Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk (Tarantula Hawk)

History

The Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk is a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) currently in limited service with the US Army and US Navy. It was also procured by the UK and is being inspected by the Indian military. The system allows backpack-sized portability and single-person operation, with vertical launch capability, allowing deployment outside of confined outdoor spaces. Explosive ordnance disposal technicians use the RQ-16 to understand specific potentially lethal situations.

To date, MAV has proven to be very strong in this area and has served operators well. Get an up-close look at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor, which was hit by a major earthquake and tsunami, using the RQ-16 system. A T-Hawk MAV was lost on top of Reactor 2.

Honeywell International is a customer and manufacturer of the RQ-16. The RQ-16 was initially trialled (successfully) in the Iraq theater and has since been widely used in the Afghanistan theater.

The RQ-16 features a 3W-56 56cc flat-twin 4 hp engine capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 mph with a service limit of 10,500 feet. With a total weight of 20 pounds, the system can be disassembled into two main parts for transport. Includes two tote bags.

On September 19, 2012, it was announced that the U.S. Navy had awarded Honeywell International a $8,286,161 contract to support the RQ-16B T-Hawk (Block II Micro Air Vehicle) system for the ongoing "Enduring Action" grants freedom.

"T-Hawk" takes its name from "tarantula hawk", a predatory wasp found in the American Southwest.

Specification

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