Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk

Background

The Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) program was launched by DARPA. After a $40 million technology demonstration contract to Honeywell in 2003, the project was transferred to the U.S. Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program for the Class I platoon-level drone.

In May 2006, Honeywell received a $61 million contract for an advanced MAV with extended endurance and a heavy-fuel engine. In 2007, the U.S. Navy awarded a $7.5 million contract for 20 G-MAVs (gasoline engine) for deployment to Iraq with the Multi-Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group. The hovering feature proved critical for searching roadside bombs and inspecting suspicious targets from close range.

The Iraq trials led to a surprise U.S. Navy order in January 2008 for 372 MAVs, designated RQ-16A T-Hawk, for EOD teams. Each of the 186 systems included two air vehicles and one ground station. In January 2009, the United Kingdom ordered five complete T-Hawk systems for delivery by 2010. In April 2010, Honeywell demonstrated the T-Hawk at the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker, Chhattisgarh, leading to planned user trials by Indian security forces.

U.S. Army service

Designated XM156 (Class I) by the U.S. Army, the aircraft was intended for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and laser designation. Total system weight was less than 51 lb and packable in two custom MOLLE-type carriers. It operated in open, rolling, complex, and urban terrains with VTOL capability, providing hover and stare capability not available in the Army UAV inventory. The Class I system entered evaluation at the Army Evaluation Task Force and was to be fielded to infantry brigade combat teams starting in 2011, but the Army issued a stop-work order on January 6, 2011, with formal termination on February 3, 2011.

Continued service

Its role went to the Puma AE. Despite cancellation, RQ-16s continued field use in Afghanistan. On September 19, 2012, Honeywell received a support contract for the RQ-16B Block II T-Hawk. As of October 25, 2013, the British Army had 18 T-Hawks in service as part of its Talisman counter-IED suite.

Note on Source Material

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