What are Starstreak 'laser riding' missiles and how could they help Ukraine?

Allies have sent thousands of portable anti-aircraft systems to forces fighting Russia

A Starstreak high velocity missile, a surface-to-air system that Britain could supply to Ukraine. PA

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The UK is considering sending Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles to Ukrainian forces trying to fend off the Russian attack.

“We believe that this system will remain within the definition of defensive weapons but will allow the defending force to better defend the skies,” UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace said on Wednesday.

What are Starstreak missiles?

The missiles use a guidance system that could give them an edge over older anti-aircraft missiles that use infrared seeking technology.

The offer of the portable, short-range weapon is seen as significant, because it relies on a laser beam riding guidance system.

Most short-range anti-aircraft missiles are "heat-seeking" and can be sent off course by magnesium flares dropped by aircraft as a defence, although some modern heat-seeking systems can differentiate between engine heat and flare heat sources.

Ukraine has already received around 1,000 Stingers from the US, Germany and the Netherlands ― both systems are man-portable air defence systems, or Manpads.

How do Starstreak missiles compare to Singers?

The Starstreak is also incredibly fast, reaching a maximum velocity of three times the speed of sound, or Mach 3. That’s faster than the top speed of a Stinger anti-aircraft missile, which can travel at Mach 2.5.

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  US soldiers practise firing FIM-92 Stinger missiles. Photo: US Army

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  A Mexican soldier with a Russian-made SA-18 anti-aircraft missile launcher in 2011. AFP

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  A Ukrainian soldier takes part in an exercise using NLAW anti-aircraft missiles close to the city of Lviv. The UK has delivered 2,000 NLAWs to Ukraine. AP

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  Undated handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) of a Starstreak HVM (High Velocity Missile) surface-to-air missile system on display.

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  Soldiers in Ukraine launch US Javelin missiles during a military exercise. AP

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  German troops hold Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank weapons in a demonstration in Munster. Getty Images

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  A US Marine fires a M72 light anti-armour weapon during an exercise in Camp Fuji, Japan. Alamy

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  A Hezbollah militant aiming a Kornet anti-tank guided missile in southern Lebanon. AFP

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  Ukrainian soldiers with Stugna-P anti-tank weapons during a military exhibition in 2018. Getty Images

Both of those systems are slightly faster than the top speed at altitude of common Russian multirole jets such as the SU-35, although if the jets fly at medium altitude, they would be out of range of Manpads.

How could Starstreak missiles help Ukraine?

That might not be an option for Russian jets, however, because Ukraine still has functioning medium-range air defence systems.

That means one option for Russian jets is to fly low and fast — beyond the line of sight of medium-range systems — but that leaves them in danger of Manpads, which are optimised for fast, short-range encounters.

Starstreak missiles would be deadly for Russian helicopter pilots who, flying aircraft much slower than jets, would have little time to react in the event of a launch.