Plasma Torpedo

The Plasma Torpedo is a Covenant starship launched super heated bolt of plasma in the Halo universe. They are speculated to launch from torpedo tubes often mounted on the lateral areas of a Covenant, and are used on most Covenant starships - frigates, destroyers, carriers, and certain classes of crusiers.



Plasma is heated in a pinched magnetic field by energy supplied from the ships reactors. The atoms that are on an appropriate trajectory between the Covenant starship and its target are then herded towards the mouth of the torpedo tube by magnetic pulses. Then, the plasma torpedo is fired, and is subsequently herded towards it target by a long-reaching magnetic field projected by the tube. They can track moving targets effectively even at long ranges. They are extraordinarily accurate. Upon impact, the torpedo penetrates the Titanium A armour of the target starship, burning through internal decks and structures and causing heavy damage on the target.

Some plasma torpedoes can miss their target and not reacquire them if the target is moving towards the launcher at an oblique angle. Even though they are considered very accurate, they can frequently be evaded by smaller starships, such as Pelican-class dropships.

Volleys of plasma torpedoes are frequently the first attacks launched by Covenant fleets when engaging enemy UNSC forces at long range. They often decimate enemy ranks upon impact. They emit visible radiation, giving them an amber color, but massive volleys can be visually akin to solar flares due to the massive number of torpedoes. A single volley can destroy a Super MAC platform.

If the firing ship is destroyed, all torpedoes guided by its magnetic fields are detonated prematurely.

Onboard the Ascendant Justice, Cortana reprogrammed the (relatively inefficient) plasma torpedo cannons to fire long, laser-thin streams of superaccelerated plasma. Although it drained plasma very quickly, the results were devastating-one hit would pierce the shielding, and another the hull, of any Covenant vessel. It is mentioned that Cortana used this weapon to literally slice a pair of destroyers in half, like a scalpel.