Following the events of the first H.A.W.X., the United States Air Force decided to retain the services of the previously disbanded and reformed H.A.W.X. (High Altitude Warfare eXperimental) squadron, which was sent to the Middle East to investigate what happened to several missing nuclear warheads and locate them before the bad guys used them.

The option to pilot your aircraft during takeoff and landing from either a landing strip at an airfield on terra firma or the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is a new feature in H.A.W.X. You can now refuel your aircraft while it is in flight. Along with new features, the graphics have been upgraded, as has the A.I., which will now try harder to avoid your weapons and break your weapon lock. GeoEye mapping technology is being utilized to recreate numerous cities across the world.

There will be a variety of planes to pick from once again, including the A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-22 Raptor, F-2A, Eurofighter Typhoon, Harrier GR.9, and F-117A Nighthawk, as well as the option to fly UAVs remotely.

As with the original H.A.W.X., you can play the whole campaign solo, cooperatively with up to four friends in a drop-in/drop-out game, or competitively against them in scenarios such as straight-up dogfights and bombing A.I. controlled ground A.A. stations to score points.