Ukraine Trains Troops with World’s Fastest Missiles to Target Russian Aircraft with Devastating Precision

Ukraine has sent another group of troops to Britain for training on the "Starstreak" air defense system, recognized as one of the fastest surface-to-air missile systems globally.

Knewz.com reported that the Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing training with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland's Armed Forces at a confidential location.

The announcement came from the Permanent Joint Headquarters of the UK and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) via social media, accompanied by photos of military recruits in training.

The AFU's statement highlighted that "UK Armed Forces have been training Ukrainian recruits on Starstreak, a short-range, portable, air-defense system optimized to provide defense against air threats."

The training aims to equip Ukrainian forces with the skills to protect their airspace from Russia’s unauthorized aerial incursions.

Starstreak is a short-range, man-portable air defense system that can be deployed on armored vehicles or used in a Shoulder-Launched (SL) or Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) format. The UK Permanent Joint Headquarters described the system as "quick and capable" in their briefing on the training exercise.

This advanced air defense system includes a Short Range Air Defense High-Velocity Missile (SHORAD), featuring three tungsten darts propelled by a rocket motor. Manufactured by the Thales Group in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Starstreak SHORAD can reach speeds exceeding three times the speed of sound, making it the fastest short-range surface-to-air missile in the world. Its precision is enhanced by a laser beam riding guidance system.

First deployed in combat during the Iraq conflict in 2003, the British military described the Starstreak SHORAD as designed to counter high-performance, low-flying aircraft and rapid "pop-up" helicopter strikes.

The system can be launched from the shoulder, a lightweight multiple launcher, or the Stormer armored vehicle, delivering multiple hits on a target with its high-velocity missiles.

Since March 2022, Ukraine has consistently sent military recruits to Britain to master the Starstreak system. One of the initial groups was trained by the British military at a secret location in Eastern Europe.

Colonel Graham Taylor, UK coordinator for ground-based air defense, remarked that the system could inflict "catastrophic" damage on low-flying enemy jets and helicopters.

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Starstreak was among the first foreign weapons delivered to Ukraine following the onset of the Russian invasion. In June 2022, Ukrainian paratroopers from the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade used the system to shoot down a Russian Ka-52 'Alligator' helicopter.

Earlier reports also noted that Ukrainian forces had downed a Russian Mi-28 helicopter with the British missile system, with footage capturing the aircraft disintegrating mid-air after being struck by the Starstreak SHORAD missile.