The HAWK system is an aircraft interception surface-to-air missile (SAM) system to short-medium ranges, which compliments the Patriot missile system in its missions. The system, built by U.S. "Raytheon" company was received in the Israeli air force by its Anti-aircraft array in 1965, and had evolved significantly through the years.

In early 1963 an Israeli team headed by haed of IAF's air department, went to the U.S. in order to study about the system, and make proper arrangements for its delivery to Israel. The team consisted of pilots, technicians and some other personnel. After 6 months of training the team moved to the launching stage which was crowned with success. In march 1965 the teams arrived back to Israel with the first HAWK batteries.

The HAWK (homing all the way killer) missile system is the first modern weapon system acquired from the U.S. by Israel. It was the basis for the set up of a modern, well equipped Anti-aircraft array, and was in fact the main reason for the transition of all Anti-aircraft array from the Artillery corps to the Air force.

The approval to the purchase of the HAWK missile system was given only after a personal meeting between Israeli P.M. David Ben-gurion and U.S. president John F. Kennedy. Ben-gurion insisted that Israel was endangered by its arab neighbours as a result of their constant military build-up.

The HAWK missile system consists of a command and control center, a detection and tracking radar, a range radar and a homing center.

The HAWK missile is a single-stage rocket mounted on a launch vehicle, which gives the system a high mobility. The missile has a semi-active guidance system - the missile homes at the target as the radar lights it with a returning radiation. The acceleration and cruise engines are propelled with solid fuel, and the warhead is made of a crushed explosive.

During the years, many changes had been put into the HAWK system, and the present system is quite different from the one that had been deployed in the 60's. The technology had been adapted to counter present threats.

For example, in the 70's an option to skip from deployment sites in short time was added. Also, the analog systems had been replaced to digital ones, improving the missile's performance envelope greatly by increasing its speed and maneuverability, and also shortening its flight and response times.
In the 80's the system's computer was replaced to a faster one, and the radar mastering was improved.
In addition, an israeli unique method extended the missiles' life time by factor of 16.

The HAWK system has some advantages over the Patriot missile system such as performing a 360 degree detecting, occupying and launching, and efficient dealing with low and close targets, at some situations.
It excels in tough terrain deployment, and its low costs enable equipping of a relatively large number of batteries.

In september 1998 , the Israeli Anti-aircraft array converted a first HAWK battery into its most recent evolution - The PIP-3 (product improve project). In april 1999, the first PIP-3 battery was operational.

The project's goal was to adjust the existing HAWK system into 21-century threats and technologies.

The main improvement of the PIP-3 system is its advanced man to computer interface technology, which enables, among other things, a better inner roles distribution.

Also, the new PIP-3 systems utilizes a fully computerized control-trailer, similar to the one installed in the Patriot system. Connectivity to the Patriot system was also one of the goals of the PIP-3 project.
All Israeli HAWK batteries have currently been converted to PIP-3 version.

Since the its deployment in 1965, the HAWK system has credited 36 aircraft and helicopter hits/downs to itself, which took place during the War of Attrition , Yom Kippur war and Peace of Galilee war.

In the War of Attrition, HAWK batteries were deployed in Sinai in order to reinforce the existing array. In March 21 1969, a first worldwide kill was signed to the HAWK system - Before noon A new HAWK battery, which was deployed at Baluza, north to the town of Kantara in the Sinai region detected , by controller assistant Yariv Geva, an Egyptian Mig-21 aircraft which took off from Port-said airport. Geva alerted the sirens and put the battery in a state of alert. The controller, Yair Tamir, tracked the aircraft on the radar, in its flight from north to south along the Suez canal, and when the Mig-21 broke to a course heading towards the HAWK battery, a missile was launched upon it and it was shot down.

During the War of Attrition, HAWK batteris had shot down additional 10 aircrafts. In the Yom-Kippur war HAWK batteries had shot down 24 aircrafts, and in the Peace of Galilee war, one kill was credited to the HAWK system.