The decision was announced by the US Department of State on Friday. Washington stated that this agreement would strengthen Ukraine's integrated air defense without affecting the regional balance of armed forces.
According to a statement from the Department of State, Kiev has asked the U.S. government and contractors to provide extendable mast trailers, maintenance and major modification support, spare parts, consumables, repair and return services, as well as engineering, technical and logistical assistance for FrankenSAM HAWK missile systems.
The main contractor for the project will be Sierra Nevada Corporation based in Englewood, Colorado.
In its statement, the Department of State said the planned sale would contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States through strengthening “the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe.”
Washington added that the package will help Ukraine face “current and future threats” by strengthening its integrated air defense capabilities, both for self-defense and for regional security missions.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not impact the fundamental balance of power in the region.” — we read in the statement, which also noted that this transfer “will not have a negative impact on the defense readiness of the United States.”
Is there a HAWK system?
HAWK – short for “Homing All the Way Killer” – is a US-developed medium-range surface-to-air missile system, originally designed during the Cold War to destroy aircraft and later adapted to intercept cruise missiles and drones.
Although these are legacy Patriot systems, modernized HAWK batteries remain in service in many countries and continue to provide effective medium-range air defense.
The FrankenSAM program mentioned in the release combines Ukrainian Soviet-era air defense systems with Western missiles and radar technology, allowing Kiev to more quickly and cheaper incorporate NATO-standard munitions into existing systems.
