The US is Keeping the MIM-23 HAWK Alive for Ukraine

A Romanian MIM-23 Hawk missile is fired from Capu Midia Training Area, Romania, July 19, 2017. The exercise was part of Tobruq Legacy, an air defense exercise where the US and its NATO Allies and partners came together to enhance air defense in Eastern Europe by training together and sharing techniques and strategies. (US Army Photo by Pfc. Nicholas Vidro) Public domain.

I have reason to believe that the pause in US aid to Ukraine is temporary. Regardless, US military deployments in support of our European allies and partners are ongoing, likely because they were planned years in advance of Trump and Hegseth’s arrival.

Having said that, the US just opened a HAWK refurbishment center in Oklahoma to help maintain Ukraine’s supply of old HAWK SAMs — as well as allies who still use the HAWK.

So, while it may seem that the US is done helping Ukraine, maintain hope. My sources are telling me this is temporary.

Now, Ukraine still has an ongoing air defense problem. A big one.

In fact, a random sampling of my content here over the past five years reveals that this topic likely represents a full third of my work.

With a vast territory to protect and not nearly enough air defense systems to go around, Ukrainian military leaders are forced into a brutal game of strategic Tetris — protect the front lines or safeguard major cities?

There’s just not enough firepower to do both.

And then, as if that wasn’t enough, by the end of 2022, Ukraine started running dangerously low on ammunition for its aging Soviet-era air defense systems. Enter NATO and Ukrainian engineers, who decided to pull…