NEW ORLEANS, La. –
The AMCOM Security Assistance Management Directorate’s Non-Standard Missile Systems Directorate HAWK Project Office conducted the 30th HAWK International Partner Program Management Review/Fair Share Sustainment Operations event in New Orleans from Sept. 8-12, 2025.
Fair Share Sustainment Operations (FSSO) members from Bahrain, Japan, Jordan, Spain and Ukraine met with HAWK subject matter experts from both the U.S. government and industry to exchange ideas related to HAWK air defense missile systems modernization and obsolescence mitigation.
HAWK Project Manager Ellsworth K. “Kenny” Johnson III introduced the audience to a “State of HAWK” presentation and the theme, “HAWK – Defender of the Skies – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
Johnson reminded the audience of HAWK’s rich history, its vital role on today’s battlefield, and the technical initiatives underway to ensure HAWK’s relevance for the future. Today’s HAWK defends against threats that did not exist when it left the U.S. Army inventory in the 1990s.
Partners later met with SAMD international program managers to review topics of concern to their countries’ HAWK programs and to request information about HAWK technical initiatives of interest.
A highlight of the FSSO was when the Ukraine delegation acknowledged SAMD’s contributions for its dedication and efforts in supporting Ukraine’s HAWK program.
In celebration of the 30th FSSO meeting, partners were presented with ceremonial plaques and charter scrolls.
Key industry representatives who provided briefings at FSSO 30 included the original equipment manufacturer, Raytheon Technologies; contractor logistics support provider, PROJECTXYZ; and HAWK’s repair and return services provider, Sielman Corp.
Briefers included representatives from the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command and the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.
HAWK modernization and obsolescence mitigation topics included missile cloning, command, control and communications (C3) upgrades, and launcher conversions from analog to digital.
HAWK stands for “Homing All-the-Way Killer.” It is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system that entered service with the U.S. Army in 1959 and remained in the Army inventory until the mid-1990s. More than a dozen countries have procured HAWK systems via foreign military sales over the past half century.