Editorial, TPO, April 10, 2024 – The United States will sell Ukraine equipment worth $138 million (more than 127 million euros) to maintain and upgrade HAWK air defense systems to enhance protection against Russian attacks with drones and cruise missiles, Reuters reported.
A US State Department official announced the news while speaking to Reuters on Tuesday.
A recent $300 million grant
In 2022, the United States began sending HAWK interceptor missiles to Ukraine as a replacement for the Stinger man-portable air defense missile systems, which had a smaller and shorter range. Since then, Ukraine has received several air defense systems, including the US-made Patriot system.
The value of this US (military) sale to Ukraine amounts to a maximum of $138 million, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Although Ukraine has exhausted many of its US funds, Kiev recently received a grant of $300 million in military funding from the United States as part of the recently signed annual defense budget.
This funding will be used to fund the purchase of equipment, including engineering and communications integration, and the modernization of HAWK fire units.
In addition, the sale also includes components to re-certify older units, tools, test and support equipment, spare parts and more.
The President's right to express transportation of HAWK equipment
Implementing the sale is expected to require temporary missions to Europe by approximately five U.S. government employees and 15 contractor representatives to support training and sustainment, the official said.
The Presidential right has previously been used to transfer HAWK equipment to Ukraine. This provision allows the United States to quickly transfer defense items and services from US stockpiles without congressional approval in response to emergency situations.
MIM-23 HAWK, originally an acronym for “Homing All the Way Killer,” was first introduced in the 1950s when the U.S. Army was looking for ways to counter attacks by high-altitude strategic bombers.
The system was upgraded over the years for jamming and other countermeasures, and was eventually exported to more than a dozen countries, according to the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command.
