US considers sending phased out Hawk missiles to Ukraine

The United States is considering sending old missiles that its own military stopped using to Ukraine as it continues to arm Kiev troops with deadly weapons.

Reuters cited two anonymous US officials as telling the news agency exclusively on Tuesday that Washington is considering sending the MIM-23 Hawk missile system from storage to Ukraine.

According to Reuters' sources, the US may send a few of the old missiles, which were made by the US giant arms manufacturer Raytheon Technologies, to Ukraine to see if the stockpile is still in good condition after being phased out years ago and stocked in stores.

Reuters was unable to determine how many HAWK systems and missiles the United States has available in storage to transfer. The White House declined to comment.

The HAWK system is the predecessor to the PATRIOT missile defense system which remains off the table for Ukraine, US officials have told Reuters.

Meanwhile, earlier this month US President Joe Biden once again pledged to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky after a major Russian airstrike on cities across the country targeting infrastructure that Washington would provide Ukraine with advanced air systems. 

Meanwhile, the US and its allies continue to supply the Kiev forces with more deadly weapons despite Russia's repeated warnings against exacerbating the Ukraine conflict.

SS