Medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems are likely to be removed from warehouses for transfer to Ukraine, but Kiev will receive missiles for these systems first.
The United States could transfer the MIM-23 HAWK anti-aircraft missile system from its warehouses to Ukraine to strengthen air defense. Speaking of which in shape Reuters, citing two American officials.
One of the interlocutors of the reporters indicated that the United States will most likely initially send interceptor missiles to Ukraine for the HAWK system in Ukraine, as it is not known whether a sufficient number of American launchers are in good condition, after all the SAM systems were stored in warehouses for decades. The transfer of HAWK will be considered later this week.
According to a US official, the military aid package that will include HAWK will be about half the size of the latest packages, worth around $ 700 million.
The agency noted that the HAWK system is a precursor to the PATRIOT missile defense system manufactured by Raytheon Technologies, the use of which is not yet considered by Ukraine, US officials told the publication.
Bit data “Military” portal, the medium-range anti-aircraft missile system was adopted by the United States in 1960 and has since undergone several modernization programs. The system was developed to destroy aircraft, later it was modified to intercept missiles. Early versions of the system hit air targets at a distance of 25 km and at an altitude of 14 km. After the modernization, the target’s interception range increased to 40 km at an altitude of 18 km.
The main firing unit of the complex is an anti-aircraft battery, which usually consists of two fire platoons with three launchers each. Each mobile launcher carries 3 MIM-23 anti-aircraft missiles. Launchers can be both self-propelled and towed.
Recall, recently it became known that Spain will move to Ukraine four launchers of the HAWK air defense system.
We also wrote that, according to the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germany will supply Ukraine with three new anti-aircraft missile systems IRIS-T in addition to the plant, already used for air defense
