HVM "High Velocity Missile"

Fire HVM "High Velocity Missile"

HVM stands for "High Velocity Missile"

Starstreak is a British short range surface-to-air missile manufactured by Thales Air Defence Limited (originally Shorts Missile Systems), in Belfast. It is also known as Starstreak HVM where HVM stands for "High Velocity Missile". After launch the missile accelerates to approximately Mach 3.5, at which point it launches three laser beam riding submunitions. The use of three submunitions increases the likelihood of a successful hit on the target. Starstreak has been in service with the British Army since 1997.

Development on the missile began in the early 1980s after a study into a weapon system to supplement the Rapier missile system showed that a high velocity missile system was the best solution to the problem. A General Staff Requirement (GSR 3979) was drawn up with the requirements of the system, specifying the requirement of 3 launch platforms for the missile:

A self-propelled launcher.
A three round light weight launcher.
A man portable launcher.
In 1984 the British Ministry of Defence awarded development contracts to British Aerospace and Shorts Missile Systems. Shorts won the competition and were awarded the £356 million. Further development and a production contract materialized in November 1986, and the missile was officially accepted into service in September 1997. The missile is intended to replace the Javelin surface-to-air missile in British service. The LML and shoulder-launched versions have been in use since 2000.

In July 2001, Thales received a contract for a Successor Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system for Starstreak.

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