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Semi-Powered Infiltration armor

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Revision as of 22:59, September 26, 2015 by Braidenvl (talk | contribs) (→‎Gallery)
A concept illustration of SPI armor from the Art of Halo 3.[1]

The Semi-Powered Infiltration armor (SPI armor) is a UNSC combat armor system designed with an emphasis on stealth through the use of special photoreactive panels.[2] Although early versions of the SPI system were tested by Orbital Drop Shock Troopers,[3] the armor was most prominently issued to the SPARTAN-III supersoldiers.[2]

Overview

Described as "part legionnaire mail, part tactical body armor, and part chameleon", the SPI armor features photoreactive panels that mimic the surrounding textures, effectively being the UNSC equivalent to the Covenant's active camouflage systems.[4] The SPI armor features a full body armor with an enclosed helmet and heads-up display. The undersuit is equipped with a cushioning layer of liquid nanocrystals that provide more ballistic protection than three centimeters of Kevlar diamond weave, without the bulk.[5] The hardened armor plates, though advanced compared to standard UNSC infantry armor, can only take a few glancing blows before failing.[2]

Though more advanced than the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers' body armor, the SPI armor is less advanced and powerful than the MJOLNIR armor used by the SPARTAN-IIs.[6] Its main benefit is that it is drastically cheaper to produce than MJOLNIR.[7] It is also not as bulky or as heavy as the MJOLNIR armor, making it easier to handle and transport.[8] The SPI suit does not significantly enhance the user's physical performance (i.e. strength, speed, agility), unlike MJOLNIR;[9] as a result, it can be worn by any individual and does not require special neurological, skeletal or muscular augmentation.[10][3] It is also made of a less durable, less dense alloy than MJOLNIR armor: Kelly-087 dented a SPARTAN-III's chest plate with her fist when first encountering the SPARTAN-IIIs.[11] It also lacks an energy shielding system, making the user far more vulnerable to enemy fire and was a major contributor to the high fatality rate of the SPARTAN-IIIs. The exception to this limitation could be found in the SPARTAN-III Headhunters: their experimental armor was known to be equipped with energy shields, due to their elite nature and value. However, power must be drawn from the energy shields to recharge the suit's active camouflage module.[12]

Versions

Mark I

The Mark I was the first, experimental iteration of the SPI system used by the SPARTAN-IIIs of Alpha Company. 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.[13]

Mark II

The Mark II was an improvement of the SPI Mark I, first used by the drill instructors of Beta Company, and then by the Spartans of Beta and Gamma Companies.[14] The armor sports new photoreactive coating to boost its camouflaging properties. Although the new photoreactive coating can mimic a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, it is still sensitive to overload, making the wearer vulnerable for several seconds after a flashbang or plasma hit while the panels reset.[15]

The armor was proposed by Kurt Ambrose in 2537 for Alpha Company, but the request was denied because the armor was over budget.[16] After Alpha Company's Pyrrhic victory in Operation: PROMETHEUS, the Mark II was approved for mass production. After the augmentation of Gamma Company, small adjustments were installed into the Mark II SPI armor,[17] including experimental refits to the ballistic gel layers, upgraded software suites, and other functions, slated to be introduced to the systems prior to Gamma Company's deployment in 2552.[17] One minor improvement is that the armor is now hermetically sealed and contains an internal oxygen supply.[18]

Armor components

Helmet
The SPI helmet features a large, bulbous faceplate somewhat similar to that of the MJOLNIR EVA variant. The visor is normally gold-mirrored in color[19] and can be depolarized.[11] The helmet supports a heads-up display with features similar to that of the MJOLNIR system, including TACMAP, TEAMBIO and TEAMCOM interfaces as well as team status lights.[20][21] The visor suite features an automatic magnification and image enhancement system controlled by the wearer's eye movements. For example, if the wearer squints while looking at a particular spot the system will automatically zoom in.[22] Both the image enhancement and the visor's internal polarization can also be controlled manually.[23][24] The helmet possesses tactical lights[25] and a defogging vent to remove internal moisture.[26]
Bodysuit
The bodysuit of the SPI system contains a layer of ballistic liquid nanocrystal that is significantly more effective than traditional body armor materials such as Kevlar whilst being less bulky.[5][21][27] The suit comprises more than one component, including leggings.[28]
Photoreactive panels
While matte gray when inert,[28] the photoreactive panels covering the SPI suit act as active camouflage when active,[29] effectively blending the wearer with their environment.[2] The coating also renders the wearer nearly invisible to infrared and passive light-gathering systems.[30] Since the photoreactive plates take time to recover after explosions such as a flashbang grenade and plasma hits, the SPARTAN-III is visible until the plates recover.[15] With the exception of the Headhunters' suits, the SPI armor does not feature energy field-based active camouflage systems like those of the Covenant.[12]
Environmental controls
The suit possesses rudimentary environmental regulation system to maintain a comfortable temperature for the wearer.[31] However, the system is not designed for extended use and it will become increasingly uncomfortable to wear if used continuously over long periods of time.[32] As of 2552, the Mark II SPI armor is also fully sealed and contains an internal oxygen supply.[18] The armor also has an efficient cooling system and is significantly difficult to detect even with thermal scanners.[14]
Biofoam injection ports
Like MJOLNIR, the SPI armor has dedicated ports allowing the quick injection of biofoam or other battlefield pharmaceuticals.[33]
Data socket
The SPI armor's gauntlet features a data port to which small electronic devices such as data pads can be connected.[34][35]

Production note

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

The SPI armor is referred to as "PR" twice in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx.[36][37] Since no context is provided for this alternate designation, it is possible that the suit was known as "PR" (likely an acronym for "PhotoReactive") in an earlier revision of the novel's manuscript and that the presence of the two mentions in the final book is an editing oversight.

Gallery

  • SpartanIII.jpg

    A Spartan wearing SPI armor.

  • Two Headhunters, Roland and Jonah, wearing SPI armor. The former is wearing an unknown variant.

    Two Headhunters, Roland and Jonah, wearing SPI armor. The former is wearing an unknown variant.

  • Another view of Roland's and Jonah's SPI armor.

    Another view of Roland's and Jonah's SPI armor.

  • An energy shielded SPI suit's HUD. Note the HUD's resemblance to that of the MJOLNIR Mark V.

    An energy shielded SPI suit's HUD. Note the HUD's resemblance to that of the MJOLNIR Mark V.

  • Jonah wearing his SPI armor.

    Jonah wearing his SPI armor.

  • Officially endorsed fan art of Jonah and Roland wearing modified SPI armor.

    Officially endorsed fan art of Jonah and Roland wearing modified SPI armor.

  • Olivia-G291 in SPI armor with her helmet removed.

    Olivia-G291 in SPI armor with her helmet removed.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ The Art of Halo 3, page 140
  2. ^ a b c d Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 14
  3. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 164
  4. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 16
  5. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 171
  6. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 207
  7. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 46
  8. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 40
  9. ^ Halo: Last Light, page 33 (Google Play edition)
  10. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, pages 89, 94
  11. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, pages 168-169
  12. ^ a b Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "Headhunters", page 212
  13. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 85
  14. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 89
  15. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 113
  16. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 80
  17. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 99
  18. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 251
  19. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 115
  20. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, pages 17, 22
  21. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 114
  22. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 19
  23. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 268
  24. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 345
  25. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 273
  26. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 316
  27. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 360
  28. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 141
  29. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 165
  30. ^ Halo: Last Light, page 95 (Google Play edition)
  31. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 22
  32. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 254
  33. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 362
  34. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 310
  35. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 356
  36. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 87 ("...the flaws in their Mark-I PR suits...")
  37. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 141 ("...and pulled on the PR leggings.")

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List of armor by faction

v • d • e
 
Human
Standard-issue
Powered exoskeleton
Configurations and accessories
v • d • e
 
Covenant
Other equipment
v • d • e
 
Forerunner

Template:SPARTAN Armor

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