Reports in early November indicate that Taiwan may have indirectly supplied Ukraine with decommissioned MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft missiles.
Tony Hu, a former Raytheon representative in Taiwan, claimed in an interview that Taiwan “indirectly transferred” these missiles, possibly through a U.S.-coordinated process involving third-party countries. Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo’s comments on Youtube channel RJ War Room, reported by Forbes, seem to confirm that the U.S. brokered an air defense agreement between Taiwan and Ukraine.
The Hawk missiles, though older technology, are still effective against slower targets like drones and low-speed missiles. Originally developed in the 1960s, Hawks were retired from Taiwanese service and replaced by modern air-defense systems, including the NASAMS system. Although Taiwan has not openly supported Ukraine’s military efforts, indirect contributions of surplus equipment like the Hawk system would align with Ukraine’s need for air-defense support.
According to Defense Express, Spain, which has sent Hawk batteries to Ukraine, is believed to have received additional Hawk missiles possibly sourced from Taiwan, supplementing the missiles given to Ukraine.
With this supply, Ukraine could potentially increase its air-defense capacity as it defends against frequent aerial attacks. However, there is no official confirmation on the exact quantity or transfer route of the missiles. The Hawk systems may be adapted to work with newer radar technology, improving their utility alongside advanced air-defense platforms such as NASAMS.
