Spanish HAWK missile system boosts Ukraine's defense capabilities
7:12 AM EDT, July 26, 2024
According to the Spanish Ministry of Defense, another battery of the MIM-23 HAWK system will be sent to Ukraine. Despite its age, this is significant aid for Ukraine.
Spanish Ministry of Defense has announced training for 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers. In September, another battery of the MIM-23 HAWK air defense and anti-missile system will become operational in Ukraine.
It is worth noting that the Spanish "Hawks" are more effective compared to the versions supplied by the USA. This is due to their modernization in 2021 with advanced AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radars and a digital fire control system. Although they still offer significantly lesser capabilities than the S-300, Patriot, or SAMP/T systems, they remain a useful tool amid shortages.
MIM-23 HAWK from Spain — a relic from the Cold War with modifications
The MIM-23 HAWK air defense system was introduced into service in the US Army in 1960 and quickly spread among the nations of the free world. Spain acquired its systems during the first modernization phase from 1979 to 1981 (PIP - Product Improvement Plan).
The core of the MIM-23 HAWK system now relies on an outdated guidance system that requires continuous illumination of the target by the fire control radar until impact. This is because the missile only has a receiver for radar signals, while the emitter is the battery's fire control radar.
Modern systems have radars mounted on the missiles, with the main battery radar guiding the launched missiles only in the initial phase of flight until they can "lock on" to the target. This allows simultaneous protection against multiple targets and facilitates action against an opponent with SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) capabilities.
However, with the Spanish battery already operating in Ukraine, the digital fire control system and modern radars significantly improve tackling difficult targets such as cruise missiles or even drones. Additionally, these "Hawks" have some capabilities to counter ballistic missiles that are unavailable to short-range systems like NASAMS.
Depending on the missiles used, the Spanish "Hawks" can counter targets at up to 16 miles and an altitude of 46,000 feet or targets at a range of 25 miles and an altitude of up to 59,000 feet. For the latter, particularly those produced since 1995, a 54-kilogram (119-pound) warhead was modernized to counter ballistic missiles. The missiles have a top speed of Mach 2.4 (2,685 feet/second) and are launched from towed or self-propelled launchers that hold three rockets.
