Shorts Starstreak Missile

TomS said:
Interesting that the Sigma has been shown with both a 5-round launcher (mirroring the Wildcat installation) and this 4-round version (echoing the Stormer HVM). Once upon a time (1993) the original SIGMA was a DS30 mount with 2 MANPADS (Starstreak, Stinger, or Mistral) mounted on top of the elevating mass (no photo found yet). I even found a version with 7 rounds (via ThinkDefense). (Think Defense also has a Turkish pedestal launcher with two of those quad launchers)
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That seven-round launcher looks like (Shorts) Javelin or Starburst, rather than Starstreak or later.
 
TomS said:
Once upon a time (1993) the original SIGMA was a DS30 mount with 2 MANPADS (Starstreak, Stinger, or Mistral) mounted on top of the elevating mass (no photo found yet).
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Love to see that, never seen it before, or to be honest heard of it. Can you remember if the E/O head was on it as well?
 
timmymagic said:
Starstreak and Stormer appear to have been moved closer to the Zaporizhia front to deal with Russian KA-52 firing Vikhr.
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How many Ka-52 Hokum Bs have been shot down now? I understand that Russia has lost over half of them since the start of the invasion.
 
What are the odds that the crew were killed when the missile struck? I ask because as far as I can tell neither of them ejected.
 
A Tentative Fleet Plan said:
Looks a) too large, and b) single missile rather than tree darts, and c) detonates before hitting the aircraft hence has some kind of proximity fuse (Starstreak has a delayed action fuse that detonates after hitting and penetrating the aircraft).
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This was last year and was confirmed as S-300 at the time. Ukrainian's had moved one closer to the lines and gave the Russian's a bit of a surprise.
 
timmymagic said:
Love to see that, never seen it before, or to be honest heard of it. Can you remember if the E/O head was on it as well?
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It's mentioned in the text of Friedman's World Naval Weapons 1997-98 edition but no photo. Said to be from the 1993 RNEE.

In the Addendum, there is a photo of a Sigma version with three Mistral on the right side of the gun. Must be later since it didn't make the main body of the book.
 

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From the PS of the MoD to Defence Select Committee

"The committee raised the issue of replacing Starstreak High Velocity Missiles (HVM) which have been Granted in Kind to Ukraine. I can confirm that the Department placed a contract with Thales on 30 Sept 2022 to supply HVMs from the remaining stock held by the company. These missiles are due for delivery later this year. A further contract was placed with Thales on 21 December 2022 to commence work on development of a new version of the HVM. Both the number of missiles in our stockpile, and the number being supplied under this contract, are operationally sensitive. "

Sounds like Thales depot at Ballynahinch has been cleared of stock...

And it appears that Starstreak 3 is on the way...(Starstreak 2 was developed c2010, presumably they will need to update this to a new version to remove obsolesence).

Apparently the Stormer is being replaced by a Boxer variant....I think it may use an existing RWS setup. Be interesting to see if ADAD is retained and upgraded, and if a 30mm cannon is used with it. Hopefully ADAD will get an upgrade and be retained, there is a lot to be said for a passive search method.

Boxer with Stormer launcher

https://imgur.com/ao6ecT1
View: https://imgur.com/ao6ecT1


Moog RiWP with M230LF and 8 x Starstreak

https://imgur.com/G0GoTjy
View: https://imgur.com/G0GoTjy
 
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Hasn't the Starstreak successfully bagged quite a few of the Ka-52 Hokum B gunships shot down so far?
 
TomS said:
Looks like Baharat Dynamics Limited of India may be manufacturing Starstreak under licence.
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It's been a long running saga, be good to see it finally turn into an order. Looks like the order they're expecting will be quite small at c$30m USD though.
 
I’ve been after a picture showing the interior of the tungsten dart for a while and finally one’s showed up. I understand the two fins spin about the darts centre axis when in the airflow, thus generating electrical power which brings it to life. When it needs to steer, a single electric actuator applies a brake to the rotating fins at a precise angle in its rotation and gyro physics will push the dart into a curving trajectory. That’s how it’s packaged into a dart about 30mm-ish in diameter ….. blooming awesomeness clever.
 

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I've heard it claimed before that the darts contain a small explosive charge, is that true or just a myth?
 
Colonial-Marine said:
I've heard it claimed before that the darts contain a small explosive charge, is that true or just a myth?
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From the StarStreak datasheet:
The STARStreak hittiles are designed to defeat both heavily armoured and light skin aerial targets. On penetrating the targets the hittiles will inflict high levels of kinetic energy damage and each hittile also has a fragmenting warhead which detonates inside the target to maximise lethality. The strike is highly precise yet collateral damage is minimised.
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Colonial-Marine said:
I've heard it claimed before that the darts contain a small explosive charge, is that true or just a myth?
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Yes. The warhead is equivalent to a 40mm Bofors round warhead. Fuzed to detonate following penetration of the targets skin to maximise damage.
 
timmymagic said:
It's been a long running saga, be good to see it finally turn into an order. Looks like the order they're expecting will be quite small at c$30m USD though.
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Just had a thought....wonder what model this is? The BD proposal has been circulating for years now...

Starstreak 1? Or Starstreak 2?

Starstreak 2 was developed, tested and ready for production in 2007, but its believed the budget was re-purposed for LMM development and production (a sensible move as it turned out..). But....the UK ordered additional Starstreak in 2013, plus Malaysia and Indonesia production was after then....did Starstreak 2 enter service by default and discretely? It may have made sense as development was complete and paid for, and getting hold of obsolescent components may have been impossible/expensive.

'Starstreak 3' (I'm calling it that as there isn't an official name announced yet) is under development at present for the UK to replace missiles sent to Ukraine, and no doubt time expired missiles in the near future. I'm guessing this is a Starstreak 2 with any obsolescent components replaced, and potentially IM compliant rocket motors and warheads. I suspect with more attention going to the firing posts.

Opacity around UK missile variants/upgrades.....an ongoing theme...
 
Zoo Tycoon said:
I’ve been after a picture showing the interior of the tungsten dart for a while and finally one’s showed up. I understand the two fins spin about the darts centre axis when in the airflow, thus generating electrical power which brings it to life. When it needs to steer, a single electric actuator applies a brake to the rotating fins at a precise angle in its rotation and gyro physics will push the dart into a curving trajectory. That’s how it’s packaged into a dart about 30mm-ish in diameter ….. blooming awesomeness clever.
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Weirdly the best short description of how it works, and the targeting, is on linkedin of all places...

www.linkedin.com

Untold secrets of the extremely creative British Starstreak anti-aircraft missile

The Starstreak missile is a portable short-range supersonic anti-aircraft missile developed by Thales UK. A few days ago it scored its first hit in real combat, shooting down a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter in Ukraine: Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter: Existing types of anti-aircraft missiles Befor
www.linkedin.com www.linkedin.com
 
Some news....somewhat welcome in terms of numbers and rapid fielding...but also in typical MoD fashion absolutely barking mad and due to silly decisions in the past...

URO VAMTAC with Thales RapidRanger mounting 4 Starstreak/LMM as an urgent VLSHORAD system for British Army. This is due to Stormer leaving service in 2026 and also because the number of VLSHORAD systems is to rise....looks like reducing the Stormer fleet from 140 to 56 odd was as daft as it sounded (let alone selling them on to private buyers for a pittance). The VAMTAC/RapidRanger combo is in service with Malaysia and Indonesia so is an easy choice, but adds yet another vehicle type to British Army...RapidRanger has a 360 search ability but I wonder how comparable it is to ADADS...

There will be further SHORAD systems with Boxer mounted also being looked at. Hopefully including a gun as well, like Moogs RiWP.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1752323338284741056
View: https://twitter.com/JonHawkes275/status/1752323338284741056

https://imgur.com/oJs1vvN
View: https://imgur.com/oJs1vvN


Warning put this one on mute....

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df0T6scIwQ8


RapidRanger is descended from the THOR system, here seen in an ancient YT video..

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iOs2ZASnsM&t=3s
 
timmymagic said:
Some news....somewhat welcome in terms of numbers and rapid fielding...but also in typical MoD fashion absolutely barking mad and due to silly decisions in the past...

URO VAMTAC with Thales RapidRanger mounting 4 Starstreak/LMM as an urgent VLSHORAD system for British Army. This is due to Stormer leaving service in 2026 and also because the number of VLSHORAD systems is to rise....looks like reducing the Stormer fleet from 140 to 56 odd was as daft as it sounded (let alone selling them on to private buyers for a pittance). The VAMTAC/RapidRanger combo is in service with Malaysia and Indonesia so is an easy choice, but adds yet another vehicle type to British Army...RapidRanger has a 360 search ability but I wonder how comparable it is to ADADS...
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Hey now, I've been wanting one of those CVR(T) hulls to drive in town. We've suffered a recent massive influx of people who don't know how to drive politely and road rage at the drop of a hat.
 
NMaude said:
'm sure that Ukraine would like to swoop in and buy those now surplus launchers for a pittance.
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Unfortunately they were all sold at the likes of Withams to civilian collectors for a pittance. The launchers were still on but all missile kit was removed. You could pick them up for £20k a few years ago...
 
timmymagic said:
Should be a decent number of LMM for this...the original order was reportedly for £50m for 1,000 missiles that included development...so even with inflation this should be a significant quantity of missiles...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1816109262747078735
View: https://twitter.com/Gabriel64869839/status/1816109262747078735?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
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Done the maths and I suspect this order is for 2,500-3,000 missiles.

Original cost of LMM was £50,000 per missile in 2011 (including development and initial testing, which won't be included in further orders). In addition Thales got £69m earlier this year to help secure supply chain for LMM, Starstreak and NLAW so this should just be a pure missile order.

Cumulative inflation (which to be fair isn't a perfect measure) makes that £50,000 per missile become £71,400 in todays money. That translates to c2,500-3,000 missiles for £176m (unit price of £59k i.e. with likely dev and test costs removed or £71k)
 

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