Hawk

Hawk
Production information
Manufacturer:	Last City
Model:	VTOL Aircraft
Technical specifications
Engine(s):	Thrusters
Other system(s):	Side Armor ; Headlights ; Taillights
Armament:	Chain Gun (Destiny) ; Autocannon (Destiny 2)
Crew:	City Pilots
Usage
Year introduced:	SIVA Crisis
Role(s):	Troop Carrier ; Gunship
Affiliation:	Forces of the City

This article is about the Guardian transport. For the animal, see Hawk (animal).

The Hawk is a troop carrier VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft that is used by the Last City. It is typically seen making cargo deliveries at the Tower, but the Hawk is fully outfitted with weapons and combat specifications.

History

Hawks are mentioned carrying Guardian reinforcements during The Plaguelands mission by Shiro-4.^[1]

During the mission A Symbol of Honor, part of the Beauty in Destruction Quest, a Hawk arrives to assist the Guardian in defending Bannerfall from a Fallen assault, providing fire support with its chin-mounted rotary machine gun.

During the Red War, it was used as an attack fighter against Red Legion forces; during Homecoming Amanda Holliday used one to drop off The Guardian on The Immortal. Dead Orbit has their own fleet of heavily armed Hawks. They can be seen periodically visiting the Tower Ramparts' Hangar, in the area adjacent to the faction's designated area below the Future War Cult space.

Hawks were deployed on the Moon to repel the Hidden Swarm's offensive in the mission A Mysterious Disturbance, where they fly over the combat zones and fire at ground troops with their cannons. They later transport a Drake Tank for the Guardian to use in further breaching the Hive's lines.^[2]

A Hawk piloted by Holliday herself was deployed in the Vox Obscura mission, first dropping off a Drake, then providing fire support in the assault at the rebel's main base.^[3]

Anastasia Bray provides air support from a Hawk during the Heist Battleground: Mars activity, while activating the "A" tower and later when climbing the scaffolding towards the Mindlab.

Gameplay

When Hawks appear as allies, in Destiny 2, they fly in a loop over the battlefield, avoiding the fire of grounded foes. Their main weapon is an autocannon with high stopping power, that is typically fired in 2-4 round salvoes. Hawks are invulnerable to enemy fire, though foes will prefer to attack grounded targets. Still, players shouldn't rely on them to deal with more powerful threats, like Majors and Ultras.

Hawk-type Jumpships

Some Hawks have also been modified to serve Guardians as personal ships:

Trivia

During the 2013 E3 demo, the Hawk was used by Guardians to deploy outside of the Cosmodrome. This cutscene, as well as the whole sequence, has been replaced by the story mission A Guardian Rises. Hawks are never used by players in the final release of the game.^[4]
Courtesy of the Warmind expansion, the Hawk is available for players to use as personal Jumpships.
The Hawk's design is likely inspired by the real-life Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft.
The Bungie Rewards Hawk gunship replica comes with a postcard that details a Hawk's length, width and height.
- Length: 28.35 meters, width: 20.12 meters, height: 10.06 meters.

Gallery

Concept art depicting the Hawk.
View of a Hawk in flight.
The FOTC logo acronym on the tail of the Hawk.
A modified Hawk with Dead Orbit livery.
Alpha Umi, a personal jumpship. Obtained as a random drop from Sleeper Nodes scattered throughout Hellas Basin.
A Vanguard Hawk fighting over the Lunar Battlefields