AV-22 Sparrowhawk
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| AV-22 Attack VTOL | |
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  The AV-22 (top) and AV-22B (bottom) variants of the Sparrowhawk. | |
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4.4 meters (14.3 ft)[1] |
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18.6 metric tons (18.3 LT; 20.5 ST)[1] |
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611 kilometers per hour (380 mph)[3] |
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Cyberlink-compatible fly-by-light avionics[4] |
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The AV-22 Attack VTOL, colloquially known as the Sparrowhawk or simply Hawk,[2] is a VTOL attack gunship produced by Misriah Armory in service with the United Nations Space Command.[1] In some branches of the UNSC, the Sparrowhawk is officially designated the AV-22 Gunship due to its heavy armament.[2]
Overview[edit]
Design details[edit]
The Sparrowhawk is a VTOL aerodyne used to hunt tanks and support ground operations.[7] It is broadly similar to other attack VTOLs in the UNSC fleet including the AV-14 Hornet, AV-19 SkyHawk, AV-30 Kestrel, and AV-49 Wasp; like these other craft the Sparrowhawk operates using a turbojet combined with dual-ducted lift fans.[4] This system allows the vehicle to hover in place and manoeuvre in an agile fashion,[1] achieving a maximum airspeed of 611 kilometers per hour (380 mph).[3] The cockpit is located at the front of the craft and features tandem seating for a pilot and a gunner,[1][2] who operate the craft via cyberlink-compatible fly-by-light avionics.[4]
In the UNSC order of battle, the Sparrowhawk occupies a role similar to 21st century attack helicopters. It is effective in a close air support role aiding ground forces in advances, alongside serving as an adept anti-armour gunship.[5][6] It is also capable of being used in an armed reconnaissance role or even as a platform for engaging and fending off enemy air assets, without requiring escort craft or complete air dominance.[1]
Armaments[edit]
The VTOL's primary weapon is a pair of twin-linked, rotary long-barrelled GAU-23/AW/Linkless Feed Autocannons installed on weapon armatures on either side of the fuselage.[1] These autocannons can fire the full range of 20mm aircraft ammunition, though the standard loadout on the Sparrowhawk is either M718 SAPHEI, or PGU-42/B API with a depleted uranium core, and are capable of neutralizing infantry and light vehicles with ease.[2][4] The secondary weapon of the Sparrowhawk is a nose-mounted M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Cannon, an upgraded version of the M6 Spartan Laser.[2][8] The cannon allows gunners to conduct devastatingly effective long-range strikes on heavy vehicles such as tanks with pinpoint accuracy. Components of the Sparrowhawk's cannon were later miniaturized and incorporated into the infantry-portable M6/E Spartan Laser variant.[4]
The Hawk's AV-22B variant features the above armaments, with the addition of two wing-mounted A-74 Sylver missile racks. Each rack can hold three missiles, for a total of six overall.[1]
Variants[edit]
- AV-22B Sparrowhawk: A variant of AV-22 armed with two short-range A-74 Sylver missile racks.[1]
- ODST Hawk: The ODST Hawk is an upgraded variant of the AV-22 designed exclusively for the 105th Special Forces to assist in covert offensives against Covenant armor and infantry units. It is designed with stealth gray armor creating a low radar detection signature, that makes it nearly impossible to detect.[9] It is normally flown by ODST pilots, designated by their brown colored breastplate and helmet stripe.
AV-22B Hawk
ODST Hawk
Operational history[edit]
Early service: the Human-Covenant War[edit]
The Sparrowhawk was officially introduced into UNSC service in 2531, during the closing months of the Harvest campaign, following on from the AV-14 Hornet which had been introduced some years prior.[2] At this time, the propulsion system of the craft was still experimental and prine to failures in the field, making the Sparrowhawk's future uncertain.[7] However, combat-ready models were deployed as early as 2526 during the Battle of Mesra, where they were used to provide support to the 24th Marine Engineering Brigade.[10] Throughout 2531, Sparrowhawks attached to UNSC Spirit of Fire took part in the Battle of Trove and were deployed to fend off Banshees and Spirits attempting to board Spirit of Fire during its brief encounter with Proclamation's Tithe, a Sinaris-pattern heavy destroyer.[11]
Despite early reservations as to the gunship's reliability, the Sparrowhawk ultimately went on to have great success in the war against the Covenant, providing aerial security, and operating in hunter-killer squadrons that harassed Covenant landing zones and troop columns. Combat losses were always high, though pilots accumulated enviable kill ratios.[4]
Although the Sparrowhawk was widely produced during the first decade of the war, problems with its ducted fan propulsion system[5][6] and the high costs of repair and replacement resulted in limited production after 2550.[2] Nonetheless, the Sparrowhawk continued active service and saw combat during the Battle for Earth in 2552.[12]
Post-war conflicts[edit]
The Sparrowhawk has seen active service in several Post-Covenant War conflicts including Battle of Draetheus V in 2554, the in 2555,[13] and the Battle of Installation 03 in 2557.[14] They are a part of the security force tasked with defending the Portal at Voi.[15]
After Spirit of Fire's disappearance, a support freighter attached to the ship and containing numerous Sparrowhawks - Pilgrims' Pride - was recovered and later sold on the Oban black market. The ship was uncovered during the auction process by Rion Forge and her crew during their search for Spirit of Fire, though ultimately sold to insurrectionists of the New Colonial Alliance.[16] These craft were later used in an attempt to attack UNSC Infinity in a trap staged by the rebels on March 11, 2558: the Sparrowhawks were unleahed into Infinity's massive hangar bays after Pilgrim's Pride was pulled inside the ship for docking.[17] Spirit of Fire's Sparrowhawks remain in service during its prolonged war on the Ark. In October of 2559 they were used en masse to support a massive armoured push against Banished forces defending Translocation Portal Epsilon.[18]
The New Colonial Alliance also supplied Sparrowhawk gunships to the Surakan Militia in order to fight against Sangheili colonists on Carrow. They were later used against Hekabe and the Voice of Maardoth during the Carrow Conflict.[19] It is unknown whether these Sparrowhawks were also originally from Spirit of Fire or independently sourced.
In-game information[edit]
Halo Wars[edit]
Sparrowhawks are units featured in the skirmish and multiplayer modes of Halo Wars. In the game the Hawk is the unique unit of Professor Ellen Anders. It is available as the final upgrade for the AV-14 Hornet at a cost of 
900 supplies and a 
tech level of 3. It can be built at the airpad for a cost of 250 resources and 
2 population with a tech level of 2. The game's first title update increased the Hawk's upgrade price to 1350 supplies in order to prevent spamming of the unit.
Trivia[edit]
|
Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
A sparrowhawk is a species of small hawk, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming most atmospheric aircraft after birds.
Gallery[edit]
Development images[edit]
Concept art depicting a flight of AV-22B Sparrowhawks providing close-air-support for UNSC ground forces.
Concept art depicting a squadron of AV-22B Sparrowhawks hovering above a desert for Halo Wars.
Modelsheet for the AV-22B Sparrowhawk VTOL.
Concept art of the GAU-23 autocannon.
Sparrowhawks and Pelicans lend their firepower in support of UNSC ground forces in an early build of Halo Wars.
External Renders of the Hawk from Halo Wars Definitive Edition with Marines in the operator seats for scale.
Screenshots[edit]
Sparrowhawks during the Harvest Campaign.
An AV-22 Sparrowhawk firing its nose-mounted M6 Spartan Laser.
A large squadron of Hawks on Arcadia.
A trio of Hawks attack the Flood on Shield World 0459.
A Hawk being chased by a T-26A Banshee.
An AV-22 Sparrowhawk attacking the UNSC Infinity in Halo: Escalation.
An AV-22 in Halo: Spartan Strike.
A trio of AV-22 Sparrowhawks in Halo Mythos.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo Wars (First appearance)
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo: Spartan Strike
- Halo: Hunters in the Dark
- Halo 5: Guardians (Mentioned only)[citation needed]
- Halo Mythos
- Halo: Envoy
- Halo: Oblivion (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Point of Light (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Divine Wind
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 155
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 182
- ^ a b Halo Wars Sparrowhawk modelsheet
- ^ a b c d e f g Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Local Units (Retrieved on Sep 22, 2017) [archive]
- ^ a b c d Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 249
- ^ a b c d Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 259
- ^ a b c Halo Wars Community Site, Halo Wars Update 03.12.07 (Retrieved on Oct 22, 2007) [archive]
- ^ Halo Wars, Personnel profile: Ellen Anders
- ^ Megabloks, ODST Hawk (Retrieved on Jan 29, 2017)
- ^ Halo: Oblivion, chapter 1
- ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Repairs
- ^ Halo: Spartan Strike, campaign level Operation A: Orphic Spear
- ^ Halo: Spartan Assault, campaign level Operation F: Hydra
- ^ Halo: Spartan Strike, campaign level Operation B: Steadfast Pursuit
- ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 4
- ^ Halo: Point of Light, chapter 5
- ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 4
- ^ Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 2
- ^ Halo: Envoy, chapter 13
