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JohninMK wrote:Part of UK's Defence Secretary’s statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine today:
"To date, the international community has donated more than 900 man-portable air defence missiles and thousands of anti-tank guided weapons of varying types, as well as various small arms. However, the capability needs strengthening, so in response to Ukrainian requests the Government have taken the decision to explore the donation of Starstreak high-velocity, man-portable anti-air missiles. We believe that this system will remain within the definition of defensive weapons, but will allow the Ukrainian forces to better defend their skies. We shall also be increasing supplies of rations, medical equipment, and other non-lethal military aid.”
An in thread comment on it
Daveyb
21 hours ago
Reply to JamesD
Yes. The system is pretty straight forward. Someone with as little as 1 hour of training would be able to engage a lot of targets. It will take longer to get the full benefits of the weapon system and how to set it up and maintain it. I won’t give too much away!
It’s a short range air defence system (SHORAD), so anything within 10km is game. You basically line up the optical sight with the target, fire the missile at it, then continue tracking the target with the optical sight. It uses a variation of the semi-automatic command line of sight (SACLOS) guidance system. The command unit paints the target with a pair of modulated lasers. When fired the missile assembly releases the three darts. Each dart measures the delta between the command unit’s tracking angle and the missile. It will then steer the dart to minimise the delta angle. Where it will then hit the target with the darts.
Due to the Mach 4+ speed of Starstreak, the closure speed is enormous, so the time of flight to hitting the target is relatively short. This means that a target flying over you will remain painted by the command unit and not have much chance of evading it. The system was predominantly designed to counter attack helicopters that do pop-up attacks from cover. As the WARSAW PACT Mil24s used wire guided missiles (much like TOW), this meant they had to hover in place when firing at a target. Therefore, the missile’s high speed was required to hit the helicopter before it could track the target. Once the helicopter was hit, the wired guided missile would go ballistic and miss the moving target. The missile’s high speed also meant that high speed low flying fixed wing aircraft, were easier to defend against. Roll on twenty years, Starstreak has been given more range. It is still very deadly against attack helicopters, but also against UAVs.
As it uses lasers to paint the target, unless the aircraft has a laser warning system, it won’t detect the launch. The missile does not leave a noticeable smoke trail, so a visual warning is also not likely, unless you are flying directly or looking at the right spot when its launched. The system is very difficult to jam and next to impossible to decoy.
As Ukraine will only be getting the MANPAD version. This system uses predominantly the operator’s visual searching to detect targets. It does have a thermal detection optic. I don’t know if they will be getting the additional air defence alerting device (ADAD). The ADAD is a development of the Typhoon’s PIRATE IRST. It provides the operator with both day and night passive searching and extends the search range.
The tripod mounted control unit can also fire the LMM Martlet missile.
If Ukraine get the system, it will be the first time its really been used in anger. It was taken to the Gulf War 2. Though I can’t remember if was used? During training days, the system was very reliable in both use and hitting the target.
Unlike Stinger, Starstreak is not a fire and forget weapon system. The operator must remain tracking the target all the way until it hits. However, the missile is nearly twice as fast as the Stinger and has double the range. It is also a lot more robust, as you don’t have be so careful handling it, due to the lack of cryogenic cooling for the Stinger’s IR sensor.
In Ukraine’s hand Starstreak will be deadly to Russian manned aircraft and UAVs.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-sending-anti-aircraft-and-javelin-missiles-to-ukraine/
Will make a great trophy for Russia
