AV-22 Sparrowhawk

AV-22 Sparrowhawk

Production information
Model:	AV-22^[1]
Technical specifications
Length:	16.5 meters (54 ft)^[1]^[2]
Width:	9.6 meters (31 ft)^[1]
Maximum speed:	611 kilometers per hour (380 mph)^[3]
Engine(s):	Dual-ducted air fans^[4]
Armament:	Twin-linked GAU-23/AW autocannons^[1] M6 Spartan Laser^[1]
Crew:	One pilot, one gunner^[1]
Usage
In service:	Human-Covenant War Post-Covenant War conflicts
Role(s):	Close air support^[5] Air escort of ground forces^[5]
Affiliation:	United Nations Space Command

The AV-22 Sparrowhawk, often simply called the Hawk, is a VTOL attack aircraft in service with the United Nations Space Command.

Specifications[edit]

Design details[edit]

The AV-22 Sparrowhawk is a formidable air-to-ground anti-tank aerodyne that is used to hunt tanks and support ground advances.^[6] Rather than using thrust-vectoring jets like some aircraft of the United Nations Space Command, the AV-22 features an integrated VTOL propulsion system that combines a turbojet with dual-ducted lift fans.^[4] The Sparrowhawk has a maximum airspeed of 611 kilometers per hour (380 miles per hour)^[3] and boasts impressive maneuverability. The Sparrowhawk also features cyberlink-compatible fly-by-light avionics.^[4]

The Sparrowhawk is classified as an "Attack VTOL", as evidenced by the "AV-22" designation. However, some branches of the UNSC Armed Forces classify the aircraft as a gunship due to its heavy armament.^[1] The Sparrowhawk shares a number of similarities with its fellow aerodyne brethren, the AV-14 Hornet, AV-19 SkyHawk, AV-30 Kestrel, and AV-49 Wasp.^[4]

Armaments[edit]

The VTOL's primary armament is a pair of brutally effective, twin-linked GAU-23/AW/Linkless Feed Autocannons installed on weapon armatures on either side of the fuselage. 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.^[1]^[4]^[7] The secondary weapon of the Sparrowhawk is a nose-mounted M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Cannon, an upgraded version of the M6 Spartan Laser.^[1]^[8] The cannon allows gunners to conduct devastatingly effective long-range strikes with pinpoint accuracy. Components of the Sparrowhawk's cannon were later miniaturized and incorporated into the infantry-portable M6/E Spartan Laser variant.^[4]

This armament, combined with the VTOL's impressive speed and maneuverability, allows the Sparrowhawk to engage Covenant Type-26 Banshees on more than equal terms and to pursue fleeing dropships or engage them as they approach; even a pair of Sparrowhawks can destroy a Type-29 Vampire—the bane of the AV-14—with minimal attrition.^[9]

Variants[edit]

ODST Hawk: The ODST Hawk is 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 make it nearly impossible to detect. ^[10] Compared to the standard AV-22 Sparrowhawk, the ODST Hawk features 6 white and red missiles rather than 4 gray missiles, and slightly updated access panels. It is normally piloted by ODST Pilots, designated by their brown colored breastplate and helmet stripe.

ODST Hawk.

Operational history[edit]

The AV-22 first saw action on Harvest during the final months of the Harvest campaign in early 2531.^[1] Weeks later, several Sparrowhawks attached to UNSC Spirit of Fire defended their parent vessel from a Covenant CPV-class heavy destroyer during the Battle of the Etran Harborage, proving the VTOL's effectiveness as both a ground-support platform and as an impromptu atmospheric fighter.^[9] The Sparrowhawk met with great success in the war against the Covenant, serving as a gunship escort for troop transports, 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^[11] and the high costs of repair and replacement resulted in limited production after 2550.^[1] Nonetheless, the Sparrowhawk continued active service and saw combat during the Battle of Earth in 2552, the Battle of Draetheus V in 2554, the Invasion of Earth in 2555, and the Battle of Installation 03 in 2557.^[12]^[13] On March 11, 2558 several AV-22 Sparrowhawks belonging to the Spirit of Fire, alongside multiple AC-220 Vultures, attacked the UNSC Infinity when the Pilgrims' Pride was pulled into the Infinity's docking bay.^[14] Several Sparrowhawks were used by the Surakan Militia against Hekabe's brute forces in the Battle for Carrow later that year.

Prior to the Sparrowhawk's introduction, the AV-14 Hornet filled a similar anti-tank and ground support role, and as such is considered the Hawk's predecessor.^[1]

Gameplay[edit]

In Halo Wars' skirmish and multiplayer modes, 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 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.
The Sparrowhawk looks similar to the Kestrel, a UNSC aircraft that was cut from Halo 2. The Hawk also bears a noticeable resemblance to the Orca gunship series from the Command and Conquer franchise, primarily the A-15 model.

Gallery[edit]

Concept art depicting a squadron of AV-22 Sparrowhawks hovering above a desert for Halo Wars.
More concept art of the Sparrowhawk.
Early concept art of the AV-22 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.
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.
External Renders of the Hawk from Halo Wars Definitive Edition with Marines in the operator seats for scale.
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.