Semi Powered Infiltration Armor
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Semi-Powered Infiltration Armor, colloquially called "SPI Armor", was an armor system used by the United Nations Space Command. Though more advanced than the ODST Body Suits, it was far less advanced and less powerful than the MJOLNIR Armor used by the Spartan-IIs. Its main benefit was that it was drastically cheaper to produce than the MJOLNIR armor. This armor was designed with an emphasis on stealth rather than raw power. It features special photo-reactive panels that mimic the surrounding textures, effectively being the UNSC equivalent to the Covenant Active Camouflage systems. It has been described as part legionnaire mail, part tactical body armor, and part chameleon.[1]
SPI Mark I
SPI 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] . So, to compensate(slightly) for this, all SPARTAN-III's had extensive training in using the Covenant's equipment(Jackal Shields) to "improvise". The armor featured full body armor with a helmet and HUD, and a supply of breathable atmosphere, though only for a few minutes compared to the MJOLNIR armor endurance of 90 minutes. It is also equipped with a cushioning layer of liquid nanocrystals that provided more ballistic protection than three centimeters of Kevlar diamond weave without the bulk.
SPI Mark II
SPI Mark II was a more advanced version of the armor, first used bu the drill instructors of Beta Company and then by the Spartans of Beta Company. They had new photo-reactive coating to boost camouflaging properties. There were also numerous experimental refits to gel ballistic layers, upgraded software suites, and other functions. Although the new photo-reactive coating could mimic a wide range of EM(Electro Magnetic) radiation, it was still sensitive to overload, which is why it takes the suit a few moments to reset after a flash-bang for example[3].
It was proposed in 2537 for Alpha Company, but the request was denied because the armor was over budget. After the "successful" operation of Alpha Company, the Mark II armor was approved for mass production.
fter the augmentation of Gamma Company, small adjustments where installed into the SPI Mark II. It is weakest at the knees.
Notes
- Some screenshots released by Bungie lead to fans speculating that they would be able to use SPI armor in Halo 3. However, the armor was later determined to be Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/V variant. The name and changes in appearance are purely cosmetic, however, having no impact on gameplay. This has been confirmed by Bungie.
Sources
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx page 16
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx page 14
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx page 113
