The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of HAWK Phase III Missile System Sustainment to the Government of Ukraine.

The US reported that program support for the HAWK missile system will be provided through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

The United States will sell Ukraine up to $138 million worth of equipment to maintain and upgrade its HAWK air defense systems.

Under the FMS, the U.S. government uses the Department of Defense acquisition system to purchase defense goods and services on behalf of partner countries.

Eligible countries can purchase defense goods and services at their own expense or with money provided under assistance programs funded by the U.S. government.

In this way, the United States maintains the operational capability of HAWK air defense systems that protect the Ukrainian people and critical infrastructure.

“Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and the aerial capabilities of Russian forces,” the statement says.

The main contractors will be the RTX Corporation and the PROJECTXYZ company, which will take care of the Ukrainian HAWK systems.

“Equipment will be supplied from a combination of U.S. Army stock, country donations, Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS), and new production,” the US said.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require temporary duty travel of an estimated 5 U.S. Government and 15 contractor representatives to Europe.

The US MIM-23 Hawk medium-range air defense system was developed by Raytheon.

Initially, the system was developed to destroy aircraft, later it was modified to intercept cruise missiles. In the latest versions, the Hawk air defense system is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 40 km and an altitude of up to 18 km.