Starburst surface-to-air missile
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Starburst is a British man-portable surface-to-air missile produced by Shorts Missile Systems of Belfast (since 2002 known as Thales Air Defence Limited). It is used by the British Army, Malaysian Army and Canadian Army. It can be fired from the shoulder, or from a dedicated launcher known as Starburst LML - Lightweight Multiple Launcher.
The missile is effectively a development of Javelin missile, retaining the Javelin missile body but replacing the radio command system with a laser transmission system. This is much more difficult to jam than the radio based system. It entered service in 1990, and effectively replaced the Javelin by 1993. In 1992 the proximity fuze was upgraded. Starburst was first used in combat in the 1991 Gulf War.
It is currently being replaced in British service by the Starstreak missile.
Variants
- Starburst LML (Lightweight multiple launcher)
- Starburst VML (Vehicle multiple launcher)
- Starburst NML (Naval multiple launcher)
- Starburst starlite thermal imager
- Starburst SR2000
References
- Jane's Land-Based Air Defence 2005-2006, ISBN 0710626975
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British Missiles Air-to-air Fireflash | Firestreak | Red Top | Skyflash Air-to-surface Surface-to-air Thunderbird | Bloodhound | Tigercat | Rapier Blowpipe | Javelin | Starburst | Starstreak Sea Slug | Sea Cat | Sea Wolf | Sea Dart Surface-to-surface Swingfire | Malkara (UK/Australia) | Vigilant Stategic and tactical nuclear
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