Taiwan may have secretly sent a large shipment of HAWK air defense systems to Ukraine – Forbes

Taiwan might have become one of the largest supporters of Ukraine’s Air Force by transferring surplus HAWK surface-to-air missile batteries to Ukrainian forces, according to Forbes, citing sources, as reported by NV.

The publication highlights increasing indications that Taipei has sent a significant shipment of these systems to Kyiv. Notably, the RJ War Room YouTube channel confirms reports from 2023 suggesting an air defense agreement between Taiwan and Ukraine, facilitated by the United States.

It's noted that Taiwan’s MIM-23 HAWK (Homing All-the-Way Killer) missiles, along with their launchers and radars, would complement additional HAWK systems provided to Ukraine by the U.S. and Spain. In total, Ukraine could deploy up to 15 HAWK batteries, each equipped with at least six launchers carrying three missiles each, along with corresponding radar systems.

According to Forbes, this means that HAWK systems could comprise nearly one-third of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. Although Taiwan is not officially an active supporter of Ukraine’s military efforts, its contribution has been significant.

In the summer of 2023, reports indicated that American officials were in talks with their Taiwanese counterparts about purchasing around a dozen HAWK batteries — approximately 100 launchers — which Taiwan had begun decommissioning in 2015. The large shipment was intended to help Kyiv avoid exhausting its stockpile of S-300 and Buk missiles. Since then, Ukraine has diversified its air defense network by integrating a wide range of foreign missiles, launchers, and radars.

While HAWK systems don’t match the capabilities of Patriot systems and have a much shorter range, their primary drawback is the radar’s susceptibility to interference. However, these complexes could still aid Ukraine if integrated with newer NASAMS radar technology, which offers enhanced capabilities.