8th Missile Battalion HAWK

The 8th Missile Battalion (HAWK) was a U.S. Army air defense unit equipped with the MIM-23 HAWK (Homing All the Way Killer) surface-to-air missile system. Activated during the Cold War, the battalion was tasked with providing medium-range air defense for ground forces and critical infrastructure, primarily in Europe as part of NATO’s deterrence posture against potential Soviet air attacks. Throughout its service, the 8th Missile Battalion participated in numerous training exercises and readiness operations to maintain peak operational capability. The unit was eventually inactivated as advancing technology and shifting defense strategies led to the phasing out of the HAWK system in favor of more modern air defense solutions.