Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X Back-Story © 2008, Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
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Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X
“High Altitude Warfare – Experimental Squadron”
Contents © 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
H.A.W.X – A brief History:
The “High Altitude Warfare – Experimental Squadron” (or H.A.W.X) traces its origins to 1943. In
the midst of the Second World War, the United States initiated a program to acquire, evaluate
and reverse-engineer enemy aircraft. Headquartered near Wright Field (now Wright-Patterson
Air Force Base), it operated in conjunction with the OSS and the British Royal Air Force and was
dubbed Project FALCO (Foreign Aircraft and Logistics Capture Operations).
FALCO managed covert field operations teams in every major combat theater of the war. These
teams were a maverick combination of engineers, linguists, enemy defectors – and of course,
some of the Allies’ most skilled and unorthodox combat-hardened pilots. As the war progressed,
these aviators were frequently called up on by Allied High Command to put their skills to the test,
using captured aircraft to insert covert agents and commando teams behind enemy lines and
flying some of the most secret combat missions of the entire war.
With the war drawing to a close, FALCO teams became involved in targeted efforts to obtain
specific enemy technologies. Allied forces took custody of numerous Axis scientists, pilots and
engineers, and captured a veritable treasure trove of advanced aircraft.
In 1950, amid well-publicized USAF speculation that the enemy aircraft of WWII having given up
their secrets, FALCO was officially ‘shut down’ by the US Department of Defense.
Except of course, it wasn’t. With the realization that combat aviation was evolving into supersonic
engagements at high altitudes with nuclear bombers and missile-armed interceptors, FALCO
personnel, projects and facilities were simply re-organized into the ‘High Altitude Warfare’
(H.A.W.) group.
Positioned as an element of Tactical Air Command (later Air Combat Command), this secret
group works under the guise of the 24th Test and Evaluation Squadron. In an effort to further hide
the operational aspects of the unit, it was officially re-named High Altitude Warfare –
Experimental Squadron, or H.A.W.-X (The "X" being the US military designation for
'Experimental'). With time, the abbreviation was shortened to just H.A.W.X
The squadron’s elite fighter pilots are recruited from the most experienced and skilled combat
veterans of the USAF, USN and USMC flight squadrons. The most highly-trained combat pilots
in the world, they gain experience on all upcoming aircraft and weapon systems during the testing
phase, helping refine designs and becoming the first to use them in combat should the nation
require it. Capable of piloting virtually any aircraft from any branch of the US Military, in addition
to many foreign designs, they are the 'top breed' of military pilots on Earth.
Based out of Langley Air Force Base in Southern Virginia, and with specialized West Coast
facilities at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, the H.A.W.X squadron is involved with three main
tasks:
1) Testing and evaluation of the latest, most experimental and secret US and Allied aircraft
and weapon systems, including piloted and unpiloted (UAV) high-altitude systems.
2) Combat or Recon missions based on national defense needs. H.A.W.X missions are
generally considered 'black ops' and operational history is a closely guarded secret. The
H.A.W.X squadron, thanks to their ability to pilot virtually any aircraft and access to the
latest and most powerful aircraft and weapons, allow the US to have a clear 'edge' in air
combat operations when needed.
Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X Back-Story © 2008, Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
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3) As needs dictate (less frequently than the tasks listed above) the H.A.W.X squadron is
involved with the training of US and Allied pilots and the capture and evaluation of enemy
or non-allied air-oriented technologies.
Most recently, with the changes in international dynamics due to the rise of the PMCs, the
H.A.W.X squadron’s unique skills are more in demand than ever before.


Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X
Storyline
Contents © 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
The Private Military Contractors (PMCs)
As the era of the nation-state draws toward its end, the world of warfare is evolving rapidly. New
challenges demand new solutions, sometimes with unpredictable outcomes.
For many years, state-sponsored militaries have struggled to maintain and modernize their
forces. Increasing budget restrictions and difficulties in recruiting skilled personnel have led many
countries to seek other solutions. More and more nations now rely increasingly on Private Military
Contractors (PMC) – elite mercenary groups staffed with equally elite personnel - to support their
field operations.
PMCs have proven to be excellent partners in respect to efficiency, skills, low prices, and
reliability. They’ve been able to fulfill most of the mission normally handled by regular armies,
without risking political fallout.
In time, these private military corps diversified their field of operations, from mere securing land
objectives to motorized assault and counter-intelligence. It was not long before a few of these
PMC secured enough resources to require being involved complete support air and sea-bound
operations.
With each passing year, the PMCs expand their influence and scope of activity. Initially just
consultants, they are now involved in surveillance, logistics, site security, and other essential
roles. In order to keep the war machine going most of the PMC warranted firms dealing with other
sources of income such as mining, oil extraction, airliners, goods manufacturing etc. Ensuring a
steady flow of currency allowed these companies to operate a tighter game against their
opposition. Each year, they come closer to serving as fully operational field units, and their
services are so widely used they’re already essential. Pandora’s Box has been opened. There’s
no getting rid of the PMCs now.

The Reykjavik Accords
2012: The Reykjavik Accords are ratified by 191 countries, including the US and all the major
powers.
They define and limit the role of PMCs in combat, as well as their new responsibilities in terms of
human rights. The right of PMC units to serve in every aspect of military operations is now
officially authorized: They can be engaged in full-scale forward operations.
The guidelines set down by the accords are simple. PMCs act as international and independent
entities and must be contracted by a sovereign state to enter a conflict. They cannot target civilian
Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X Back-Story © 2008, Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
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populations. PMC operational units have the status of official combatants, and a PMC unit must
use their own equipment to fulfill their missions.
As a consequence they are now fully authorized to purchase heavy equipment on the
international armaments market (fighters, attackers, armored vehicles etc.) PMC units are now
real private armies officially recognized by sovereign states. The war market has been
deregulated: States lift all commercial restrictions to conventional weapons exchange with PMC
units, so long as they respect the Reykjavik Accords. Within the limits of the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty, it is now up to each nation decide whom they wish to sell to – and what they
wish to sell. Most of the leading nations, including the United States, choose to sell only their
older, outmoded equipment to the PMCs. A few, however, see the opportunity for quick profit, and
make available even top of the line military hardware.
Turning PMC units into operational international armies is intended to decrease regional and
international conflicts, better protect civilian populations and human rights, and intensify the
international war on terror. PMCs are seen as the future of peace-keeping forces, and their lack
of political entanglements and quick response times theoretically makes them excellent fast
responders to crises and humanitarian missions.
A dark future
During the 2012-2018 timeline, the global military power will gradually shift toward the PMCs as
they grow more and more independent from their high power self-governed contractors. From all
the theatres of operations worldwide the South American episode was the main leverage of the
PMC uprising. Near the end of 2016, before the arms threat would become obvious, the mere
presence of these private contractors already had a negative impact on the economy of all the
sovereign states, sapping their initiative and response capabilities.

Oh, this comes from an Ubi document put out in prelude to Ubidays.

sweet sounds cool

Do you play as a merc or air force pilot in the game?

Don't know.

This is all I have.

Sounds pretty sweet im in anticipation..