The last Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting was held at Ramstein Air Base, in Germany, and new announcements were made regarding the transfer and provision of equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Among them, Spain, through its Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, confirmed the immediate shipment of a battery of MIM-23 HAWK anti-aircraft missiles.
In July, during a videoconference meeting between the Defense Ministers of Spain and Ukraine, the Spanish government committed to a forthcoming shipment of HAWK anti-aircraft missiles that had been decommissioned by the Spanish Army.
Following the conclusion of the UDCG meeting, Spain’s Ministry of Defense announced: “In response to President Zelensky’s explicit request for air defense systems, Minister Robles announced the immediate delivery of a complete HAWK battery, including the 6 missile launchers also donated by Spain and already positioned in Poland.”
Additionally, as part of Spain’s ongoing support for Ukraine, it was reported that: “Margarita Robles also announced the renewal of the program for hosting Ukrainian families in military residences on the Spanish coast starting October 1, and the increase in training course offerings for Ukrainian armed forces personnel under the EU’s EUMAM mission, aiming to exceed 6,000 trained soldiers by the end of the year.”
This new shipment of material adds to the previous contributions made by Spain, which have included Leopard 2A4 tanks and Patriot missiles for Ukraine’s air defense systems. For the MIM-23 HAWK, this new batch complements previous shipments that began in 2022.
About the MIM-23 HAWK
Alongside Spain, the U.S. and Sweden have been involved in the effort to assemble HAWK battery systems for Ukraine. This initiative also included the delivery of some components, as proposed by Sweden, and the transfer of missiles and spare parts to replenish the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ stock.
The HAWK air defense system was designed by the American company Raytheon and entered service in the 1950s. Over the years, updates and improvements have been made to various components, such as the radar, propulsion system, new warhead, and electronic countermeasures systems. These modifications have enhanced the performance of the HAWK and extended its operational life.
Although a few years ago it was considered outdated by modern standards, its effectiveness against drones and Russian missiles has been demonstrated in Ukraine. Its transfer has also allowed local forces to partially rebuild their defensive umbrella, which has been severely tested and worn down by years of conflict.
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