In thrilling battle video, a British Starstreak missile takes down a Russian helicopter

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08th Apr, 2022. 02:57 am
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A spectacular video released by Ukraine’s defence forces shows the moment a British-made Starstreak anti-aircraft missile allegedly hits a Russian Mi-28N helicopter, shattering it into two pieces.

According to a Ministry of Defence source, the video looked to show that the Ukrainian military was currently using Starstreak missiles in action.

The Starstreak system is a laser-guided missile system that can shoot a projectile at speeds of up to 2,000 mph. It’s intended to take out low-flying enemy planes and helicopters.

The projectile is guided by a laser that is fired from the ground, and it splits into three “darts” in mid-air that may rip through hostile aircraft.

Starstreak may be launched from a fixed mount or a shoulder launcher and can destroy planes and helicopters up to 4 miles away.

Unlike its American counterpart, the “fire and forget” Stinger, Starstreak receives ongoing guidance from a ground operator, making it more difficult for opposing aviators to avoid. However, it also needs a large amount of training in order to be utilised properly.

Colonel Graham Taylor told The Times that British troops were being sent to a secret site in eastern Europe to train Ukrainians on how to use the shoulder-mounted guns.

He said: “Their ability to pick up those skills and drills will take some time — that will be dependent on their aptitude, although clearly they’ve got a vested interest in putting that learning to good effect.

“It is hoped that after two to three weeks of rigorous instruction, they would be able to utilise them efficiently.”

He went on to say that the high-velocity missile may do “catastrophic” damage to opposing fighter planes and helicopters flying low.

He noted that the tungsten darts didn’t even need a high-explosive warhead: “Anything travelling at Mach 2.5 kinetically is going to have some tremendous effect.”

Sergeant Major Katie Stock, a British Army Starstreak specialist, stated that anyone operating an aircraft targeted by the system would “blink and then you’ll have some unpleasant news.”

“A Stinger is quite vulnerable to counter-measures,” she continued, “but because Starstreak is directed to the target, it is exceedingly difficult to destroy.”

“It is hoped that after two to three weeks of rigorous instruction, they would be able to utilise them efficiently.”

He went on to say that the high-velocity missile may do “catastrophic” damage to opposing fighter planes and helicopters flying low.

He noted that the tungsten darts didn’t even need a high-explosive warhead: “Anything travelling at Mach 2.5 kinetically is going to have some tremendous effect.”

Sergeant Major Katie Stock, a British Army Starstreak specialist, stated that anyone operating an aircraft targeted by the system would “blink and then you’ll have some unpleasant news.”

“A Stinger is quite vulnerable to counter-measures,” she continued, “but because Starstreak is directed to the target, it is exceedingly difficult to destroy.”

Britain has dispatched Starstreak was sent to Ukraine as part of a British military deal that included thousands of Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) missiles.

According to The New York Times, the United States and its allies may provide tanks to Kyiv.

According to an unidentified official, the shipments might begin shortly, although there is no information on the quantity of cars or the nations from which they would arrive.

In thrilling battle video, a British Starstreak missile takes down a Russian helicopter

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