US to Sell Ukraine $138M Worth of HAWK Air Defense Equipment to Counter Russian Threats
The US is set to sell Ukraine up to $138 million worth of equipment to enhance its HAWK air defense systems, which will help Ukraine defend against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks.
The US has previously provided Ukraine with HAWK interceptor missiles as an upgrade from shoulder-launched Stinger systems.
Since then, Ukraine has received other air defense systems, including the US-made Patriot system.
This emergency foreign military sale was announced on Tuesday, and Ukraine has also received a $300 million grant for military financing as part of the annual US defense spending bill.
The text describes the use of grant money to purchase HAWK fire units and related equipment from Europe.
The purchase includes engineering and integration for communications, refurbishment of HAWK fire units, missile recertification components, tools, test and support equipment, and spare parts.
The sale will necessitate travel to Europe for approximately 20 individuals for training and sustainment.
The HAWK equipment has been transferred to Ukraine before using presidential drawdown authority, which allows for quick transfer of defense articles and services without congressional approval in response to an emergency.
The MIM-23 HAWK is a missile system introduced in the 1950s by the US military as a defense against high-flying strategic bombers.
Originally named "Homing All the Way Killer," it was upgraded to counter jamming and other threats, and was eventually exported to over a dozen countries, according to the US Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command.