This is the first story of the legendary HAWK missile system of the US Army, the world's first mobile air defense system, which was used in service and combat around the world. Designed to counter the threat posed by advanced Soviet aircraft in the 1950s, the first HAWK unit entered operational service in 1959. At the height of its action, it served on the front lines in the Far East, Panama, Europe, and the Middle East. HAWK units were also used during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. In the hands of other nations, the HAWK proved effective in battle during the Arab-Israeli Wars, the Iran-Iraq War, the Chad-Libya War, and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Due to its deadly effectiveness, the USSR developed electronic jammers, anti-radar missiles, and other countermeasures specifically to reduce its effectiveness. The US withdrew the HAWK systems shortly after the end of the Cold War in 1991, when air defense priorities shifted from aircraft to ballistic missile defense, yet an upgraded version of the system remains in service to this day in many countries. Filled with archival photos and original art, this is the first book on the HAWK system. It includes research from HAWK technical and field manuals, interviews with HAWK veterans, and describes the authors' personal experiences with HAWK missile units, providing a comprehensive study of one of the most deadly and effective air missile systems of all time.