AV-22 Sparrowhawk

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

Design details
The AV-22 Sparrowhawk is a formidable air-to-ground anti-tank aerodyne that is used to hunt tanks and support ground advances. 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. The Sparrowhawk has a maximum airspeed of 611 kilometers per hour (380 miles per hour) and boasts impressive maneuverability. The Sparrowhawk also features cyberlink-compatible fly-by-light avionics.

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. 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 Attack VTOL.

Armaments
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. The secondary weapon of the Sparrowhawk is a nose-mounted M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Cannon, an upgraded version of the M6 Spartan Laser. 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.

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.

Operational history
The AV-22 first saw action on Harvest during the final months of the Harvest campaign in early 2531. Weeks later, several Sparrowhawks attached to defended their parent vessel from a Covenant  during the Battle of Shield World 0459, proving the VTOL's effectiveness as both a ground-support platform and as an impromptu atmospheric fighter. 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. Although the Sparrowhawk was widely produced during the first decade of the war, problems with its ducted fan propulsion system and the high costs of repair and replacement resulted in limited production after 2550. 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. On March 11, 2558 several AV-22 Sparrowhawks belonging to the Spirit of Fire, alongside multiple AC-220 Vultures, attacked the when the Pilgrims Pride was pulled into the Infinity's docking bay.

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.

Gameplay
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

 * 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.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo: Hunters in the Dark