Shorts Missile Systems Ltd. Of BelfastAnnounces The Export Launch Of Starstreak
BELFAST---Belfast-based Shorts Missile Systems, specialists in the design and manufacture of air defence systems, today announced U.K. Government clearance for the export of its new generation system, known as STARSTREAK. To be promoted in two fully autonomous mobile versions, namely Armoured and Lightweight, Starstreak offers armed forces a highly sophisticated form of Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) which sets new standards in "Fire and Forget" capability. The Armoured Starstreak system is mounted on the Alvis Stormer tracked vehicle, designed to provide close air defence for armoured formations throughout the battlefield. In its lightweight form, Starstreak is packaged within the Aspic Fire Control System, a configuration which permits it to be carried by any light wheeled vehicle such as the LandRover, HMMWV or Peugeot. At the heart of the export variant of the system, already in service with the British Army, lies the revolutionary Starstreak missile, a high velocity round of three lethal "darts", guided by a laser beam which is proven to be undetectable and unjammable. This new generation of missile leapfrogs conventional fire and forget technology which has been increasingly made vulnerable by countermeasure systems. Starstreak is also unique in its rapid engagement sequence, designed specifically to be effective against very late unmasking aircraft or intermittent exposure aircraft such as helicopters. The missile is packaged within a Fire Control System that offers high performance second generation Thermal Imaging for 24 hr operation and the latest generation in Automatic Target Tracking to provide the operator with a fully automatic (hands-off) engagement sequence. Commenting on the export launch of Starstreak, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Terry Stone said, "This milestone stems from Starstreak's success with the British Army, and we are very confident that Starstreak will make its mark on the world stage." As well as receiving UK MoD clearance for export to selected countries in the ground-to-air mode, Starstreak is also being developed as an air-to-air weapon for the Apache attack helicopter. The second phase of a joint US-UK programme is currently underway in the United States. Under the successful first phase, high-velocity Starstreaks were successfully launched from an Apache during ground, hover and air-to-air tests at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona. SMS is a world leader in the design and manufacture of close air defence systems and its products have found great success in service with 56 armed forces around the world. The Company is the UK's prime contractor in Very Short Range Air Defence Systems and employs over 500 people in Belfast and France. SMS is a joint venture company between Short Brothers plc, a subsidiary of Bombardier Inc, and Thomson-CSF, the French defence electronics corporation.
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Shorts Missile Systems Ltd. Of BelfastAnnounces The Export Launch Of Starstreak
