US sends surface-to-air Hawk missiles to Ukraine as part of a new military aid


According to information published by the United States Department of Defense on November 10, 2022, U.S. Missiles for the Hawk air defense system are headed to Ukraine as part of new $400 million military aid assistance from the United States.
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US Army soldiers inspect MIM-23B Hawk missiles on a towed launcher. (Picture source NARA Public Domain archive)


On November 4, 2022, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced funding to refurbish HAWK air defense missile systems. This new delivery of U.S. Hawk missiles to Ukraine will complete the supply of four Hawk air defense systems by Spain.

The American HAWK missiles, which will be refurbished using Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, will complement Spain's recent commitment of HAWK launchers to help Ukraine meet this threat

The U.S. will provide Ukraine with an unspecified number of HAWK missiles from its own inventory, but those missiles would first need to be refurbished. That refurbishment will be done using funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Once those missiles are refurbished, they will then be paired with HAWK system launchers that have been provided by Spain.

Due to Russia's continuing air attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, additional air defense capabilities are critical, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a briefing on November 10, 2022.

The HAWK is an American-made medium-range, surface-to-air guided missile that provides air defense coverage against low-to-medium-altitude aircraft. It is a mobile, all-weather day and night system. The missile is highly lethal, reliable, and effective against electronic countermeasures. Basic HAWK was developed in the 1950s and initially fielded in 1960. The system has been upgraded through a series of product improvements beginning with the Improved HAWK in 1970.

The latest generation of Hawk missile, the MIM-23B has a minimum engagement range of 1.5 kilometers, a maximum range of 35 km, a minimum engagement altitude of 60 meters, a maximum engagement altitude of 18,000 m, and a warhead of 75 kg HE blast/fragmentation.