Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).
Raytheon began developing what would become the MIM (Mobile Interceptor Missile)-23 HAWK (Homing All-the Way Killer) in the early 1950s. Northrop developed the launcher system. The U.S. Army (USA) began using it in 1959, the U.S. Marine Crops (USMC) in 1960.
Between 1971 and 1978, HAWK missiles got improved radar systems, so that they could engage low-altitude aircraft. But that was just the beginning, there were many other HAWK improvement projects that continued up until 1996.
According to the USA (U.S. Army), “The cost per missile is $250,000; per fire unit, $15 million; and per battery, $30 million.”
During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), Iran adapted the HAWK missile to be carried by their F-14 Tomcats, this was due to supplies of U.S. made Phoenix missiles being cut-off by the Reagan Administration. Iran was one of dozens of countries that used HAWK missiles, and after U.S. sanctions, was able to easily reverse engineer it for their own production and calling their version the Mersad.
BCC units also contain the Information Control Center (ICC) and the Platoon Command Post (PCP), all using the same trailered containers making them visually identical.
Operation Desert Storm, 17JAN1991–28FEB1991.
In 1994, the USA decided to replace their HAWKS with Patriot missiles, due to the success of the Patriots during Desert Storm. In 2002, the USMC decided to replace their HAWKS with the FIM-92 Stinger.
Ukraine Crisis, February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.
USA video report, 15OCT2015, South Korean HAWK launches during wargame:
USA video by Sergeant Mark Brejcha, NATO-Romania HAWK launch, 19JUL2017:
In 2019, photos published by the Iranian news media revealed that Iran was still using the AN/MPQ-50 Pulse Acquisition Radar originally designed for the HAWK, but this time Iran is using it for their own homemade anti-aircraft missile known as the Sayyad-2.
2021: South Korea retires last MIM-23 HAWK
On 04NOV2022, the NATO United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced the latest taxpayer funded giveaway for Ukraine, which includes rebuilt & upgraded Cold War era U.S. HAWK anti-aircraft missiles (to go with the four HAWK launchers being sent by NATO Spain).
Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: M1117, GUARDIAN OF SECURITY OR A FRANKENSTEIN? Originating with Viet Nam era V100, now being given away to Ukraine!