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 in the Canadian Army as the Javelin. It can be fired from the shoulder or from a launcher known as Starburst LML - Lightweight Multiple Launcher.
It is being replaced in British service by the Starstreak missile.
The missile is 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 replaced the Javelin by 1993. In 1992 the proximity fuze was improved. Starburst was first used in combat in the 1991 Gulf War.
Variants of Starburst Missile
- Starburst LML (Lightweight multiple launcher)
- Starburst VML (Vehicle multiple launcher)
- Starburst NML (Naval multiple launcher)
- Starburst starlite thermal imager
- Starburst SR2000
| Starburst | |
|---|---|
| Type | Manportable surface-to-air missile |
| Place of origin |  UK |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1989 to present |
| Wars | Gulf War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Thales Air Defence Limited |
| Manufacturer | Thales Air Defence Limited |
| Produced | 1986 to 2001 |
| Number built | 13,389 |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | 1 |
| | |
| Effective range | 0.3 to 7 km |
| Warhead | High Explosive fragmentation |
| Warhead weight | 2.74 kg |
| | |
| Engine | Solid Rocket Motor |
| Guidance system | SACLOS system |
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