Project HAYABUSA



Project: HAYABUSA was a United Nations Space Command project similar to Project: MJOLNIR.

Background
While it had different aims than Project: MJOLNIR, both programs resulted in powerful battle armor that boast energy shields. HAYABUSA's project was to develop a self-contained power armor, and the project eventually culminated in the development of the Hayabusa Armor, which was developed by RKD on Earth in 2536 and apparently accepted by the UNSC Ordnance Committee.

The Hayabusa Armor's advanced materials decreased its weighty bulk by one-third and aesthetically appeared to be almost Japanese in design, with a Samurai-like design and spiked shoulder pauldrons (commonly referred to as s'ode' for the shoulder armor, and kabuto'' for the helmet in more correct terminology for Japanese armor of the era). ''The most likely reason for the aesthetic features of the armor might be to inspire fear into enemy soldiers. It was available for use by the SPARTAN-II supersoldiers, although its field deployment appeared to be limited. Also, the headpiece is very similar to the main character of Ninja Gaiden, Ryu, who was from the Hayabusa ninja clan. ''

Unlock

 * Head: Collect all 13 Skulls in the Campaign.
 * Shoulders: Collect 9 Skulls in the Campaign.
 * Chest/body: Collect 5 Skulls in the Campaign.

Trivia

 * The Hayabusa Armor is available as an Armor Permutation for Halo 3.
 * Hayabusa is Japanese for "peregrine falcon," and is also the name for an unmanned space mission conducted by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency set to return to Earth in 2010.
 * You can also unlock a Katana (Samurai sword) in Halo 3 to go with the Hayabusa armor. It is not wieldable; it just shown as a long sheath and sword handle on the player's back. It is unlocked by achieving all achievements.
 * The HAYABUSA Armour bears resemblance to Ryu Hayabusa of the Ninja Gaiden series. The armor was added in return for the Spartan which appeared in Dead or Alive 4.
 * Project HAYABUSA may have been the Japanese counterpart to Reach's and Doctor Catherine Halsey's Project MJOLNIR.
 * HAYABUSA is one of the most Photogenic Helmets in many screenshots.
 * The armor was in fact created by Team Ninja themselves in return for their use in DOA 4 of Nicole.