Starburst is a British man-portable surface-to-air missile produced by Shorts Missile Systems of Belfast (since 2002 known as Thales Air Defence). It was used by the British Army (as Javelin S15), Malaysian Armed Forces, and in the Canadian Army as the Javelin until 2005. It can be fired from the shoulder or from a launcher known as Starburst LML – Lightweight Multiple Launcher.
| Starburst | |
|---|---|
 Sample of Starburst | |
| Type | Man-portable air-defense system |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1990 to present[1] |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Gulf War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Thales Air Defence |
| Manufacturer | Thales Air Defence |
| Produced | 1986 to 2001[1] |
| No. built | 13,389[1] |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | 1 |
| Effective firing range | 0.3 to 7 km |
| Warhead | High explosive fragmentation |
| Warhead weight | 2.74 kg |
| Engine | Solid rocket motor |
Guidance system | Laser guidance beam riding |
It has been replaced in British service by the Starstreak missile.
Development
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The missile was a development of Javelin missile, retaining the Javelin missile body but replacing the radio command system with a laser guidance system similar to that used by the Starstreak missile that was already under development. This is much more difficult to jam than the radio based system used by Javelin.[2] It entered service in 1990, and was deployed to protect British troops during the 1991 Gulf War.[2]
Variants
edit- Starburst LML (Lightweight multiple launcher)
- Starburst VML (Vehicle multiple launcher)
- Starburst NML (Naval multiple launcher)
- Starburst starlite thermal imager
- Starburst SR2000
Operators
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Canada[3]
Kuwait- Kuwait Air Force[4]
Malaysia- Malaysian Army and Royal Malaysian Air Force: To be replaced by the Starstreak.[5][6]
Qatar[3]
Thailand[3]
United Kingdom- British Army: Replaced by Starstreak.[3]
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b c d Forecast International Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Starburst
- ^ a b Cullen & Foss 1992, p. 46
- ^ a b c d "Forecast International: Intelligence Center".
- ^ "Kuwait - Army Equipment".
- ^ "Malaysian defenders | News | Flight Global".
- ^ "Thales to provide Forceshield and Starstreak to Malaysia". Army Recognition. 2015-09-15. Archived from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- Cullen, Tony; Foss, Christopher F., eds. (1992). Jane's Land-Based Air Defence 1992–93 (5th ed.). Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division. ISBN 0-7106-0979-5.
- Jane's Land-Based Air Defence 2005–2006, ISBN 0-7106-2697-5
- "Javelin Surface to Air Missile UK". Royal Canadian Artillery Museum. January 2017.
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