What makes StarStreak one of the most feared missile systems in Ukraine War

required imagine piloting a low-flying Russian combat aircrafts or operating a military drone when your missile lock warnings blare with sudden dread something is hurtling toward you at three times the speed of sound immune to your countermeasures as you attempt desperate evasive maneuvers the missile disc Gorges three tungsten darts a deadly reminder that the worst is yet to come this is your chilling introduction to the star streak missile this is military mechanics and in this episode we will look at the star streak missile system the recent war in Ukraine has brought to light the crucial role of Man portable air defense systems or man pads in Modern Warfare particularly older systems such as the stinger and star streak missiles despite the rise of advanced technology and sophisticated aerial Weaponry these missile systems have proven their relevance and Effectiveness in the challenging Battlefield scenarios witnessed in Ukraine the high-speed low-flying drones and aircraft which are increasingly prevalent in modern conflict zones have shown vulnerability to these short-range air defense systems the star streak missile is even now surface-to-air missile currently in service with the British Army and produced by thurles air defense formerly known as shorts missile systems the missiles development dates back to the 1980s with the primary goal of replacing the existing Rapier missile system which was a key element of Britain's air defense Arsenal the development process of the star streak was a decade-long Endeavor it started in the late 1970s and it went through a series of comprehensive testings and refinements before it was officially accepted into service in 1997. the main goal of the star streak missile system was to tackle the shortcomings of its predecessor namely its vulnerability to electronic countermeasures and lack of Versatility and engaging low-level fast-moving targets the starstreak missile system has a unique tri-dart design that distinguishes it from conventional missile systems upon launch the missile propels itself towards the targets and when in close proximity it releases three separate Dart projectiles each Dart is equipped with its independent explosive Warhead and guidance system effectively multiplying the missile's chances of successfully neutralizing the targets this trident design is one of the primary reasons the star streak is considered one of the most lethal short-range surface-to-air missiles in existence the star streak missile measures approximately 4.9 feet in length and has a diameter of 5.1 inches despite its seemingly small size the missile weighs approximately 37.4 pounds This heavyweight for a missile of its size is attributed to the advanced dense technology and Design Elements Incorporated into the star streak system the range of the starstreak missile is another noteworthy feature it can engage targets at distances of up to 4.35 Miles making it highly effective against low-level aircraft and unmanned aerial Vehicles the missiles range is augmented by its Superior speed capabilities with a top speed of around Mach 3.5 or 2685 miles per hour the star streak is often referred to as the fastest short-range surface-to-air missile in the world this high speed makes it a formidable weapon against fast-moving aircraft allowing little time for enemy Pilots or drone operators to take evasive actions or deploy countermeasures further adding to the star streaks utility is its adaptability to different launch platforms it can be fired from Man portable launch systems making it a versatile asset for infantry units it can also be deployed on helicopters and ground Vehicles adding to the defense capabilities of these platforms the lightweight and compact size of the missile makes it an ideal choice for mobile air defense units and its adaptability enables it to be deployed in various operational scenarios the guidance system of the star streak missile is another interesting aspect of its design the missile uses an optical guidance system requiring the operator to maintain the target within sight until impact although this may present challenges against fast-moving targets it also makes the missile immune to many electronic countermeasures this is because the optical guidance system does not rely on radio waves which can be jammed or spoofed thus the star streak missile provides a significant advantage in electronic warfare environments like in Ukraine where both sides are using the latest electronic countermeasure systems thank you

Channel: Interesting Engineering

Views: 79,277

Keywords: engineering, science, technology, interesting engineering, interesting, starstreak missile, surface-to-air missile, british army, thales air defence, shorts missile systems, rapier missile system, tri-dart design, explosive warhead, air defense arsenal, man portable air defense systems, manpads, modern warfare, stinger missile, ukraine conflict, high-speed drones, short-range air defense

Id: CCeim3UABj8

Length: 5min 42sec (342 seconds)

Published: Wed Aug 09 2023