Project HAYABUSA

"It's expensive, unrealistic, and very hard to keep secret. On the other hand, if this project succeeds, they we'll have a fighting force unlike any other"

- Project Lead Malcom Bright, 2559

As an Armour Program
Project: HAYABUSA began in 2536 during the Human-Covenant War, as an effort to create a powered battle armour system. This was proposed by, an Earth-Based think tank, and presented to the , who allowed the project to go ahead unhindered.

Though initially having no knowledge of the similar MJOLNIR Project, the armour system went through many development stages with varying levels of success until contact was made with ONI's in 2550. With pooled resources, their work eventually coming to fruition with the creation of a fully functional, MJOLNIR-Compatible suit developed for the sixth iteration of the armour.

Though at the late stage of the war, there were few viable Spartans remaining who were able to test the suit, tests carried out by members of Sigma Team confirmed that the suit was indeed ready for field usage. However, by late 2552, and the end of the Human-Covenant War, the suits saw limited usage on the battlefield, and despite favourable combat reports, were not mass-produced.

By 2556, the project was put on indefinite hold, having lost much of it's funding and manpower to other projects.

Project Revival
In 2559, HAYABUSA was brought back online by Malcolm Bright, who had been one of the chief scientists behind the creation of later MJOLNIR models. Though there was some initial scepticism, Bright and his team, including his young protégé, John Verensky, made significant improvements to the existing system, upgrading HAYABUSA to be compatible with the latest MJOLNIR suits, though the project was put under Army supervision.

Bright's intention was to remake HAYABUSA as a suit that, though compatible and comparable with the MJOLNIR Armour fielded by Spartans, could be worn by unaugmented Human beings, or at least humans that did not possess implants similar to that of a SPARTAN-II. An obvious plan would be to scale back the armour, though that would sacrifice it's advanced protection.

The plan was to retain both the energy shielding and advanced protection for the wearer, while also enhancing their strength and agility. It was a breakthrough in 2562 by Verensky that led to this becoming a reality.



Verensky's new layout, containing a miniature fusion generator, smaller than that of MJOLNIR armour, would improve the user's strength, speed, and reaction time. The subjects would, however, require a degree of chemical augmentations similar to those undergone by the SPARTAN-III's during. In addition, plans were made to equip the members with reflex-enhancers that would allow them to effectively use close quarters weapons as well as firearms.