The Defense Minister of Spain Margarita Robles stated that Ukraine would receive another MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft missile system by September 2024. This will strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
In addition to supplying the necessary equipment and weapons, Spain will help to train 5,000 Ukrainian military personnel this year.
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But what capabilities can the transfer of the next MIM-23 Hawk give Ukraine? It would seem that a more relevant request for Ukraine is the MIM-104 Patriot SAM system that can shoot down ballistic missiles.
It should be noted that the first transfer of MIM-23 Hawk systems to Ukraine was announced in the fall of 2022. The first public results of the combat operation of this system in the Defense Forces of Ukraine became known in October of 2023. The first report on the work of Ukrainian air defense units on these anti-aircraft missile systems appeared in July of this year.
It is known that the MIM-23 Hawk is capable of shooting down airborne threats at a maximum range of 32-40 kilometers (depending on the distance). The flight speed of the missiles of this system is 2.7 Mach. This makes it possible to engage such targets as subsonic cruise missiles, drones, helicopters and aircraft at subsonic speeds as well as at short flight distances.
It should be noted that the Defenders of Ukraine have already demonstrated effective combat work of the MIM-23 Hawk. For instance, one of the units shot down 20 Shahed drones, three Kh-59 cruise missiles and one long-range Kh-101 cruise missile using this system.
Therefore, we can conclude that the transfer of MIM-23 Hawk to Ukraine is a tool for more efficient use of resources. The missiles of this system can be used to hit more "mass" targets, such as kamikaze drones and subsonic cruise missiles.
Earlier Defense Express reported that the British military was training Ukrainian soldiers to use Starstreak SAM system.
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