The Spanish government will immediately send a full HAWK air defense system battery to Ukraine.

According to the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the battery consists of six launchers for engaging air targets.

“Given President Zelensky’s clear request for air defense systems, Minister Margarita Robles announced the immediate shipment of a complete HAWK battery,” the Spanish Defense Ministry said.

At the Ramstein Summit, Margarita Robles also spoke in detail about the processes of preparing new aid packages.

The projects implemented by the Spanish defense industry as a result of the bilateral Security Agreement between Spain and Ukraine were also discussed.

Spain was the first country to transfer MIM-23 HAWK anti-aircraft missile systems in 2022. They are also being transferred by the United States.

The Ukrainian air defense uses these SAMs to protect cities and strategic sites from Russian cruise missiles and drones.

In early July, the command of the Ukrainian Air Force said that one of the units armed with the HAWK has already shot down 14 Russian cruise missiles and 40 Shahed kamikaze UAVs.

Ukraine is now equipping itself with the Improved Hawk Phase III variant of the anti-aircraft system.

Despite their age, they have remained relevant due to the large-scale modernization that took place during the 1990s.

The SAM element base was replaced with a digital one, and more modern radars and a command post were integrated.

The Phase III variant of the Hawk is capable of intercepting airborne targets at a range of 40 km with a maximum altitude of 18 km.