Starstreak High Velocity Missile
Starstreak High-Velocity Missile was designed to provide close air defence against conventional air threats such as fixed-wing fighters and late unmasking helicopter targets.
The Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) is designed to counter threats from very high performance, low-flying aircraft and fast ‘pop up’ strikes by helicopter attacks. The missile, which travels at more than three times the speed of sound, uses a system of three dart-like projectiles, allowing multiple hits on the target. HVM can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from the Stormer armoured vehicle.
Despite Javelin coming into service in the mid-eighties, the MoD formed a requirement for a system that would complement Rapier for manoeuvre forces in Germany. The Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment carried out a detailed study that showed that a high-velocity missile system rather than a gun or a gun/ missile mix was the best solution.
General Staff Requirement (GSR) 3979 for a high-velocity anti-aircraft missile was issued, including a self-propelled version, a three-round lightweight launcher and a single-round man-portable launcher.
