The Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK ("Homing All the Way Killer")[2] is an American medium-range surface-to-air missile.

It was designed to be a much more mobile counterpart to the MIM-14 Nike Hercules, trading off range and altitude capability for a much smaller size and weight.

Jane's reported that the original system's single shot kill probability was 0.56; I-Hawk improved this to 0.85.

The MIM-23B I-Hawk missiles and later uses a low side lobe, high-gain plane antenna to reduce sensitivity to ground clutter in addition to an inverted receiver developed in the late 1960s to give the missile enhanced ECCM ability and to increase the Doppler frequency resolution.

[6] The MIM-23B has a larger 163 lb (74 kg) blast-fragmentation warhead, a smaller and improved guidance package, and a new M112 rocket motor.

The new warhead produces approximately 14,000 2-gram (0.071 oz) fragments that cover a much larger 70 degree arc.

It is not clear exactly what the difference between the two missiles - however it seems likely that the D family missiles represent an alternative guidance system, possibly home on jam developed in response to Soviet ECM techniques that were used by Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War.

MIM-23K Hawk missiles are effective up to 66,000 ft (20,000 m) altitude and up to 28 mi (45 km) in range.

It operates in the 500 to 1,000 MHz (C-band) frequency range with radar pulse power of 450 kW.

MPQ-34 Hawk CW Acquisition radar with a power rating of 200 W and a frequency of 10 GHz (X-Band) Built by Raytheon.

Frequency modulation is applied to the broadcast on alternate scans of the ICWAR to obtain range information.

Some changes to the signal processing allow the radar to determine the targets' range and speed in a single scan.

The HPIR automatically acquires and tracks designated targets in azimuth, elevation and range.

It also serves as an interface unit supplying azimuth and elevation launch angles computed by the Automatic Data Processor (ADP) in the Information Coordination Centre (ICC) to the IBCC or the Improved Platoon Command Post (IPCP) for up to three launchers.

The HPIR J-band energy reflected from the target is also received by the Hawk missile.

After the missile intercepts the target, the HPIR Doppler data is used for kill evaluation.

This X Band CW System is used to illuminate targets in the Hawk Missile Battery.

Unit automatically acquires and tracks designated targets in azimuth elevation and range rate.

Many of the electron tube components in earlier radars are replaced with solid-state technology.

The TAS was developed from the US Air Forces TISEO (Target Identification System Electro-Optical) by Northrop.

The I-TAS which was field tested in 1992 added an infrared capability for night operation as well as automatic target detection and tracking.

A Ku Band (Freq: 15.5–17.5 GHz) pulse radar, the power output was 120 kW.

Introduces the real-time exchange of air picture and commands between the Hawk units.

A composite system firing AIM-7 Sparrow missiles from a modified 8 round launcher.

As part of what became known as the Iran–Contra affair, Hawk missiles were some of the weaponry sold to Iran, in violation of an arms embargo, to fund the Contras.

It remain unclear what, if any, guidance system was used, but suggestions have included beam riding and Manual command to line of sight.

[citation needed] In November 2018, Iran unveiled a canister launcher for its Mersad system with the Shahin and Shalamcheh missiles modified into the body of a Sayyad-2.

Norway has developed its own Hawk upgrade scheme known as the Norwegian Adapted Hawk (NOAH) which involves the lease of I-Hawk launchers, HPI radars and missile loaders from the United States and their integration with Kongsberg 'Acquisition Radar and Control System' (ARCS) battle management stations and Hughes (now Raytheon) AN/TPQ-36A airspace surveillance radars.

It would perform full 3-D target acquisition over a 360° azimuth sector and large elevation angles.

The ACWAR programme was initiated to meet increasingly severe tactical air defence requirements and the equipment is being designed for operation of Hawk in the late 1990s and beyond.