One of the units of the HAWK system shot down 14 missiles and 40 Shaheds

6 July, 2024 HAWK anti-aircraft missile system of the Ukrainian military.

2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Command of the Ukrainian Air Force

Russian missiles and drones have proven vulnerable to the HAWK air defense system. The command of the Ukrainian Air Force said that one of its units had already shot down 14 missiles and 40 Shahed LMs. The commander of the HAWK unit added that one of them had been a modern Russian Kalibr cruise missile.

"13 of them were Kh-59 missiles and one was a Kalibr missile," said Mykhailo. The Kalibr series of cruise missiles are long-range missiles that were first adopted in the 1990s. Russian submarines or ships are the carriers of these missiles during strikes against Ukraine.

Kalibr cruise missile.

Photo credits: Russian media

In turn, the Kh-59 cruise missile is designed specifically for tactical aviation and can be used with the Su-24M, Su-30, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57. There are three basic versions of this cruise missile: the X-59, X-59M, and X-59MK2 (in two sub-variants), with a launch range of 45 km, 110 km, and 285 km, respectively. Ukrainian air defense has been shooting down these cruise missiles since the beginning of the war.

The appearance of the IRIS-T, Patriot, NASAMS, and HAWK systems has increased the effectiveness.

Kh-59M. Photo from open sources

The first versions of the HAWK system hit air targets at a distance of 25 km and at an altitude up to 14 km. After the modernization, the maximum range of target interception increased to 40 km at a maximum altitude up to 18 km.

The HAWK air defense system of the Ukrainian military.

July 2024. Ukraine. A frame from the video of the Air Force Command

The HAWK air defense system of the Ukrainian military.

July 2024. Ukraine. A frame from the video of the Air Force Command

The HAWK air defense system of the Ukrainian military.

July 2024. Ukraine. A frame from the video of the Air Force Command

The HAWK air defense system of the Ukrainian military.

July 2024. Ukraine. A frame from the video of the Air Force Command

Spain is actively transferring these systems to Ukraine, which is also training Ukrainian forces.

Last October, the Spanish government approved the transfer of six M-192 launchers for MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.