Starstreak

, England; one of the three missiles has been fired , September 2006 Development on the missile began in the early 1980s after an evaluation of missile and gun options to increase air defence capabilities showed that a high-velocity missile system would best meet the needs and could also replace existing shoulder-launched missiles. A General Staff Requirement (GSR3979) was drawn up with the requirements of the system, specifying the requirement of three launch platforms for the missile: • A self-propelled launcher. In 2011, when it won a contract for the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), Thales announced it had agreed with the Ministry of Defence to "re-role previously contracted budgets to facilitate the full-scale development, series production and introduction of the LMM." The contract affected is speculated to have been Starstreak. ==Description==

mobile, short-range air-defence platform When used in the light or MANPADS role, the Starstreak missile is transported in a sealed launch tube. This tube is attached to an aiming unit for firing. The operator tracks the target using the aiming unit's optically stabilized sight. The process of tracking the target allows the aiming unit to compute the right trajectory to bring the missile together with the target. The operator can indicate wind direction to the unit and, in the case of a long-range target, provide superelevation. When the initial tracking is complete, the operator fires the missile by pressing a button. • As the missile itself does not seek out a target, the shooter must remain on target and stationary until impact. An enemy that spots the launch smoke/flare of a Starstreak launch or is warned by a Missile Approach Warning System may be able to return fire, shaking the operator's aim or even killing the operator. • Because the system uses a single guidance system, only one missile can be guided at a time, unlike some radar and all infrared missiles. ==Service history==

The missile was brought into service with 12th Regiment Royal Artillery and 47th Regiment Royal Artillery in 1997 as part of the High Velocity Missile (HVM) system equipped with both the Air Defence Acquisition Device (ADAD) and a ×60 thermal sight. Each regiment was equipped with 108 HVM self-propelled armoured launchers mounted on the Stormer tracked chassis capable of holding eight missiles ready to fire and a further eight reloads (the original capacity of twelve was reduced during a revision). The launchers could originally run on batteries for extended periods to minimise their signature, but significant upgrades dramatically increased the system's power requirements. A light-role variant known as HVM Lightweight Multi Launch (LML), capable of holding three ready-to-fire missiles, was also brought into service with the Air Defence Troop Royal Marines and a Royal Artillery Air Assault Battery attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade. The systems' armoured variant, the HVM Self Propelled (Stormer), saw service during the Second Gulf War but did not fire. The British Army currently uses the A5 fifth-generation missile, significantly improved from the original missile. The HVM SP and LML variants now carry a mix of both Starstreak A5 and Lightweight Multirole Missiles. In 2012 HVM LML light role detachments equipped with Starstreak A4 missiles were emplaced on top of several blocks of flats in London to provide air defence for the 2012 London Olympics. In 2013, the British MoD ordered 200 more Starstreak missiles. On 16 March 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced that the UK would supply Ukraine with Starstreak missiles to help prevent Russian air supremacy. British soldiers trained Ukrainian forces to use the system. HVM SPs were also deployed to Poland as an interim measure until the arrival of Sky Sabre. In April 2022, Starstreak missiles were in use by Ukrainian soldiers, and it was reported that Ukrainian forces appeared to have successfully used the system to shoot down a Russian Mi-28N attack helicopter. The missile, according to footage released by the UK MoD, hit with all three projectiles, splitting the helicopter in half. By June 2023, the system had been used to shoot down multiple Russian drones. The British Army deployed Starstreak missiles to assist with the security of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. ==Variants==

(HVM SP) firing Starstreak in 2014 • ATASK (Air To Air Starstreak): Fired from a helicopter. This was developed in combination with McDonnell-Douglas and Lockheed Martin electronics between 1995 and 1998 specifically for use with the AH-64 Apache. It has yet to enter service. launched by Thales UK in 2005. • RapidRanger MMS weapon launcher on URO VAMTAC vehicle • Man-portable shoulder launcher ==Operators==

; : :* HVM SP – Approx 40 systems for a front line establishment of 36 (156 originally purchased) :* HVM LML – Approx 16 systems :* UK MoD plans to procure 12 Rapid Ranger quadruple launch systems on URO VAMTAC ST5 vehicles to replace 6 HVM SP donated to Ukraine. ; : :* LML – 8 LML launcher systems. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute trade registers list the number of Portable SAMs delivered as 96 with another order for 82 ; : :* Royal Thai Army – Ordered in 2012 ; : :* Indonesian Army – First order was in November 2011, followed by a second but no deliveries were made and the contract was renegotiated in January 2014 to equip five batteries of ForceShield system with Starstreak missiles, ControlMaster200 radars and weapon coordination systems, lightweight multiple launchers on Land Rover Defenders and RapidRanger weapon launchers on URO VAMTAC vehicles, at a cost of over £100m. In 2022, PT. LEN stated that 9 battery already operational out of 10 battery ordered. ; : :* Malaysian Armed Forces – Ordered an undisclosed number of LML and vehicle-based variants in July 2015. In used with the ForceSHIELD defense system. Will replace the Starburst. The number of systems donated is reported to be 6. Each missile's cost is estimated at £100,000 to £130,000. Future Operators Portugal • Portuguese Armed Forces — In 2024, a new air defense modernisation program funded the acquisition of 3 URO VAMTAC Rapid Ranger launch units alongside HVM, LMM and a Ground Master 200 radar to initially form 1 air defense battery. The Army's Chief of Staff stated further procurements will be necessary and foresees the need to acquire 3 additional batteries with 9 more fire units between them. '''''' • Indian Army — On 13 January 2021, Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a teaming agreement to collaborate on STARStreak Air Defence system in India. In June 2024, they were awarded the contract through a Request for Information (RFI) of the Indian Army to supply an undisclosed quantity of vehicle-mounted and man portable systems in order to fulfil its urgent short-range air defense requirement. On 10 February 2025, Thales and BDL signed an agreement for initial deliveries of the Laser Beam Riding MANPAD (LBRM) Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Missiles. The missiles are expected to begin from 2025 with up to 60% indigenous content. ==See also==