Lightweight Multiple Launcher with Starstreak missiles in the field.
Source: Unknown author -
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sight and guidance unit directly clipped onto a Starstreak launch container. Shoulder launched.
Pedestal mounted launcher with single sight unit and three missiles ready to fire.
Updated and reduced weight LML with capacity for two missiles. First shown in 2015.
Octuple missile turret on a Stormer tracked armored personnel carrier. Also known as HVM SP.
Quadruple launcher for use on light vehicles. Used on URO VAMTAC in Indonesian service.
The Starstreak missile uses the semi-active laser guidance developed for the Starburst, using a totally new missile design.
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