Ukrainian soldiers are in Spain to be trained on Hawk air defense missile system.

According to a statement published by the Spanish Ministry of Defense on January 13, 2023, more than 200 Ukrainians are now in Spain to be trained on the use of the Hawk air defense missile systems donated by Spain.
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Launcher unit of Hawk air defense missile system. (Picture source Spain MoD)

The basic training course about the Hawk air defense missile system will take place at the Italian Infantry Academy in Toledo for five 5 weeks involving 200 Ukrainian soldiers.

On October 25, 2022, Army Recognition editorial team reported that Spain had made the decision to deliver anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine including Aspide and Hawk medium-range surface-to-air missiles. Both air defense systems will come from the military inventory of the Spanish armed forces.

According to the military balance 2021, before the war in Ukraine, Spain's army had 38 MIM-23B I-Hawk Phase III and 13 Skyguard/Aspide air defense missile systems.

The Hawk missile is a medium-range surface-to-air missile developed by the US military in the 1950s. It was designed to provide air defense against aircraft and cruise missiles. The missile is guided by radar and has a range of up to 25 miles. It has been used by many countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and more.

The Hawk is a mobile air defense missile system that consists of several key components, including launcher vehicles, radar, control center, and different types of missiles.

The Hawk missiles are typically launched from a mobile launcher vehicle, such as a truck or a tracked vehicle. These vehicles are equipped with the necessary hardware and software to support the launch and guidance of the missiles.

The Hawk system is guided by radar, which is used to detect and track incoming aircraft and missiles. The radar system can be either a separate unit or integrated into the launcher vehicle.

The Hawk system also includes a control center, which is used to manage and coordinate the various components of the system. The control center is usually manned by several operators who are responsible for controlling the radar, launcher vehicles, and missiles.

The Hawk system uses a variety of different missiles including B - C- D variants, each with its own specific capabilities and range. The missiles are typically stored in a nearby magazine and are loaded onto the launcher vehicles as needed. The latest version the MIM-23D has a range of 80 km (50 miles) and a maximum altitude of around 30 km (100,000 feet).