Starstreak British Short-Range Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS)
Starstreak
Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS)
Other
Basic Information
Name
Starstreak British Short-Range Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS)
Designation
Starstreak
Alternate Designation
Starstreak
Equipment Type
Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS)
Manufacturer
—
Date of Introduction
1997
Description
Starstreak is a British short-range man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) manufactured by Thales Air Defence (formerly Shorts Missile Systems), in Belfast. It is also known as Starstreak HVM (High-Velocity Missile). After launch, the missile accelerates to more than Mach 4, making it the fastest short-range surface-to-air missile in the world. It then launches three laser beam riding submunitions, increasing the likelihood of a successful hit on the target. Starstreak has been in service with the British Army since 1997. In 2012 Thales rebranded the system under the ForceSHIELD banner. 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.
Ground Specifications
Crew
2
Max Speed
4930.0 km/h
Variants
Starburst
Javelin SAM launcher adapted for Starstreak LBR guidance- in production.
Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML)
Pedestal launcher for three missiles (above). The launcher can also mount on a light vehicle, e.g., TUV. A demonstrator is LML on a Panhard tactical truck.
Starstreak II
Improved launcher uses Starstreak or Starstreak II missile. It has an auto-tracker for hands-free guidance. It was fielded in 2010.
Starstreak Lightweight Vehicle (LWV)
Land Rover truck converted into an SP SAM system with a 6-canister launcher, ADAD auto-tracker, and TV/ thermal FCS. This launcher can be mounted on other vehicles.
Armored Starstreak or (SP HVM)
Vehicle is a Stormer tracked APC chassis, with an 8-missile launcher. The passive IR fire control system uses ADAD, an auto-tracker and thermal sight. The launcher can be mounted on other vehicles.
Seastreak
Single-stage missile naval variant in a 12-missile launcher, with mm-wave radar FCS.
Thor
British Multi-Mission Air Defense System is a RWS, with 4 missile launchers, TV, FLIR, and an auto-tracker. Weighing .5 mt, it mounts on trucks, vans, TUVs, APCs, etc., with a remote operator. Designed for Starstreak, launchers, it can also mount other MANPADS, and ATGMs, such as Ingwe, TOW, HELLFIRE, Mokopa, Spike, etc.
Lightweight Multi-Role Missile/LMM
A multi-role missile options with a single 3-kg tandem (HEAT/HE) warhead and proximity fuze. At 13 kg, the lower-cost missile flies 8-km at 1.5 Mach. It was due in 2013 and was successfully launched by a Camcopter S-100 UCAV variant. Other projected upgrades are semi-active laser- homing and/or dual-mode (LBR/SAL-H).
Low-cost air defense/anti-armor (multi-role) system.
Optional use: as a low-cost air defense/anti-armor (multi-role) system, STARSTREAK can be employed against ground targets, such as light armored vehicles, and snipers in bunkers or buildings. The missile and its darts, with a unique combination of penetrator and following frag-he, have been successfully tested against vehicle targets. With a missile cost of 1/2 to 1/3 of competing MANPADS, the system could be used as a fire support asset to complement ATGM launchers and vehicle weapons.
System
Alternative Designation
Starstreak
Type
Man-portable/vehicle mounted surface-to-air missile
Crew
2.0 ea
Reaction Time
less than 6 sec
Reload Time
less than 25 sec
Time between Launches
less than 30 sec
Target
Type
FW, heli, ground vehicles.
Launcher
Name
Aiming Unit.
Armament
Combat Load
5.0 rds
Combat Load, Dismount
3.0 rds
Fire on Move
no
Weapon 1
System Dimensions
See Missile
System Weight
24.3 kg with missile
Fire Control System
Other
ADAD: British passive thermal IR scanners on remote tripod or vehicle mount with 240 degree FOV automatic cueing
Missile team employs an azimuth plotting board (e.g. Russian
1L15-1) for direction of approach on aerial targets.
Day Sight
Acquisition Range
7,000 m
Field of View
INA
Name
Avimo stabilized optical sight with lead bias system
Night Sight
Acquisition Range
4 to 5 km
Name
Thales clip-on thermal sight
Ammunition
Ammunition (Option 1)
Name
Starstreak
Type
Three 25mm darts: Tungsten KE tip and case; HE fill
Altitude
0-5000 m
Length
1.4 m
Diameter
127.0 mm
Weight
14.0 kg
Flight Time
5 to 7 sec
Fuze Type
Contact wit time delay
Guidance
Laser beam rider SACLOS
Penetration
120+ all LAVs (equal to 3 x 40- mm APFSD-T rds) HE detonates after for frangible effects mm KE
Probability of Hit
60 FW, more than 95 heli (each dart 67% for heli) PCT
Propulsion
Canister launch booster, bus missile, and 3 darts (sub-missiles)
Range, Maximum
7,000 m (guided)
Range, Minimum
300
Self-Destruct Range
5.5 km
Speed
1364 m/s, Mach 4
Other
Starstreak II: Improved missile has 8-km range and better precision. Fielded 2010
Details
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Category
Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS)
Land > Air Defense > Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS)
Filter Label
S
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
—
Width
0.13 m
Height
—
Weight
—
Operators (6)
United Kingdom
Ukraine
South Africa
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
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