Starstreak
Videos
Starstreak is a British short-range surface-to-air missile that can be used as a man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) or used in heavier systems. It is manufactured by Thales Air Defence in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is also known as Starstreak HVM. After launch, the missile accelerates to more than Mach 4, making it the fastest short-range surface-to-air missile in existence. It then launches three laser beam-riding submunitions, increasing the likelihood of a successful hit on the target. Starstreak has been in service with the British Army since 1997. In 2012 Thales relaunched the system as ForceSHIELD.
A British Royal Artillery soldier protects an airfield with a man-portable Starstreak HVM system
Starstreak LML emplacement used in training on Dartmoor, England; one of the three missiles has been fired
Starstreak missile on display at the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo, September 2006
A Starstreak, just after being launched from an AN/TWQ-1 Avenger mobile, short-range air-defence platform
16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, known simply as 16 Air Assault Brigade from 1999 – 2021, is a formation of the British Army predominantly based in Colchester, Essex. It makes up the Air Assault Task Force, a battlegroup held at high readiness, and is the only brigade in the British Army focused on operating via parachute, helicopter and air-landing.
Paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade jump from a Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules over the Salisbury Plain Training Area during Exercise Wessex Storm on 19 November 2014.
Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade preparing for an evening raid near Basra, Iraq
Top: Drop Zone patch. Bottom left to right: Desert Subdued, Full Colour, DPM Subdued versions of the Brigade's original Striking Eagle insignia (1999–2015)