Ukraine – US considers sending old HAWK air defense systems to ground forces

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) The U.S. is considering sending Ukraine old HAWK air defense equipment from stockpiles to help defend against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks, two U.S. officials said. Reuters.

The HAWK interceptor missiles will be upgraded to Stinger missile systems — a small, short-range air defense system — that the U.S. already has deployed to deter a Russian invasion.

The Biden administration will use the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to replace the HAWK equipment, which is based on Vietnam-era technology but has been updated several times. The PDA allows the United States to quickly transfer defense goods and services from the stockpile without congressional approval in response to an emergency.

Reuters could not determine how many HAWK systems and missiles the US has for transfer. The White House declined to comment.

The HAWK system is a precursor to the Patriot missile defense system made by Raytheon Technologies, which is off the table for Ukraine, US officials told Reuters.

US President Joe Biden has promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Washington will provide Ukraine with advanced air systems following a devastating missile attack from Russia earlier this month.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Spain wants to deploy four HAWK launchers.

The US may send HAWK interceptor missiles to Ukraine first because it is unclear whether a sufficient number of US missiles are in good condition, a US official said. Reuters. US systems have been in storage for decades.

US officials said a PDA was being considered later this week. A U.S. official said it would be about half the size of the latest defense aid package, which was $700 million.

It was not immediately clear whether HAWK interceptor missiles would be included, but US officials have previously warned that the size and composition of military aid packages could change quickly.

Since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of neighboring Ukraine in what Moscow calls a “special military operation,” the United States has sent about $17.6 billion in security aid to Kyiv.

Evidence: Reuters