Alan Dron
British Government export clearance has today been granted for Shorts Missile Systems' (SMS) Starstreak laser-guided anti-aircraft system, says chief executive
officer Terry Stone.
The high-velocity missile will be promoted as Armoured Starstreak, mounted on an Alvis Stormer AFV. A lightweight variant, packaged within the Aspic fire
control system, will be mounted on a light wheeled vehicle such as a Land-Rover.
The export version is more advanced than that currently in service with the British Army, with a second-generation thermal imager and the latest automatic target
tracking system that deliver a fully automatic (hands-off) engagement sequence, says SMS. Testing of the air-to-air version, mounted on an AH-64 Apache at the
Yuma, Arizona, test range is continuing, adds Stone. Several missiles have been fired "-and we're just about to move into the tracking trial element of the
programme."
SMS hopes a collaborative US-UK programme will emerge to fit Starstreak on both nations' helicopters.
There is already "Congressional language in the budget process" for a US shoot-off, which is expected to take place in 2000. SMS hopes this date will advance if a
collaborative programme is agreed.
Source: Flight Daily News