MIM-23 Hawk M192 Anti-aircraft Missile Launcher

Plastic model kit of an MIM-23 Hawk M192 launcher

• 1:35 scale
• Based on former Dragon molds
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The M192 was the standard launcher for the American MIM-23 HAWK air defense system and served as the launch platform for HAWK surface-to-air missiles for several decades. Mounted on a trailer, the launcher could carry three MIM-23 guided missiles ready for firing and was a component of HAWK air defense batteries operated by the US Army, the US Marine Corps, and numerous NATO nations, including the Bundeswehr.

The launcher featured hydraulic drives for traversing and elevating but lacked its own radar or autonomous fire control capabilities. Target acquisition and tracking were handled by the HAWK battery's radar units, while the M192 automatically aligned the missiles with the calculated intercept point. The semi-active radar-guided HAWK missiles were then engaged against aircraft and other medium-range aerial targets.

A typical HAWK battery consisted of several M192 launchers which, together with search and fire-control radars and loading vehicles, formed a potent air defense system. Reloading was performed using specialized transport and loading vehicles capable of mounting three missiles onto the launcher simultaneously.

During the Cold War, the M192 underwent several upgrades to accommodate the various generations of HAWK guided missiles; however, its basic design remained virtually unchanged for decades. As the HAWK system was replaced by more modern air defense systems, the M192 was gradually phased out of service, though it remained in use in some countries for a long time and remains one of NATO's most well-known air defense launchers to this day.