Sunday, January 8, 2023

HAWK.


This is coolbert:

"PDA allows the United States to transfer defense articles and services from stocks quickly without congressional approval in response to an emergency."

HAWK American anti-aircraft missile to the Ukraine? American missiles of rather ancient vintage [albeit with a whole series of decades-long incremental improvements] but WITHOUT demonstrable proven worth in a combat environment.

HAWK = Homing All the Way Killer. I hope so.

"Exclusive: U.S. considers HAWK air defense equipment for Ukraine"

From www.reuters.com the story By Mike Stone

Originally reported in October the transfer of HAWK missiles now seems to be imminent.

"WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The United States is considering sending older HAWK air defense equipment from storage to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks, two U.S. officials told Reuters."

"The HAWK interceptor missiles would be an upgrade to the Stinger missile systems - a smaller, shorter range air defense system - that the United States has already sent to blunt Russia's invasion."

"The Biden administration would use the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to transfer the HAWK equipment which is based on Vietnam-era technology, but has been upgraded several times."

OLDER missiles and technology as from the "Vietnam-era" yes indeed! Honestly, I had thought these HAWK had been phased out and removed from the inventory a long time ago!

Honestly also I hope we don't have a repetition of the South Korean Nike Hercules missile ageing dilemma from several decades ago.

Antiquated South Korean Nike Hercules anti-aircraft missiles [of American manufacture] on the launch pad ready for combat solid-fuel rocket engines "having aged with chemical deterioration of the solid-fuel engines and having a 'shelf-life' far less than anticipated".

HOPEFULLY NOT THE SAME FOR HAWK!

coolbert.




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