HAWK Missile

Written by: Mohsen Shirmuhammad Translated by: Hadi Qorbanyar
30 بازدید

The MIM-23 HAWK is an American medium-range surface-to-air missile known in Iran as the “HAG”. It was one of the most critical air defense weapons deployed by Iran against Iraqi aircraft during the Sacred Defense.

The HAG is a supersonic, medium-range missile designed for air defense against aircraft and ballistic missiles at low to medium altitudes.[1] It measures 5 meters in length and 36 centimeters in diameter, reaches altitudes between 30 and 16,000 meters, has a range of 40 kilometers, and travels at a speed of Mach 2.5.[2] It uses solid fuel and carries a 30-kilogram warhead.[3]

The HAG missile site comprises a complex array of equipment. It is built around a fire-control command cabin, while the missile launch pre-check cabin stands separately nearby. The site has two radar units designed to detect and identify targets across both high and low altitudes. Once a target is identified, the missile will be launched according to the standard engagement protocol. Then, a separate guidance radar—other than the detection radars—initiates tracking and guidance of the missile. This radar is positioned separately within the site perimeter. The launch configuration includes three platforms on the left and three on the right side of the site, each loaded with three missiles, totaling eighteen missiles per site.[4]

The development of the HAWK missile began in 1953, and NATO approved its deployment in 1960.[5] The HAG missile system was introduced to Iran in 1975 and deployed across eight battalions stationed at regional operational centers and air defense groups in locations such as Dezful, Tehran, and Bushehr.[6]

With the onset of the imposed war, Iranian military commanders decided to deploy HAG missile sites to active combat zones, aiming to ensure aerial coverage over key conflict areas.[7] Although the HAG system featured advanced electronic technology for its time, Iranian personnel had not completed full operational training before the victory of the Islamic Revolution. As a result, site setup and relocation were handled by American contractors—an expensive and time-consuming process.[8] Initially, it appeared that relocating HAG sites was beyond the operational capacity of the Iranian Air Force. However, a group of its innovative personnel took on the challenge.[9] In May 1982, three fully operational HAG batteries—named Tabuk, Badr, and Kheibar—were successfully transferred from the air defense groups in Bushehr, Omidiyeh, and Dezful to the Beit al-Muqaddas operational zone. Following this deployment, the HAG system was used to provide air defense coverage during operations Ramazan, Moslem Ibn Aqil, Muharram, and Preliminary Valfajr.[10]

On February 7, 1983, in a rare and notable event, an HAG missile intercepted and destroyed an Iraqi SCUD surface-to-surface missile in the skies over the Preliminary Valfajr operational zone near Chazabeh.[11]

To ensure low-altitude air defense, HAG sites were also employed in six major operations throughout 1983-1984 (Valfajr 1-6). Operation Kheibar, carried out in early 1984, was the most intense battle involving HAG surface-to-air systems. Three HAG batteries supported this operation,[12] during which the system sustained heavy damage.[13]

The establishment of Raad Headquarters on January 5, 1986, gave Iran’s air defense more room to focus on protecting the domestic regions. Supported by the Army Air Force’s Support and Logistics Command, the Raad Headquarters extended coverage to active battlefronts and supplied air defense systems. This included the provision of HAG missile sites required for operations Karbala 4 and Karbala 5. Of the eight HAG sites under Raad command, six were consistently deployed to operational zones while two remained in maintenance rotation.[14]

Due to the vulnerability of HAG sites to Iraqi aircraft equipped with anti-radiation missiles,[15] Iranians used an innovative tactic in Operation Valfajr 8 (February 1986). The radar unit of the HAG surface-to-air missile system—normally installed near the launch platforms—was deliberately relocated farther away. This forced enemy aircraft, which typically launched missiles from distances exceeding 65 kilometers, to move closer in order to target the radar. Therefore, the aircraft would come within the HAG’s 50-mile engagement range, significantly improving the system’s interception capability.[16]

Another key development during the Sacred Defense was mounting HAG missiles on F-14 fighter jets. At the time, Iranian Air Force commanders sought a viable replacement for the Phoenix missile to maintain aerial superiority. After months of research, the Self-Sufficiency Jihad Directorate of the Air Force proposed the HAG missile.[17] The most challenging phase of the project—integrating missile tracking with the aircraft’s radar system—was successfully completed by Iranian military specialists and defense technicians.[18]

On May 25, 1988, the first successful test launch of an HAG missile from an F-14 aircraft was conducted at the Semnan firing range.[19] Subsequently, during Operation Mersad in July 1988, an Iraqi MiG-29 was shot down by an HAG missile launched from an Iranian F-14.[20]

HAG missiles proved effective at medium altitudes throughout the war. Nonetheless, they could not intercept high-altitude aircraft such as the MiG-25.[21]

It is worth mentioning that Iran obtained 235 sets of HAG missile components during the McFarlane affair (1985-1986).[22]

After the war, and in line with the Air Force’s strategic plans, a program to upgrade the HAG missile system was launched in early 2006 through a series of research initiatives.[23] As a result, the Mersad air defense system was developed as an Iranian version of the HAG, using reverse engineering techniques. This marked the first major step toward the production of homegrown air defense systems in Iran.[24]

 

 

 

[1] Aslani, Yaqoub, Raket va Moushakhaye Estratejik-e Jahan – Moushakhaye Sath be Hava (World Strategic Rockets and Missiles – Surface-to-Air Missiles), Vol. 6, Tehran, Entesharat-e Sazman-e Aqidati Siasi-ye Artesh, 1380, p. 33.

[2] Ibid., p. 38.

[3] Ibid., p. 35.

[4] Babamahmoudi, Mahdi, Shekarchi-ye Doshanbeh: Goftogou ba Sarhang-e Padafand Khosrow Jahani, Bakhsh-e Nokhost (Monday’s Hunter: Interview with Air Defense Colonel Khosrow Jahani, Part One), Mahnama-ye Sanaye-e Havaei, No. 291, Aban 1394, p. 9.

[5] Aslani, Yaqoub, Ibid., p. 36.

[6] Gorouh-e Asatid-e Maaref-e Jang, Maaref-e Jang (War Knowledge), Tehran, Entesharat-e Iran Sabz, 1393, p. 362.

[7] Ibid., p. 372.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Gholami, Baratali, Padafand-e Havaei: Seir-e Tosee va Takamol (Air Defense: The Course of Development and Evolution), Vol. 1, Tehran, Entesharat-e Iran Sabz, 1399, Pp. 123–124.

[11] Babamahmoudi, Mahdi, Ibid., Pp. 11–12.

[12] Gholami, Baratali, Ibid., p. 125.

[13] Gorouh-e Asatid-e Maaref-e Jang, Ibid., p. 375.
 

[14] Gholami, Baratali, Ibid., p. 138.

[15] Namaki, Ali-Reza, Nirooye Havaei dar Defa Muqaddas (The Air Force in the Sacred Defense), Tehran, Entesharat-e Iran Sabz, 1389, p. 292.

[16] Ibid., p. 319; Barrasi-ye Amalkard-e Samane-ye HAWK dar Amaliyat-e Valfajr 8 (Assessment of the HAWK System Performance in Operation Valfajr 8), Khabargozari-ye Defa Muqaddas, 14 Bahman 1400, www.defapress.ir/fa/news/504079

[17] Kareshki, Muhammad-Reza, Be Sooye Qolleha (Toward the Peaks), Tehran, Entesharat-e AJA, 1393, p. 254.

[18] Ibid., p. 255.

[19] Ibid., p. 256.

[20] Ibid., Pp. 259–260.

[21] Cordesman, Anthony va Abraham Wagner, Dars-haye Jang-e Modern – Jang-e Iran va Araq (Lessons of Modern War – The Iran-Iraq War), Vol. 2, trans. Hussain Yekta, Tehran, Nashr-e Marz-o-Boom, 1390, p. 383.

[22] Cordesman, Anthony va Abraham Wagner, Dars-haye Jang-e Modern – Jang-e Iran va Araq (Lessons of Modern War – The Iran-Iraq War), Vol. 1, trans. Hussain Yekta, Tehran, Nashr-e Marz-o-Boom, 1389, p. 467.

[23] Kareshki, Muhammad-Reza, Ibid., p. 241.

[24] Se Samane-ye Padafandi-ye Bartar-e Jomhouri-ye Eslami-ye Iran ra Bishtar Beshenasim (Get to Know the Top Three Air Defense Systems of the Islamic Republic of Iran), Khabargozari-ye Tasnim, 11 Khordad 1400, www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1400/03/11/2513478