Semi-Powered Infiltration armor: Difference between revisions
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[[File:SpartanIII.jpg|thumb|200px|A Spartan-III in Mark-II SPI Armor.]] | [[File:SpartanIII.jpg|thumb|200px|A Spartan-III in Mark-II SPI Armor.]] | ||
The '''Semi-Powered Infiltration Armor''', or '''SPI Armor''', is an experimental [[armor]] system used by the [[United Nations Space Command]]. It was developed for the [[ | The '''Semi-Powered Infiltration Armor''', or '''SPI Armor''', is an experimental [[armor]] system used by the [[United Nations Space Command]]. It was developed for the [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]]. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
Though more advanced than the [[ | Though more advanced than the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s' [[ODST Ballistic Battle Armor|ballistic body armor]], it is far less advanced and less powerful than the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] used by the [[Spartan-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]]. Its main benefit is that it is drastically cheaper to produce than the MJOLNIR armor. The SPI armor was designed with an emphasis on stealth rather than on raw power. It features [[Camouflage Cloak|special photo-reactive panels]] that mimic the surrounding textures, effectively being the UNSC equivalent to the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant's]] [[Active Camouflage|active camoflauge]] systems. It has been described as part "legionnaire mail, part tactical body armor, and part chameleon" by both [[Tom-B292]] and [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]].<ref>'''''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''''', page 16</ref> | ||
==SPI Armor Mark I== | ==SPI Armor Mark I== | ||
The SPI | The SPI Armor Mark I was used by the Spartan-IIIs of [[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]]. It featured hardened plates and photo-reactive panels. Though advanced compared to standard UNSC infantry armor, it could only take a few glancing blows before failing.<ref>'''''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''''', page 14</ref> It featured full body armor with an enclosed helmet and [[Heads Up Display]], and a supply of breathable atmosphere; though only enough for [[List of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] minutes, compared to the MJOLNIR armor’s oxygen supply of ninety minutes. It was also equipped with a cushioning layer of liquid nanocrystals that provided more ballistic protection than three centimeters of [[wikipedia:Kevlar|Kevlar]] diamond weave, without the bulk. The featured photo-reactive panels gave the SPARTANs of Alpha Company a rough equivalent to active camouflage. The camouflage patterns, however, shifted irregularly and imperfectly, which made the photo-reactive panels inferior compared to the Covenant's active camouflage technologies. | ||
==SPI Armor Mark II== | ==SPI Armor Mark II== | ||
The SPI Armor Mark II was a more advanced version of the SPI Mark I, first used by the drill instructors of Beta Company, and then by the | The SPI Armor Mark II was a more advanced version of the SPI Mark I, first used by the drill instructors of [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]], and then by the SPARTANs of Beta Company. They had new photo-reactive coating to boost their camouflaging properties. There were also numerous experimental refits to the ballistic gel layers, upgraded software suites, and other functions. Although the new photo-reactive coating could mimic a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, it was still sensitive to overload, so the wearer would still be vulnerable for several seconds after a flashbang or [[plasma]] hit while the panels reset.<ref>'''''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''''', page 113</ref> | ||
It was proposed in [[2537]] for Alpha Company, but the request was denied because the armor was over budget. After | It was proposed in [[2537]] for Alpha Company, but the request was denied because the armor was over budget. After Alpha Company's pyrrhic victory in [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]], the Mark II SPI armor was approved for mass production. After the augmentation of [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]], small adjustments were installed into the SPI Armor Mark II. | ||
==Advantages== | ==Advantages== | ||
#The armor is significantly cheaper and easier to mass | #The armor is significantly cheaper and easier to mass produce than MJOLNIR armor. | ||
# | #It includes [[Camouflage Cloak|photo-reactive panels]] that act as an active camouflage for the wearer. | ||
#It easier to transport, because it is not as | #It easier to transport, because it is not as bulky or as heavy as the MJOLNIR armor. | ||
#The armor has an efficient cooling system and is significantly difficult to detect even with thermal scanners. This system may fail over periods of extended use, however. | |||
#The armor has an efficient cooling system | #SPI armor users do not need a technician to help them don the armor.{{Citation needed}} | ||
#SPI | |||
==Disadvantages== | ==Disadvantages== | ||
#It has no energy | #It has no [[energy shielding]] system, unlike the SPARTAN-IIs' MJOLNIR Mark V and Mark VI models. However, the SPARTAN-III [[Headhunters]] are known to be equipped with energy shields for their armor, due to their elite nature and value. However, power must be drawn from the energy shields to recharge the suit's active camoflauge module. | ||
# | #It does not give the SPARTAN-IIIs enhanced strength, speed or agility, as the MJOLNIR does for its wearers. | ||
#It stresses more on teamwork to take down enemy threats. | #It stresses more on teamwork to take down enemy threats. | ||
#Since the | #Since the photo-reactive plates take time to recover after explosions such as a [[Flashbang Grenade|flashbang grenade]] and plasma hits, the SPARTAN-III is visible until the plates recover. With the exception of the Headhunters' suits, the SPI armor does not feature true active camoflauge systems. | ||
# | #It is made of a less dense alloy than MJOLNIR armor: [[Kelly-087]] dented [[Holly-G003]]'s chest plate with her fist when first encountering the SPARTAN-IIIs. | ||
#The SPI armor is not waterproof, unlike MJOLNIR armor. | #The SPI armor is not waterproof or airtight, unlike MJOLNIR armor. | ||
#The SPI armor cannot be used for long periods of time without the cooling system failing. | #The SPI armor cannot be used for long periods of time without the cooling system failing. | ||
#The SPI armor has air for only | #The SPI armor has an air supply for only seven minutes, while the MJOLNIR has an air supply for ninety minutes. | ||
#The armor is less agile and more clumsy to use. | #The armor is less agile and more clumsy to use. | ||
#It lacks the ability to support an onboard [[Artificial Intelligence|artificial intelligence construct]], unlike the Mark V, Mark VI, and [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Black|Black]] models of the MJOLNIR armor. | |||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*Some screenshots released by Bungie led to fans speculating that they would be able to use SPI armor in [[Halo 3 | *Some screenshots released by Bungie led to fans speculating that they would be able to use SPI armor in ''[[Halo 3]]''. However, the armor was later revealed to be the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/V variant|MJOLNIR EVA variant]]. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
| Line 45: | Line 43: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
Revision as of 10:45, August 22, 2010
File:SpartanIII.jpg
A Spartan-III in Mark-II SPI Armor.
The Semi-Powered Infiltration Armor, or SPI Armor, is an experimental armor system used by the United Nations Space Command. It was developed for the SPARTAN-IIIs.
Description
Though more advanced than the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers' ballistic body armor, it is far less advanced and less powerful than the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor used by the SPARTAN-IIs. Its main benefit is that it is drastically cheaper to produce than the MJOLNIR armor. The SPI armor was designed with an emphasis on stealth rather than on raw power. It features special photo-reactive panels that mimic the surrounding textures, effectively being the UNSC equivalent to the Covenant's active camoflauge systems. It has been described as part "legionnaire mail, part tactical body armor, and part chameleon" by both Tom-B292 and Dr. Catherine Halsey.[1]
SPI Armor Mark I
The SPI Armor Mark I was used by the Spartan-IIIs of Alpha Company. It featured hardened plates and photo-reactive panels. Though advanced compared to standard UNSC infantry armor, it could only take a few glancing blows before failing.[2] It featured full body armor with an enclosed helmet and Heads Up Display, and a supply of breathable atmosphere; though only enough for seven minutes, compared to the MJOLNIR armor’s oxygen supply of ninety minutes. It was also equipped with a cushioning layer of liquid nanocrystals that provided more ballistic protection than three centimeters of Kevlar diamond weave, without the bulk. The featured photo-reactive panels gave the SPARTANs of Alpha Company a rough equivalent to active camouflage. The camouflage patterns, however, shifted irregularly and imperfectly, which made the photo-reactive panels inferior compared to the Covenant's active camouflage technologies.
SPI Armor Mark II
The SPI Armor Mark II was a more advanced version of the SPI Mark I, first used by the drill instructors of Beta Company, and then by the SPARTANs of Beta Company. They had new photo-reactive coating to boost their camouflaging properties. There were also numerous experimental refits to the ballistic gel layers, upgraded software suites, and other functions. Although the new photo-reactive coating could mimic a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, it was still sensitive to overload, so the wearer would still be vulnerable for several seconds after a flashbang or plasma hit while the panels reset.[3]
It was proposed in 2537 for Alpha Company, but the request was denied because the armor was over budget. After Alpha Company's pyrrhic victory in Operation: PROMETHEUS, the Mark II SPI armor was approved for mass production. After the augmentation of Gamma Company, small adjustments were installed into the SPI Armor Mark II.
Advantages
- The armor is significantly cheaper and easier to mass produce than MJOLNIR armor.
- It includes photo-reactive panels that act as an active camouflage for the wearer.
- It easier to transport, because it is not as bulky or as heavy as the MJOLNIR armor.
- The armor has an efficient cooling system and is significantly difficult to detect even with thermal scanners. This system may fail over periods of extended use, however.
- SPI armor users do not need a technician to help them don the armor.[citation needed]
Disadvantages
- It has no energy shielding system, unlike the SPARTAN-IIs' MJOLNIR Mark V and Mark VI models. However, the SPARTAN-III Headhunters are known to be equipped with energy shields for their armor, due to their elite nature and value. However, power must be drawn from the energy shields to recharge the suit's active camoflauge module.
- It does not give the SPARTAN-IIIs enhanced strength, speed or agility, as the MJOLNIR does for its wearers.
- It stresses more on teamwork to take down enemy threats.
- Since the photo-reactive plates take time to recover after explosions such as a flashbang grenade and plasma hits, the SPARTAN-III is visible until the plates recover. With the exception of the Headhunters' suits, the SPI armor does not feature true active camoflauge systems.
- It is made of a less dense alloy than MJOLNIR armor: Kelly-087 dented Holly-G003's chest plate with her fist when first encountering the SPARTAN-IIIs.
- The SPI armor is not waterproof or airtight, unlike MJOLNIR armor.
- The SPI armor cannot be used for long periods of time without the cooling system failing.
- The SPI armor has an air supply for only seven minutes, while the MJOLNIR has an air supply for ninety minutes.
- The armor is less agile and more clumsy to use.
- It lacks the ability to support an onboard artificial intelligence construct, unlike the Mark V, Mark VI, and Black models of the MJOLNIR armor.
Trivia
- Some screenshots released by Bungie led to fans speculating that they would be able to use SPI armor in Halo 3. However, the armor was later revealed to be the MJOLNIR EVA variant.
Gallery
A concept illustration of SPI armor from the Art of Halo 3.
Sources
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 16
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 14
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 113
