Starstreak Close Air Defense Missile, United Kingdom

Starstreak is a close-range anti-air guided weapon system for defence against helicopters and high-speed ground attack aircraft. The system is produced by Thales Air Defence Ltd (TADL), formerly Shorts Missile Systems, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The Starstreak Self-Propelled High-Velocity Missile (SP HVM) system has been in service with the British Army since 1997, the Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) and shoulder-launched versions since September 2000.

The original order of 135 systems has been completed and a five-year production contract was awarded to Shorts in December 1999. A follow-on contract with deliveries starting in 2007 was awarded in July 2004.

Deployment is with the 12th regiment in three batteries of 36 systems. Starstreak received export clearance for the UK Ministry of Defence in September 1999.

In July 2004, the UK MoD announced that the number of Starstreak HVM units in the British Army was to be reduced from 156 to 84 fire units.

In December 2002, the South African Army ordered eight Starstreak lightweight multiple launchers. The systems will be supplied by Kentron. The order forms the first phase of South Africa's ground-based air defence local warning segment. The systems are supported by two Thales Page radars. The launchers were delivered in October 2005. The South African Army began missile firing trials in October 2007, prior to entry into service which is scheduled for 2009.

In July 2001, TADL received a contract for a SIFF (Successor Identification Friend or Foe) system for the Starstreak HVM. Thales Communications of France is the main subcontractor.

A new air defence command and control system, ADC4I, is to be developed for the UK Ministry of Defence Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) programme Phase I. The system will integrate Starstreak and the Rapier FSC air defence missile system to provide a network enabled capability. Phase two will involve the upgrading of the missile systems. MBDA and EADS Defence & Communications were awarded the contract for the assessment phase of the programme in December 2003.

In September 2007, Thales announced the development of Starstreak II, which has a range extended to more than 7km, as well as increased coverage and altitude and improved precision guidance.

Thales is also developing the Multi-Mission System (MMS), which is a lightweight vehicle-mounted turret system, which can be equipped with the Starstreak and/or other missiles including anti-armour missiles or rocket systems. The system has automatic target tracking and can be integrated into a network-enabled force structure.

MISSILE

The missile consists of a two-stage solid propellant rocket motor, a separation system and three high-density darts. A pulse of power from the missile firing unit causes the first-stage motor to ignite, which accelerates the missile.

Canted nozzles on the missile cause it to roll. The centrifugal force of the roll causes the fins to unfold for aerodynamic stability in flight. Once clear of the canister, the motor is jettisoned. The second-stage motor ignites and accelerates the missile to a velocity greater than Mach 4. A separation system at the front end of the motor contains three darts.

When the second stage motor is burnt out, the thrust triggers the three darts to automatically separate. The darts maintain a high kinetic energy as they are guided to the same single target. Each dart contains guidance and control circuitry, a thermal battery, and a high-density penetrating warhead with fuse.

The separation of the darts initiates the arming of the individual warheads. Each dart is guided independently using a double laser beam riding system. As the dart impacts the target, the inertial forces activate the delay fuse, allowing the warhead to penetrate before detonation.

STARSTREAK SP HVM

The Starstreak SP HVM is mounted on a tracked BAE Systems Land Systems (formerly Alvis) Stormer vehicle. The system has eight rounds of Starstreak missiles ready to fire, with a further 12 missiles carried.

SP HVM is fitted with a roof-mounted Air Defence Alerting Device (ADAD), supplied by Thales (formerly Pilkington) Optronics. ADAD's infrared scanner and processor provide target detection and prioritisation and the system automatically slews the weapon sight onto the target. The use of ADAD requires that the vehicle be, briefly, stationary.

A panoramic weapon sight is supplied by Avimo (now part of Thales) and is located at the front right of the vehicle. Thales Optronics has been awarded a contract to supply a new thermal sighting system for the British Army SP HVM. The system is based on STAIRS C (Sensor Technology Affordable Infrared Systems) technology, developed by Thales Optronics and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), now called QinetiQ.

ATASK, AIR-TO-AIR STARSTREAK

ATASK, an airborne variant of Starstreak, provides an air-to-air capability for attack helicopters. ATASK has been tested for the United States Army on the Apache attack helicopter.

The first phase of the programme involved the launch of six Starstreak missiles from an Apache helicopter at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. In November 1998, ATASK successfully hit targets during the airborne firing tests. During the second phase, the laser beam guidance system of Starstreak was integrated with the Target Acquisition Sight (TADS) and fire control system of the Apache.

SHOULDER LAUNCHED STARSTREAK

The portable shoulder-launched Starstreak is assembled and ready to fire in a few seconds. Preparation for firing involves clipping an aiming unit onto the missile canister.

The aiming unit includes an optical head consisting of a stabilisation system, an aiming mark injector and a monocular sight. The target is acquired and optically tracked using the monocular sight and aiming mark.

LIGHTWEIGHT MULTIPLE LAUNCHER

The Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML), in service with the UK Army, is integrated with Thales Air Defence ASPIC automatic fire unit and can be carried on any light wheeled vehicle such as a Land Rover or HMMWV.

The Multiple Launcher employs three canistered missiles together with clip-on equipment and a standard aiming unit. Three targets can be engaged in quick succession without the need for reloading.

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