Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk

Lockheed Martin · United States · first flew 2002 · reconnaissance aircraft

The Desert Hawk is a small hand-launched reconnaissance UAV developed by Lockheed Martin for tactical battlefield surveillance at platoon and company level. Its compact electric-powered airframe can be assembled and launched by a two-person team within minutes.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × electric, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	0.86 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Hand-launched mini-UAV
Electric pusher propeller
Foam composite airframe

Very small foam-bodied high-wing monoplane with a pusher propeller at the rear; its near-silent electric motor and small size make it almost undetectable at operational altitude.

Specifications

The Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk has a length of 0.86 m (3 ft).
It has a wingspan of 1.32 m (4 ft).
Its maximum speed is 93 km/h (58 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed in the early 2000s and first deployed by US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Desert Hawk filled the need for organic ISR at the lowest tactical levels. The UK Royal Artillery also adopted the system and used it extensively in both theatres.

Variants

The Desert Hawk III was the primary operational version, featuring improved endurance and a gimballed electro-optical/infrared sensor; it was replaced in UK service by the Prox Dynamics Black Hornet nano-UAV.

Where you'll see it

Operated by US Army and UK forces during the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns; the system has since been retired from frontline use in both nations as more capable small UAS entered service.

Related aircraft

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