Entered into service by the US military in 1959, the HAWK system, despite its age, has proven to be very effective in protecting Ukrainian cities and strategic infrastructure.
For the first time, Spain transferred the HAWK system to Ukraine in 2023. in the fall, along with six launch systems and training for 64 Ukrainian personnel. Since then, other NATO allies, including the United States, have also supplied additional HAWK units to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
Armed with the upgraded HAWK Phase III, Ukrainian air defense units have used these systems to intercept Russian threats, including cruise missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones. According to the headquarters of the Ukrainian Air Force, since one unit became operational, it has shot down 14 Russian cruise missiles and 40 Shahed kamikaze drones.
The Hawks are good at intercepting cruise missiles. “Despite their age, both the HAWK and S-125M systems continue to work well,” noted Ukrainian defense expert Taras Khmut on the X social network.
The MIM-23 HAWK, a Cold War medium-range surface-to-air missile system, has been used in several conflicts and is known for its reliability. According to Western analysts, the success rate of HAWK missiles is about 85 percent. – although Ukrainian military sources believe that the effectiveness of the system can be even greater if it is operated by experienced specialists, writes Defense Blog.
2024-09-11 08:14:19