New HAWK anti-aircraft missile training course for the Ukrainian military begins

• A new batch of Ukrainian military personnel has begun their instruction on the use of the HAWK anti-aircraft missile as part of the activities of the European Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine.

As a further continuation of the activities already carried out throughout the first half of 2023, the 74th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment is offering a new course to train several dozen Ukrainian military personnel in the use and maintenance of the HAWK missile system.

This is in fulfilment of the needs expressed by the Ukrainian government to improve its air defence capabilities in the face of the serious threat posed by enemy means of attack, be they aircraft, missiles or unmanned aerial systems. The HAWK has proven to be very effective, especially against these, as its authorities have repeatedly stated, thanking Spain both for the donation of such means and for the instruction carried out to train its personnel. The latest request was made by President Volodomir Zelenski himself during the last summit of heads of state and government held in October in Granada.

As part of Spain's commitment to assist Ukraine in its self-defence capabilities, the 74th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment has once again been designated to generate yet another training module, with the aim of instructing Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in the tasks related to the operation of the HAWK missiles.

The entire training of this module, which includes theoretical and practical training, is being carried out in Dos Hermanas (Seville), as in previous modules. For this purpose, highly qualified and experienced personnel from the Regiment have been chosen to form the team of instructors.

Thanks to them, the Ukrainian personnel will acquire the necessary skills and knowledge on the operation of the HAWK anti-aircraft system through an intensive instruction and training programme.

The European Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine has been materialised by the Spanish Armed Forces through the creation of the TTCC structure, the Toledo Training Coordination Center. Reporting to the Operations Command, it has its headquarters in Burgos, and directs the activities that the units of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force carry out in accordance with the commitments signed by Spain.

Some of these are permanent, as is the case of the UFC or Combat Training Unit in Toledo, and others provide specific courses to meet the demands expressed by Ukraine, as was the case with this course on the HAWK anti-aircraft system.

The TTCC is permanently programming modules to meet the needs expressed by the Ukrainian government. In the present case, it coordinates with the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command on the weapons systems requested, whether with HAWK missiles or other types of missiles as required.