Hawk Firing

MIM-23 Hawk

MIM-23 Hawk on display

MIM-23 Hawk

The MIM-23 Hawkis a medium range surface to air missile, built by the American Raytheon company. Some say that HAWK comes from Homing All the Way Killer. The initial main purpose of the MIM-23 Hawk was to destroy aircrafts, but eventually it was developed and adapted for all missiles in flight.

History

The development of the MIM-23 Hawk started in 1952 and the development contract was signed with Raytheon in July 1954, followed by the first firing test in 1956. The first time the MIM-23 Hawk entered service was in 1960 when the US Army battalion was activated. In 1959 NATO members Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the co-production of the Hawk system in Europe. By the year 1968, production arrangements were also made with countries in Asia (Japan, Israel) and other countries from Europe (Sweden, Spain, Denmark and Greece). In the same time the US started deliveries to Taiwan and South Korea. At this stage, the MIM-23 Hawk became the star of the Surface to Air Missile industry.

Since 1964 the MIM-23 Hawk passed through a four upgrade phases that where meant to make it more powerful, precise and reliable. The first one, in 1964; named HAWK/HIP (Hawk Improvement Program), brought many changes to the initial system. The most important was the addition of coordinator of central information based on a digital automatic data processor at the battery HO for processing of target, target intercept evaluation and threat ordering. Other changes of to the MIM-23 Hawk were the improved guidance package, a high-performance rocket motor and a larger warhead (75 kg vs. 54kg). These improvements helped the MIM-23 Hawk easily discriminate a target from the ground clutter, ensuring low altitude coverage.

The second phase of the MIM-23 Hawk upgrade started in 1978 and was fielded between 1983 and 1986, and the main upgrade was the AN/MPQ-46 HPI to AN/MPQ-57 standard: this was made by replacing some of the vacuum tube-based electronics with modern solid-state circuits; another important improvement was the addition of the optical Tracking Adjunct System (TAS) which is an electro-optical tracking system that makes the MIM-23 Hawk’s operability and survivability increase in a high-ECM environment.

The third phase was a major upgrade of the MIM-23 Hawk. It started in 1983 and ended in 1989. The upgrade enhanced the computer hardware and software, improved the detection target to single-scan target detection, implemented the Low-Altitude Simultaneous Hawk Engagement system (LASHE), which is a system that helps the MIM-23 Hawk to counter saturation attacks with the multiple low-level targets interception (a simultaneous interception).

Also, during this phase there was developed a process of the MIM-23 Hawk’s missile restoration called Missile Restore Reliability (MRR). This process happened between 1982 and 1984 and its main purpose was to improve the reliability of the missile.

There was a fourth phase in which was planned the following improvements: anti-radiation missile decoys, improved missile motor, a new CW engagement radar, improved command and control, high mobility continuous wave acquisition radar to improve the detection of small UAVs and ATBM upgrades. This phase was never completed, since both the Army and the US Marine Corps abandoned the MIM-23 Hawk.

The MIM-23 Hawkcan be transported by C-130/C-141/C-5 and heavy lift helo (extended load) One Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion in each Marine Air Control Group of each Marine Air Wing (two active, one Reserve).

The MIM-23 Hawk’s AN/TPS-59 radar is the main sensor for the Marine Air Ground Task Force. It is highly performing radar that provides air target information and raw video to the tactical air operations module; it also works as a air traffic controller and it can be forward-deployed as a stand-alone remote sensor. The radar range is 400 nautical miles and approximately 500,000 feet in altitude. The MIM-23 Hawk has a high power illuminator that tracks and illuminates targets. The remote sensors can transmit target data trough the data link and passive optical scan.

The MIM-23 Hawk’s fire control section allows manual or automatic launch from the firing section by the fire control. The MIM-23 Hawk can communicate with other TBMD systems through the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, thanks to the Air Defense Communications Platform (ADCP) which links the TPS-59 to the Hawks battery and transmit formatted data to other theater sensors. The MIM-23 Hawk missile has a target kill function, which provides a great defense against fixed and rotary aircrafts, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The hawk’s launchers have a missile aiming function and can support pre-launched commands and transport the missiles in tactical situations.