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MIM-23 Hawk vs 2K12 Kub: how to tell them apart

Two air defence systems that are easy to mix up at a glance. Here is what tells them apart.

MIM-23 Hawk, air defence system from USA

MIM-23 Hawk

Air defence system, USA. In service since 1960

What gives it away

Towed launcher with three large missiles side by side on a two-wheeled trailer mount.

Used by

Spain, Greece, Egypt, Ukraine, Iran and others

Photo: Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Center. 1994, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
2K12 Kub, air defence system from Soviet Union

2K12 Kub

Air defence system, Soviet Union. In service since 1967

What gives it away

Tracked launcher with three large missiles side by side on a rotating mount.

Used by

Russia, Ukraine, Poland and many others

Photo: Villarreal9, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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