Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk
A quiet foam UAV for base perimeter protection, launched by bungee cord.
The Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk is a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for base perimeter protection. It was developed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works under a quick-reaction contract for the United States Air Force Force Protection Airborne Surveillance System (FPASS) Program, with the first system delivered in the early summer following a late-winter 2002 contract. The Desert Hawk is notable for its rapid development, leveraging technology from the MicroStar MAVs, and for its quiet electric propulsion and foam construction.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Lockheed Martin
- Primary User
- British Army
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Desert Hawk was conceived in late winter 2002 under a quick-reaction contract issued by the United States Air Force's FPASS Program. The program was run by the Electronic Systems Center. Because the design leveraged prior technology and studies from the MicroStar MAVs, the first system was delivered by early summer of the same year. The airframe is made mostly of plastic foam, resembling hobby-grade model airplanes, and is powered by an electric motor driving a pusher propeller, making it very quiet in flight. It is launched using a bungee cord and carries three small CCD cameras. The UAV flies mostly under autonomous control, with the operator monitoring its activity via a laptop computer. In 2007, the U.S. Air Force FPASS office switched all of its UAV systems over to the RQ-11B Raven. The Desert Hawk has also been used by the 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery of the British Army as a tactical surveillance system, and has seen service in Afghanistan and Mali. It has since been replaced by the more capable and rugged Desert Hawk III.
Reader's Guide
The Desert Hawk represents a rapid-response solution for force protection, developed in a matter of months by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works. Its significance lies in its use of low-cost, foam construction and quiet electric propulsion, which made it suitable for covert perimeter surveillance. The UAV's autonomous flight capability and laptop-based operator interface reduced the training burden on security forces. The Desert Hawk's operational history includes service with both the U.S. Air Force and the British Army, with deployments in Afghanistan and Mali. Its legacy is marked by its replacement in U.S. service by the RQ-11B Raven in 2007, and its eventual evolution into the more rugged Desert Hawk III. The program demonstrated how miniature UAVs could be fielded quickly to meet urgent base-protection needs, and its design approach influenced later small UAV development.
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