RQ-16 T-Hawk, short for Tarantula Hawk, was developed by Honeywell as a small ducted-fan vertical-takeoff UAV. It was fielded in the 2000s for close-range reconnaissance, especially in urban terrain and explosive-ordnance or improvised-explosive-device contexts. Its ducted fan made it very different from fixed-wing small UAVs.
The T-Hawk uses a ducted lift fan for VTOL and hover, allowing it to inspect buildings, walls, roads, culverts, and suspicious objects at close range. It is small, portable, and sensor-focused rather than armed. Hovering ability comes at the cost of endurance and speed compared with fixed-wing UAVs, but it gives operators precise observation in cluttered environments.
Operationally, T-Hawk was used to look for IEDs, inspect danger areas, and provide short-range overwatch without exposing personnel. It is not a MALE UAV; it is a miniature tactical VTOL scout. Its importance is in showing the shift toward small hovering robots for close combat and route-clearance support.
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