Starstreak missile
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Starstreak is a British short range surface-to-air missile manufactured by Thales Air Defence Limited (originally Shorts Missile Systems), in Belfast. It is also known as Starstreak HVM where HVM stands for "High Velocity Missile". After launch the missile accelerates to approximately Mach 3.5, at which point it launches three laser beam riding submunitions. The use of three submunitions to increases the likelihood of a successful hit on the target. Starstreak has been in service with the British Army since 1997.
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Development
Development on the missile began in the early 1980s after a study into a weapon system to supplement the Rapier missile system showed that a high velocity missile system was the best solution to the problem. A General Staff Requirement (GSR 3979) was drawn up with the requirements of the system, specifying the requirement of 3 launch platforms for the missile:
- A self-propelled launcher.
- A three round light weight launcher.
- A man portable launcher.
In 1984 the British Ministry of Defence awarded development contracts to British Aerospace and Shorts Missile Systems. Shorts won the competition and were awarded the £356 million further development and production contract in November 1986 and the missile was officially accepted into service in September 1997. The missile is intended to replace the Javelin surface-to-air missile in British service. The LML and shoulder-launched versions have been in use since 2000.
In July 2001, Thales received a contract for a Successor Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system for Starstreak.
Description
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 units' optically stabilized sight. The process of tracking the target allowing 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 super elevation. When the initial tracking is complete, the operator fires the missile by pressing a button.
The missile then fires the first stage rocket motor, which launches the missile from the tube - but burns out before leaving the tube to protect the operator. When the missile is a safe distance from the operator the second stage fires, which rapidly accelerates the missile to burn out velocity of about Mach 3.5 400 m away from the operator. As the second stage burns out the three dart submunitions are released. The darts are each 396 mm long with a diameter of 22 mm and weigh about 0.9 kg. Each dart consists of a rotating forebody with two canard fins attached to a non-rotating rear assembly which has four fins. The rear assembly also houses the electronics that guide the missile. The dart housing is made from a tungsten alloy, and contains approximately 0.45 kg of explosive with a delayed impact activated fuse.
The missiles are guided by a 2 laser beams projected into a two dimensional matrix by the aiming unit. The laser is modulated according to its position in the projected matrix, this modulation is detected by each submunition and allows it to determine any steering correction. The submunitions steer briefly by stoping the rotating forebody with a clutch. The front wings then steer the missile in the appropriate direction. The three submunitions fly in a formation about 1.5 m in radius, and have enough kinetic energy to manouever to meet a target evading at 9G at 7,000 m.
On impact with the target a delayed action fuse is triggered. This gives time for the projectile to penetrate the target before the explosive warhead detonates. The tungsten housing is designed to fragment and produce maximum damage inside the target.
A demonstration was conducted in September 1999 that showed the missile being used against an armoured vehicle (a FV432 armoured personnel carrier, showing the missile's effectiveness as ground-to-ground weapon. Each sub-munition dart travelling at 1,250 m/s (2,800 mph) has a comparable kinetic energy to a shell from a Bofors 40 mm gun and probably has sufficient energy to penetrate the front armour of an infantry fighting vehicle. However it lacks the armour penetration capabilities of a purpose-built anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) or a dual purpose missile such as Air Defense Anti-Tank System (ADATS).
Variants
- SP HVM - Carried on an Alvis Stormer AFV with a roof mounted 8 round launcher with internal stowage for a further 12 missiles
- LML - Fired from a Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) which holds 3 missiles ready for firing and can be used as either a stationary launch unit or mounted on a light vehicle such as a Land Rover or HMMWV (Hummer). This practice was first used with the Javelin system
- MANPADS - man-portable, fired from the operator's shoulder
- 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.
- Seastreak - two versions of a naval mounting have been demonstrated. A one man mount similar to the LML but carrying a total of six missiles, and a close in weapon system mounting holding 24 missiles.
Performance
The Starstreak has never been used in combat, so it's operational effectiveness is unknown. It has a number of advantages over infra-red and radar guided missiles:
- It cannot be jammed by simple flares or radar countermeasures.
- It cannot be supressed with anti-radar missiles.
- Its high speed makes it more likely to be able to intercept a fast moving aircraft.
- 3 submunitions increase the size of the lethal area, increasing the probability that the target will be hit by at least one submunition.
However there are some disadvantages:
- The guidance laser can be detected unlike entirely passively guided infrared or SACLOS missiles, like earlier Blowpipe or Javelin.
- The operator can be blinded by battlefield lasers or other countermeasures.
- The training level of the operator is critical since, unlike infrared guided missiles,- the operator has to track the target exactly.
- The submunitions have no proximity fuse, so a near miss would do no damage to the target.
Operators
- United Kingdom
- LML - 135 systems
- SP HMV - ~150
- South Africa
- LML 8
- USA is considering the system for use as an air-to-air missile mounted on AH-64 Apache helicopters.
External links
References
- Jane's Land-Based Air Defence 2005-2006, ISBN 0710626975