File image.
The British-made Stormer HVM short-range air-defense (SHORAD) system has made its first appearance in the Ukrainian battlefield.
On July 23, photos showing a single Stormer HVM system with service members from Kiev forces on an unspecified front in Ukraine surfaced online.
The Stormer HVM, which is built around the chassis of the Alvis Stormer armored personnel carrier, was developed primarily to counter the threat of attack helicopters and low-flying aircraft. The SHORAD system is equipped with an electro-optical targeting system and can be armed with up to eight Martlet or Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
The Martlet is guided by laser beam-riding with infrared terminal homing and a laser proximity sensor. The missile has a maximum range of eight kilometers. The older Starstreak is guided by SACLOS [Semi-automatic command to line of sighs] and armed with three submunitions, darts, which are guided by laser beam-riding. The missile has a maximum range of around seven kilometers.
While Martlet missiles has been spotted with Kiev forces before, the Stormer HVM supplied to Ukraine appear to be armed with Starstreak missiles.
According to unofficial sources, the UK has supplied Ukraine with six Stormer HVM systems, so far. It remains unknown if Kiev forces will receive more systems of this type in the future.
Kiev’s Western allies have been working for a while now to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses, but to no avail. While systems like the Stormer HVM are effective against slow, low-flying targets like helicopters and drones, they will not likely be of any use against Russian fighter jets and missiles.
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