US plans to send HAWK air defense equipment for Ukraine

The United States is considering sending older HAWK air defence equipment from storage to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks, two U.S. officials told Reuters on October 25.

The HAWK interceptor missiles would be an upgrade to the Stinger missile systems - a smaller, shorter-range air defence 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 defence articles and services from stocks quickly without congressional approval in response to an emergency.

Reuters was unable to determine how many HAWK systems and missiles the United States has available to transfer. The White House declined to comment.

The HAWK system is the predecessor to the PATRIOT missile defence system made by Raytheon Technologies which remains off the table for Ukraine, U.S. officials have told Reuters.

US President Joe Biden pledged to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington would provide Ukraine with advanced air systems after a devastating missile barrage from Russia earlier this month.