T-Hawk gives Soldiers, Marines eyes on the battlefield

January 19, 2012

By Ms J. Elise Vanpool (AMC)

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Jan. 18, 2011) --Soldiers and Marines are getting a new unmanned aerial vehicle that will give them real time intelligence on the battlefield.

The T-Hawk UAV system is being fielded to Soldiers and Marines by field service engineers located at Army Material Command compound at Camp Leatherneck. The systems will give small units the ability to collect real time intelligence while on missions with a system that is organic to their unit.

"It lets us get the information we need," said Marine Cpl. Harry Hall, from Los Angeles, Calif., of Marine Combat Logistics Regiment 25.

A small group of field service engineers from Honeywell, teach Marines and Soldiers how to operate the system.

"We teach them the principles of flight and how the vehicles perform," said Giovanny Lahoz, from Rio Rancho, N.M., a field service engineer with Honeywell, the company that makes the T-Hawk.

After a short four-day class, the units are ready to pilot the system on their own on missions.

"It's easy to setup and is a good asset for us to have," said Marine Sgt. Daniel Rabenstein from Altoona, Pa., also with Combat Logistics Regiment 25.

The T-Hawk allows units to quickly get real-time intelligence on the battlefield without having to rely on higher headquarters to provide them with air assets.

"When we are out we have to rely on air assets not organic to us. With this we can get it in the air quick and get a look at something," said Rabenstein.

"It provides a low level asset they can employ any time," said Lahoz. "It gives them that flexibility."