasks.^[13]
Force-multiplying circuits: Allows the user greatly enhanced reflexes and strength, improving mobility and combat effectiveness in close quarters.
Motion tracker: Shows movement of friendly and enemy units within the system's radius.
Pressure seal: The pressure seal is a vital component to the MJOLNIR system, it keeps the system airtight, underwater or in space. The seal is very strong and will only break under extreme pressure, such as in a high velocity impact or when the hydrostatic gel has been over pressurized.
Support upgrades: These customized and specialized upgrades allow combat advantages by modifying the core and periphery systems of the GEN2.
Sprint module: Unlike previous armor systems, MJOLNIR GEN2 has a built-in sprint module that allows the user to run at faster speeds by overriding safety protocols.^[1] It is functionally similar to the version developed by Catherine-B320 of NOBLE Team, which saw widespread deployment across Reach in the planet's final days.^[14]
Tactical packages: These customized and specialized packages allow combat advantages by modifying the core and periphery systems of the GEN2.
Titanium nanocomposite bodysuit: Sandwiched between the external armor and the internal padding is a thick armored bodysuit. The bodysuit is made of a nonrigid titanium-based material, making it very strong and yet very flexible. The suit has numerous functions, small but vital to the safety and survival of the wearer. It also serves as another layer of protection against ballistics attacks and is coated with a heat-resistant material to disperse heat from plasma weapons. Many components of the GEN2's titanium bodysuit are conspicuously fashioned after the shape of human musculature; this was less prominent in previous MJOLNIR generations. Portions of the bodysuit also share their color with the external armor plating, a feature not present in the GEN1 MJOLNIR.

Trivia

The way the GEN2 armor is equipped by UNSC Infinity's dedicated machinery onto its wearer is similar to many fictional powered armor systems, such as Iron Man armor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and to how Tychus Findlay receives his CMC powered armor in Starcraft II.
All non-essential SPARTAN-IV NPCs in Halo 4 are seen wearing full Recruit armor with steel as their suits' primary color and rust as the secondary color.