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Starstreak


High Velocity Missile


Overview


LML with Starstreak missiles

Lightweight Multiple Launcher with Starstreak missiles in the field.
Source: Unknown author - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
United Kingdom
Type
Man portable SAM system
Entered service
1997
Status
In service
Development
1984 - 1996
Developer
United Kingdom - Shorts Missile Systems
Production
Mid 1990's - Present
Producer
United Kingdom - Shorts Missile Systems (up to 2002)
United Kingdom - Thales Air Defense (since 2002)
Number produced
Over 7.000 by 2003
Designations
HVM / High Velocity Missile
ForceSHIELD
Notable users
United Kingdom
Malaysia

Description


Introduction

The Starstreak is a modern era man portable SAM system of UK origin. Starstreak was designed to replace the Javalin S15 (Starburst) missile in UK service. Starstreak is a rather unique system and a technical outlier in the MANPADS category. The two main features are the laser beam guidance and triple explosive dart warhead.

Design

Starstreak is a further development of the Starburst. It retains the laser beam riding guidance but has a new and unique triple subcaliber dart warhead. Instead of a regular conical nose section three tungsten darts are fitted. These separate from the missile in the terminal phase and their spread increases chances to hit. Each dart has an explosive payload and delayed impact fuse. An additional advantage is that these darts have lower drag and loose less speed and kinetic energy in the unpowered section of flight.

Guidance

Laser beam riding guidance is used on the Starstreak. The advantage of laser beam guidance is that the missile is not susceptible to countermeasures such as flares or chaff. A downside is that the missile is not fire-and-forget. The operator needs to keep the target in the crosshairs of the guidance unit. The Starstreak uses SACLOS guidance, meaning that the operator is only concerned with tracking the target while course corrections for the missile are controlled by the firing computer.

Firepower

Starstreak has a maximum range of about 7 km. Maximum altitude is rather high for a MANPADS at 5 km. Having three subcaliber darts increases the chance to hit a target. Unlike other MANPADS there is no proximity fuse, meaning a hit must be scored to set of the warhead. Aside from the explosive payload the kinetic energy of the darts also has a significant effect on target.

Mobility

Starstreak can be shoulder launched in a similar fashion as many other man portable SAM systems. However, due to the weight of the guidance unit this is rather uncommon. The most common launcher is the Lightweight Multiple Launcher, a pedestal tripod mount with three missiles ready to fire. The LML can also be vehicle mounted. Additionally, several dedicated vehicle turret launchers were developed. An octuple launcher was fitted to the Stormer tracked armored personnel carrier. A more recent offering is a quadruple launcher suitable for light armored vehicles.

Users

The Starstreak HVM was adopted in quantity with the UK, both for infantry use and mounted on the Stormer tracked vehicle. Export sales have been made to several countries in Asia and also to South Africa. Malaysia and Indonesia both acquired the ForceSHIELD system which provides an integrated command and control system for LML and vehicle based launchers. In 2022 the UK delivered the Starstreak to Ukraine where it has been used in combat.

Details


Facts Starstreak HVM
General
Origin
United Kingdom
Type
Surface to air missile
Dimensions
Diameter
127 mm
Length
1.397 mm
Wingspan
274 mm
Weight
14 kg missile only
16.8 kg including launch tube
Guidance
Guidance mode
Laser beam guidance, SACLOS
Warhead
Type
Three explosive dart submunitions
Diameter
22 mm dart body
Weight
0.9 kg per tungsten alloy dart
Warhead
0.45 kg PBX-98 explosive per dart
Fuse
Delayed impact fuse
Engagement envelope
Propulsion
Two stage solid propellant rocket motor
Titus second stage main motor
Brambling first stage ejection motor
Speed
Over 1.200 m/s at second stage burnout
Range
7 km maximum
0.4 km minimum
Altitude
5 km maximum
1 m minimum

Launchers


Man portable

Sight and guidance unit directly clipped onto a Starstreak launch container. Shoulder launched.

Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML)

Pedestal mounted launcher with single sight unit and three missiles ready to fire.

Updated LML

Updated and reduced weight LML with capacity for two missiles. First shown in 2015.

SP HVM on Stormer chassis

Octuple missile turret on a Stormer tracked armored personnel carrier. Also known as HVM SP.

RapidRanger MMS

Quadruple launcher for use on light vehicles. Used on URO VAMTAC in Indonesian service.

Media


Related articles


Starburst

The Starstreak missile uses the semi-active laser guidance developed for the Starburst, using a totally new missile design.