The United States may pull its Vietnam-era HAWK air defense missiles and launchers out of storage to send to Ukraine. The HAWK PIP III R ground-to-air missile could help protect Ukraine from Russian drone and cruise missile attacks. Mike Stone of Reuters writes (abridged):
The United States is considering sending older HAWK air defense equipment from storage to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks, two U.S. officials told Reuters.
The HAWK interceptor missiles would be an upgrade to the Stinger missile systems – a smaller, shorter range air defense system – that the United States has already sent to blunt Russia’s invasion.
The Biden administration would use the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to transfer the HAWK equipment which is based on Vietnam-era technology but has been upgraded several times. The PDA allows the United States to transfer defense articles and services from stocks quickly without congressional approval in response to an emergency. […]
The HAWK system is the predecessor to PATRIOT missile defense system made by Raytheon Technologies which remains off the table for Ukraine, U.S. officials have told Reuters.
Steve Schneider
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