Views: 18
Ukraine gets a new HAWK, raising the stakes for Russian aircraft.
Spanish MIM-23 HAWK surface-to-air missile systems are currently in Poland, with plans for their transport to Ukraine scheduled for tomorrow, November 24. This follows Spain’s earlier confirmation of preparations to send the systems, making Spain the first country to provide MIM-23 HAWK missiles to Ukraine in 2022, during the initial year of the conflict.
Ukrainian sources report that the country is currently operating enhanced HAWK Phase III air defense systems. Despite their age, these systems remain highly effective, thanks to extensive upgrades carried out during the 1990s. The Ukrainian Air Force has showcased the HAWK’s ability to intercept a variety of airborne threats, including Shahed drones and Kh-59 cruise missiles.
Oleksandr, a Ukrainian operator, described how the HAWK system was utilized to intercept Russian cruise missiles and Shahed drones. He emphasized the system’s effectiveness against these threats, sharing his experience with its successful use.
“The adrenaline was at full force! We repelled the air assault for almost the whole night. The air defense battle lasted more than six hours,” Oleksandr recalled in October 2023.
Taras Chmut, a Ukrainian military expert, also praised the HAWK’s performance: “HAWK works excellently for intercepting cruise missiles. Despite its age, both the HAWK and the S-125M continue to deliver great results,” he commented on X [formerly Twitter].
Almost a month ago, David Anderson, editor of Military.News provided an overview of the HAWK’s effectiveness in Ukraine. He noted that the system had successfully downed over 40 Shahed drones and 14 Russian cruise missiles, proving that, despite its vintage, it remains a critical asset in Ukraine’s defense.
The MIM-23 HAWK is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system designed to protect vital installations and military forces from aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones. Developed by Raytheon in the late 1950s, the HAWK became one of the key systems in the U.S. and allied nations’ arsenals during the Cold War and continues to serve today.
The HAWK employs radar systems to detect and track targets, providing multi-layered coverage across various altitudes and ranges, making it particularly effective against fast-moving and hard-to-detect threats like cruise missiles.
It is typically used alongside more expensive and long-range air defense systems, such as the S-300 or Patriot, to provide layered defense in theaters of operations where rapid deployment and response are essential.
The HAWK is also capable of autonomous operations, with its radar system detecting, tracking, and neutralizing targets with missiles. The system includes several components: a radar, launcher units, and the missiles themselves. The radar has a range of approximately 120 kilometers, and various versions of the HAWK feature upgraded radar and control stations, with newer digital systems improving tracking efficiency.
The radar offers coverage up to 18 kilometers in altitude, capable of detecting and tracking high-speed objects like fighter jets and missiles. The missiles typically measure around 5 meters in length and 0.35 meters in diameter.
They are powered by solid-fuel engines and employ active radar, semi-active radar, and infrared sensors for guidance. Different missile variants, such as the MIM-23B, MIM-23C, and MIM-23E, have been developed over the years, with the MIM-23E featuring improved sensors and greater maneuverability.
The HAWK missiles typically fly at speeds of around 2.5 Mach and have operational ranges of 35 to 50 kilometers. Modernized versions of the system, particularly those with Phase III upgrades, use digital components for fire control, significantly enhancing precision and system performance.
The MIM-23 HAWK has been widely deployed across the globe, with countries including the United States, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, and Turkey among its users. Despite its age, the HAWK remains in service in many countries, benefiting from ongoing upgrades that make it a versatile and effective air defense solution in modern combat.
Historically, the HAWK system has been deployed in various conflicts, including the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and Iraq War, where it demonstrated its capability against fast-moving and ballistic threats.
In the 1990s, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states used the HAWK during conflicts with Iraq, and Israel continued to modernize and use its HAWK systems into the 2000s, notably for intercepting missile threats from Lebanon and Syria.
In the 2003 Iraq War, the HAWK played a role in protecting coalition forces from potential air attacks. In the 2010s, countries like Turkey and South Korea continued to use the HAWK, although many have since upgraded to more advanced systems like the Patriot and THAAD.
In Ukraine, the MIM-23 HAWK has been delivered as part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s air defense against Russian missile, drone, and aircraft threats. The HAWK has proven effective in this role, demonstrating its continued relevance on the modern battlefield.