AV-22 Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk The Sparrowhawk is an aerial vehicle classification of the United Nations Space Command. It is planned to appear in Halo Wars.

Background
Known more readily as just “Hawk,” the Sparrowhawk is a formidable air-to-ground, armor-busting, support aerodyne. The Hawk is still being assessed by command before full production starts while engineers are still working on an experimental propulsion system that has led to failures in the field making the future of this vehicle uncertain. The Hawk first saw actual combat against the Covenant on the surface of Harvest in the final months of that campaign.

Appearance
The Sparrowhawk has design elements from a mixture of modern VTOL aircraft, most prominently the Harrier Jump-Jet, and attach helicopter gunships such as the AH64 Apache; it also bears a marked resemblance to the ORCA Gunship from rival RTS Command and Conquer 3. It consists of an elongated fuselage with a stubby wing on each side of it. the cockpit is forward mounted, and the tail section juts out from behind the fuselage at a downward angle. Each wing incorporates a ducted fan for lift and thrust, and carries three missiles/rockets on pylons on each wing. Each wing also carries a twin autocannon, with another autocannon mounted underneath the cockpit.

Performance
It is currently not known how the Sparrowhawk performs. [released footage] shows it to be at least as fast and agile as a Pelican Dropship, though it never uses its weaponry. It is described as being designed for engaging enemy ground armour, so its air-to-air capabilities remain unknown, if it even has any.

Trivia

 * It is a similar vehicle in design to that of Halo 2's deleted Kestrel.
 * It is not known if it will be featured in Halo 3, but the new Hornet is similar to the Sparrowhawk.