Vintage HAWK system proves effective against Russian missiles
Ukraine has reported success using the vintage American MIM-23 HAWK air defense system to intercept Russian cruise missiles and one-way attack drones.
Originally deployed by the U.S. Army in 1959, the HAWK system, despite its age, has proven highly effective in protecting Ukrainian cities and strategic infrastructure.
The HAWK system was first transferred to Ukraine by Spain in the fall of 2023, with six launchers and accompanying 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.
Ukrainian air defense units, armed with the Improved HAWK Phase III variant, have been using these systems to intercept Russian threats, including cruise missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones. According to Ukraine’s Air Force Command, one unit alone has downed 14 Russian cruise missiles and 40 Shahed kamikaze drones since it became operational.
“Hawks have performed well in intercepting cruise missiles. Despite their age, both the HAWKs and S-125M systems continue to perform admirably,” noted Ukrainian defense expert Taras Chmut in an August 6 post on social media platform X.
The MIM-23 HAWK system, a Cold War-era medium-range surface-to-air missile platform, has seen combat in several conflicts and is known for its reliability. Western analysts estimate the HAWK’s success rate at approximately 85%, though Ukrainian military sources believe that the system’s effectiveness may be even higher when operated by experienced personnel.
