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Desert Hawk III

Lockheed Martin · UAV · United States · Modern (1992–2009)

Desert Hawk III — UAV
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The Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III is an American hand-launched, electric-powered small unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for U.S. and allied military customers. Entering U.S. military service in 2006, the Desert Hawk equips U.S. Air Force Force Protection units for base-perimeter surveillance, U.S. Army units, and allied forces worldwide. In the small UAV segment it competes directly with the AeroVironment Wasp, Raven, and Puma family.

Built around a fixed-wing airframe roughly 30 inches (76 cm) long with a 52-inch (132 cm) wingspan, the Desert Hawk III has an empty weight of 7 lb (3.2 kg) and a maximum take-off weight of 8 lb. An electric motor drives a single propeller, giving a top speed near 50 mph, endurance of 90 minutes, and a range of 6 miles. Operators launch the aircraft by hand and recover it via deep-stall landing — the same operating concept used by the AeroVironment family. The standard sensor package combines a daylight camera and an infrared camera, streaming real-time video to a portable ground-control station.

The platform's primary mission is base perimeter security and small-unit reconnaissance. For U.S. Air Force Force Protection units it provides organic aerial surveillance around forward operating bases, while U.S. Army and U.S. Special Operations Command users employ it for short-range battlefield reconnaissance. The operating profile is straightforward: continuous patrol patterns around a perimeter or designated area, with live video downlinked to ground operators to detect, deter, and characterise threats. At U.S. Air Force forward operating bases the Desert Hawk has delivered the persistent perimeter coverage that ground patrols alone cannot sustain.

Desert Hawk III has been continuously deployed since 2006. U.S. employment includes USAF forward operating bases across U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) — Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria — alongside U.S. Army deployments and allied operations. Foreign operators include the United Kingdom, where the British Army fields a large Desert Hawk fleet, plus Australia and Canada. As of 2026, more than 600 Desert Hawk III have been delivered to U.S. and allied users, with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works producing the type on demand for fielded customers. In market terms the Desert Hawk continues to compete with AeroVironment, which has held the bulk of the small UAV market since the late 2000s.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Desert Hawk III is a small drone made by Lockheed Martin. It is electric-powered and fits right in your hands. A soldier simply throws it into the air to launch it. It has been in service since 2006.

This little drone is smaller than a school bus — it is only about 30 inches long. Its wings stretch about 52 inches wide. It weighs just 8 pounds at most. That is lighter than a big bag of dog food!

The Desert Hawk III can fly for up to 90 minutes at a time. It can travel up to 6 miles away. It flies at nearly 50 miles per hour. A single propeller spins to push it through the air.

The drone carries two cameras. One records normal daylight video. The other is an infrared camera that sees heat. Both cameras send live video back to a small control station on the ground.

The American Air Force uses it to watch over the edges of their bases. The British Army also uses it to keep troops safe. Over 600 of these drones have been delivered to military teams around the world.

Fun Facts

  • The Desert Hawk III is smaller than a school bus — it is only about 30 inches long!
  • A soldier can launch it just by throwing it like a paper airplane.
  • It weighs only 8 pounds, lighter than most cats and dogs combined.
  • It can fly for a full 90 minutes on a single battery charge.
  • The drone lands by doing a deep stall — it tips back and drops gently to the ground.
  • It has two cameras: one for daytime and one for seeing heat in the dark.
  • More than 600 Desert Hawk III drones have been sent to military teams worldwide.
  • It was built by the famous Skunk Works team at Lockheed Martin, known for making top-secret planes.

Kids’ Questions

How does the Desert Hawk III take off?

A soldier holds it and throws it into the air by hand. There is no runway needed. The electric motor and propeller take over right away. It climbs up and starts flying on its own.

What do the cameras on the drone do?

The drone carries two cameras at once. One records normal video in daylight. The other uses infrared to spot heat, even at night. The video is sent live to a screen on the ground.

Who uses the Desert Hawk III?

The American Air Force uses it to watch the edges of their bases. The American Army and the British Army use it too. It helps keep soldiers safe by spotting danger from the air.

How far and how fast can it fly?

The Desert Hawk III can fly up to 6 miles away from the operator. It reaches speeds of close to 50 miles per hour. It can stay in the air for up to 90 minutes.

Variants

Desert Hawk (initial)
Original production variant; about 200 delivered to U.S. Air Force Force Protection and British Army units.
Desert Hawk II (improved)
Improved 2007 variant with upgraded sensors and a new data-link; about 150 delivered.
Desert Hawk III (current)
Current production standard from around 2010, with upgraded sensors, improved durability, and expanded mission options. About 400 delivered, still produced to customer order.

Notable Operators

U.S. Air Force Force Protection
Primary U.S. operator with more than 150 Desert Hawk III in inventory, fielded by USAF Security Forces units at forward operating bases for perimeter surveillance, intrusion detection, and force-protection tasks.
U.K. British Army
Largest single operator, with more than 250 Desert Hawk III delivered for short-range battlefield reconnaissance. Fielded across U.K. Land Forces formations and used during British operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Other allied operators
Australia and Canada among them. The Desert Hawk's compact form and fielded track record have made it attractive to allied forces needing portable battlefield reconnaissance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Desert Hawk III differ from AeroVironment Raven?

The two reflect different design choices. The RQ-11 Raven is an AeroVironment 4 lb airframe with a 4.4 ft wingspan, 1.5 hour endurance, and is the U.S. Army standard. Desert Hawk III is a Lockheed Martin Skunk Works 8 lb airframe with a 52-inch wingspan, 90-minute endurance, and serves as the USAF and British Army standard. Both fly the same battlefield-reconnaissance role: Desert Hawk offers slightly longer endurance and larger sensor payload, while Raven has wider U.S. Army adoption and a lower per-airframe cost.

Why is U.S. Air Force operating Desert Hawk?

USAF chose Desert Hawk for the base-perimeter surveillance role rather than adopting the Army's Raven. Three factors drove the decision: a USAF requirement for continuous perimeter coverage that differed from the Army's short-range reconnaissance need; Lockheed Martin's existing relationship with the Air Force; and the Desert Hawk's longer endurance, which suits continuous-patrol patterns. The split between USAF and U.S. Army small-UAV choices has been a recurring feature of U.S. small-UAV policy.

What is U.K. British Army Desert Hawk fleet?

The British Army operates one of the largest Desert Hawk fleets in the world, with more than 250 airframes delivered. The type was selected for the Army's short-range reconnaissance requirement and has been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other campaigns. That fleet size is a clear marker of the Desert Hawk's field success, particularly with allied users outside the United States.

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