Starstreak HVM
| Starstreak | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| General Information | |
| Type | Anti-aircraft missile |
| Manufacturer | Shorts Missile Systems |
| development | 1986 |
| Technical specifications | |
| length | 1.43 m |
| diameter | 127 mm |
| span | 210 mm |
| drive | Solid - rocket engine |
| speed | Do 3.5 |
| Range | 0.5-7 km |
| Furnishing | |
| Target location | SACLOS via laser |
| Warhead | 3 sub-missiles ( darts ) |
| Detonator | Impact fuse |
| Lists on the subject | |
Starstreak HVM is a British short-range anti-aircraft missile manufactured by Thales Air Defense Limited (formerly Shorts Missile Systems). HVM stands for "High Velocity Missile" ( high-speed missile ). Once launched, the missile accelerates to around Mach 3.5 and then launches three laser-guided sub - missiles , increasing the probability of being hit. The Starstreak has been used by the British Army as part of the Rapier system since 1997 .
development
The rocket's development began in the early 1980s after a study for a weapon system to complement the Rapier rocket showed that a high-speed system was the best solution for the task. The requirements placed on the system by the military included three launch platforms:
- a self-propelled starting device
- a light launch device for three missiles
- a portable, shoulder-supported launch device
In 1984 the UK Department of Defense awarded development contracts to British Aerospace and Shorts Missile Systems. Shorts won this tender and in November 1986 was awarded the development and manufacturing contract valued at £ 356 million. The missile entered service in 1997 and is intended to replace the Javelin missile . The launch device for three rockets and the shoulder-supported launcher have been in use since 2000. In July 2001 Thales received a contract for a friend-foe identification system for the Starstreak.
description
The Starstreak is transported in a closed launch tube to which the target unit is attached for firing. The shooter pursues the target via the stabilized optical sights. During target tracking, the target unit calculates the optimal flight path to the target. In addition, the shooter can inform the target unit of the wind direction. In the event that the target is at a greater distance, he can enter its altitude. When the necessary target tracking is completed, the gunner fires the missile.
The rocket then ignites the launch engine, which propels the rocket out of the launch tube, but goes out before it leaves the tube in order to avoid injuries to the shooter from the hot combustion gases. As soon as the rocket is at a safe distance from the shooter, the second stage of the engine fires, which, after a very short acceleration phase, reaches the maximum speed of Mach 3.5 at a distance of 400 m from the shooter. After the second engine stage has gone out, the three dart sub-missiles are released. The darts are 396 mm long, have a diameter of 22 mm and a weight of 0.9 kg. Each dart consists of a rotating front part with two tail units, which is connected to the non-rotating rear assembly with four tail units. The control electronics are also housed in the rear assembly. The shell of the darts consists of a tungsten - alloy and contains about 0.45 kg of explosive, of a percussion fuse is contacted with delay detonated.
The rocket is guided by two laser beams that are projected onto a two-dimensional matrix in the target unit. The laser is modulated depending on the position in the projection matrix. The modulation is detected by each of the sub-missiles and enables the necessary course corrections. For this purpose, the sub-missiles perform short control movements by stopping the rotating front part with a coupling, whereby the two front wings steer the missile in the corresponding direction. The three sub-missiles fly in a formation with a radius of about 1.5 m and have sufficient kinetic energy to hit a target that is evasive at 9 g at a distance of seven kilometers.
When the target hits the target, the delay impact fuse is activated. This gives the missile enough time to penetrate the target before the explosive warhead detonates. The tungsten shell is designed to shatter and cause as much damage as possible within the target.
In September 1999, the use of the rocket against an armored vehicle ( armored troop transport FV 432 ) was demonstrated, which demonstrated its efficiency as a ground-to-ground weapon. At a speed of 1250 m / s, each dart has a kinetic energy similar to that of a projectile from a 40 mm Bofors gun and therefore sufficient energy to penetrate the front end of many lightly armored vehicles. Nevertheless, the Starstreak lacks the armor-piercing effect of an anti-tank guided missile specially developed for this purpose or a multi- purpose missile such as the Air Defense Anti-Tank System ( ADATS ).
variants
- SP HVM - transported by an Alvis Stormer with a roof-mounted starter for eight rockets and a store of twelve more rockets carried inside.
- LML - fired from a "Lightweight Multiple Launcher" ( lighter multiple starters ), the three start-ready missiles and includes either stationary or on a light vehicle such as a Land Rover or Humvee can be used. The Javelin system was previously used in this configuration.
- MANPADS - portable variant that the shooter fires from the shoulder.
- ATask (Air-to-air Starstreak - air-to-air Starstreak ) - fired from a helicopter. This variant was developed in cooperation with McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed Martin Electronics between 1995 and 1998 specifically for use by the AH-64 Apache . It has not yet been put into service (2006).
- Seastreak - two variants for sea-based use were demonstrated. A single person-operated launcher similar to the LML, but with a total of six missiles, and a CIWS variant with 24 missiles.
power
The Starstreak has not been used in combat and its operational efficiency is therefore unknown. It has a number of advantages over infrared and radar guided missiles:
- It cannot be disturbed by simple flares or radar countermeasures.
- It cannot be suppressed with anti-radar missiles.
- Her very high speed enables her to hit planes that are flying very quickly.
- Three sub-missiles increase the area of impact and increase the likelihood that the target will be hit by at least one of the sub-missiles.
But there are also disadvantages:
- The laser required to control the rocket can lead to a discovery in contrast to a passive infrared-controlled or SACLOS rocket such as the blowpipe and javelin rockets used in the past .
- The shooter can be blinded by other lasers or countermeasures.
- The level of training of the marksman is very important because he has to follow the target exactly. This is not the case with infrared guided missiles.
- The sub-missiles do not have a proximity fuse , so that the target remains completely undamaged if it just misses.
distribution
-
United Kingdom
- LML - 135 systems
- SP HMV - approx. 150 systems
-
South Africa
- LML - 8 systems with 96 missiles
commitment
The planned deployment of mobile Starstreak weapon systems in residential areas during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London led to protests of local residents.
literature
- Jane's Land-Based Air Defense 2005-2006 , ISBN 0710626975
Individual evidence
- ↑ Carsten Volkery: London fortress: Start British military Olympia maneuver , Spiegel Online, May 1, 2012
