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Hawk air defense systems being prepared for combat duty – Ukrainian Air Force

Hawk air defense systems being prepared for combat duty – Ukrainian Air Force

Air Defense Air Force of Ukraine Military assistance Ukraine War with Russia World

Hawk air defense systems are being prepared to enter combat duty in Ukraine.

This was announced by the spokesman of the Air Force Command Yuriy Ihnat on the air of the national telethon. A newly reinforced Ukrainian air defense system is expected in the coming days.

According to Yuriy Ihnat, currently, the vast majority of Russian missiles used to attack Ukraine are shot down by Soviet-era air defense systems.

However, the Hawk anti-aircraft missile systems will soon join the Western-made NASAMS and IRIS-T air defense systems.

“We see that both NASAMS and IRIS-T are already working. We expect that the Hawk, which is preparing to enter the combat ranks of the Air Force of Ukraine, will also work. Thus, we will strengthen the existing air defense systems. Today, the air defense system consists of old Soviet-era elements. This is the basis that knocks down all the indicators you see,” Ihnat said.

Spain has promised to transfer six Hawk air defense systems to Ukraine.

Defense assistance from the USA provides for the allocation of funds for the modernization of HAWK anti-aircraft missiles for their further transfer to Ukraine.

MIM-23 Hawk is an American medium-range anti-aircraft missile system manufactured by Raytheon. It was developed in 1960, and since then, it has undergone several modernization programs.

Initially, the system was designed to destroy aircraft, and later upgraded to intercept missiles. The first versions of the system had a range of 25 km for aerial targets, and an altitude of 14 km. After modernization, the maximum target interception range was increased to 40 km with a maximum interception altitude of 18 km.

The main firing unit of the system is the anti-aircraft battery, which usually consists of two firing platoons with three launchers each. Each mobile launcher houses three MIM-23 anti-aircraft missiles. Launchers can be either self-propelled or towed.

In addition to launchers, depending on the modification, the battery includes various radars, a mobile control post, an IFF system, and several other auxiliary equipments.

In 1994, the United States Army replaced the system with the MIM-104 Patriot SAM. The system was finally decommished in the United States in 2002 after the American Marine Corps removed it from service. In total, approximately 40,000 missiles were produced globally for this type of SAM. They were manufactured not only in the United States, but also in several other countries under licensing agreements.

Air Defense Air Force of Ukraine Military assistance Ukraine War with Russia World