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Desert Hawk III

The Desert Hawk III (DHIII) is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed by the Lockheed Martin Aerospace company in 2006 for use by modern militaries. It is a small surveillance drone, which is mainly used by the United Kingdom, but has also been used by the United States to assist in the war on terror by executing reconnaissance and recovery missions.

Specifications

Development
The Desert Hawk III was created by the Skunk Works team at Lockheed Martin as an update to the original Desert Hawk, which was developed in 2002 with its first actual flight coming in 2003. The original is slightly smaller and heavier than the DHIII, and the DHIII can stay in the air over thirty minutes longer.

The Desert Hawk III is made out of a special polypropylene material. Polypropylene is moldable when heated to a high enough temperature and returns to a solid state when the temperature is lowered back to normal. Polypropylene was chosen because of its flexibility and ability to protect the device with its rugged surface.

Engine
The DHIII has one electric engine. This engine powers the propeller located on the nose of the plane. The electric engine was chosen to minimize the level of sound made by the vehicle. The quiet engine allows the vehicle to get closer to a subject during missions without being heard.

Radars
There are three different radars used by the DHIII:


 * Synthetic aperture radar (SAR): Creates images by using radio waves that bounce off of surfaces, then measuring the echos. The SAR can be used in all weather conditions, while still providing an accurate image.


 * Signals intelligence (SIGINT): Intercepts electronic signals, and either records them as new information or matches them to known data.


 * Communications intelligence (COMINT): Intercepts electronic signals, specifically communication between people, and records the information. COMINT is used to find out who transmitted the signal, their location, and how long the signal lasted.

Sensors and Cameras
The DHIII is equipped with the following sensors and cameras:


 * Infrared sensors, which detect heat.


 * Electro-optical sensors, which detect changes in light.


 * Long wave infrared imager (LWIR), which is a unique camera that captures thermal images to show differences in heat.


 * Laser illuminator, which records video when it is dark with night vision technology.

Ground Control Station
The Ground Control Station (GCS), the Desert Hawk III’s remote control system, is a large briefcase that is comprised of all of the tools needed to operate up to four Desert Hawks at once. It is equipped with tracking capabilities, multiple antennas for proper connectivity, and it is operated by a remote control similar to an Xbox 360 controller. The GCS is portable and weighs 15 pounds.

The GCS programs flight patterns for missions into the DHIII. Then, when the vehicle is in flight, the GCS uses the autopilot function to perform the programmed flights. The autopilot function allows the operator of the DHIII to focus on using the sensors, radars, and cameras to gather the needed information during the mission. However, the operator is in control during launch and landing sequences.

Performance
The DHIII is a hand-launched aircraft with specific techniques for launching and landing the vehicle. Those who perform these sequences are highly trained individuals with a large amount of simulation practice and experience.

Launch Technique
The DHIII is launched by hand using a bungee cord. The bungee cord is attached to a base and is then used to catapult the DHIII into flight. After the launch the ground control station takes over with the flight commands.

Landing Technique
The DHIII does not land like most airplanes do. This is due to the fact that it does not have wheels. It is important that the vehicle lands as close to vertically as possible. To perform a proper landing the operator must take into account, the angle of descent, the wind, and the terrain the vehicle is landing on. The operator of the DHIII may bring the device around multiple times to make sure the landing goes smoothly.

Deployment
The first order of Desert Hawk IIIs was made by the British army in 2006. They were used by the the royal artillery and the 32nd regiment in Iraq. In late 2007, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense signed a contract, worth $4.8 million, with Lockheed Martin for more DHIIIs.

In 2013, there was a total 222 Desert Hawk IIIs in service for the British army, which was almost 40% of all drones in service. It was also reported that 412 DHIIIs had crashed, broke down, and been lost behind enemy lines between the years 2008 and 2013.