India to receive British Starstreak air defence systems
The British company Thales UK, together with the Indian company Bharat Dynamics Limited, will supply India with Starstreak man-portable air defence systems.
Here's What We Know
The supply is part of a cooperation agreement signed in 2021, which provides for the joint production of LBRM (Laser Beam Riding MANPAD) systems with the support of the governments of India and the United Kingdom.
The production will be split between the two countries: 60% of the components will be manufactured in India and 40% at Thales UK in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first systems will be delivered to the Indian Army this year.
According to Thales UK CEO Phil Sieveter, this contract is an important step in cooperation with India and will provide the country with proven combat weapons in the field of air defence. The Starstreak systems will help India defend itself against small drones, which are increasingly being used in modern conflicts.
A Starstreak missile. Illustration: Thales UK
In October 2024, it became known that Thales UK had won Portugal's tender for the supply of short-range air defence systems. The British RapidRanger air defence system was ahead of Poland's Poprad from PIT-Radwar. As part of the deal, Portugal will receive Starstreak-2 missiles with a semi-active guidance system and multifunctional LMM (Martlet).
The Starstreak has been in service with the UK since 1997. The range is over 6,000 metres and the altitude is up to 5,000 metres. The missile has three kinetic tungsten sub-elements and reaches a speed of Mach 3.5. The missile is guided by a laser beam in a semi-automatic mode. The system can be produced in various versions: a hand-held man-portable air defence system, a stationary installation or a combat module for vehicles.
Source: Thales UK