The Russian Ministry of Defense published a video through its account on the VK social network on Saturday, March 11, which shows the destruction of the first Stormer HVM (high-velocity missile) anti-aircraft defense system supplied by the UK, using Lancet-3 loitering ammunition.
According to reports, this is the first time Russia has publicly claimed responsibility for losing a Ukrainian Stormer HVM Starstreak air defense vehicle. Britain has given Kyiv its Stormer HVM. In 2022, Ukraine received at least six of these anti-aircraft systems.
For both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries, loitering ammunition has quickly become a primary weapon for engaging armored vehicles since the conflict in Ukraine began.
Ukraine has faced a growing threat from loitering munitions, also known as kamikaze drones. These are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) designed for lounging in the air for long periods, waiting for a target to appear before plunging down and crashing into the target to deliver an explosive charge.
The use of loitering munitions in Ukraine has been mainly attributed to Russian-backed separatist forces in the Donbas region. These munitions have been used to attack Ukrainian military positions and civilian infrastructure, such as airports, power plants, and water treatment facilities.
Armored formations are vulnerable to attack from assault helicopters and other low-flying aircraft. Hence the Stormer HVM (High-Velocity Missile) was created as a short-range air defense weapon.
The chassis of a modified Alvis Stormer APC serves as the foundation for this air defense system (APC). Starstreak man-portable air defense missiles are mounted on the back with their launchers and target sensors. The two-stage solid-propellant rocket motor inside a Starstreak missile allows it to reach speeds three times faster than sound.
Each missile carries three high-density darts with impact fuzes and explosive warheads to deliver multiple hits on the target. When the engine’s second stage burns out, the darts are released.
The missiles range from 1,500 to 5,500 meters and can neutralize low-flying aircraft, including high-performance ones. They have a service ceiling of 1000 meters.
The Starstreak HVM uses a laser beam guidance system that is only partially automated along a direct line of sight. The operator keeps the missiles pointed in the right direction by using an optically stabilized system to follow the target’s movement.
There are a total of 12 missiles on board, including 8 that are ready to shoot and 8 that are stored in the launchers for later use. A three-round light launcher and a shoulder-mounted launcher are also available for firing Starstreak missiles.
The Stormer vehicle features a roof-mounted panoramic weapons sight and an air defense alert mechanism for target recognition and prioritization. The system can detect targets up to 18 kilometers away and engage them quickly.
Generally, the air defense system is operated by a crew of three, including a commander, an operator, and a driver. Russia uses loitering munitions to destroy equipment supplied by the West to Kyiv.
The main objective of the Kyiv armed forces has been to deny air superiority to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).
As part of this objective, the Ukrainian military deployed medium and long-range air defenses, such as the S-300 and Buk-M1, which have forced Russian fighters and helicopters to fly at low altitudes, making them targets easy for anti-aircraft missile systems like the Stormer HVM.
Ukraine’s aerial rejection strategy has worked for a while; the Russian military has adapted to the circumstances and has begun using loitering munitions, such as the Iranian-made Shahed-136 and Russia’s own Lancet drones, in large numbers that somewhat overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
The Lancet-3 variant of the loitering munitions family deployed by the Russian military to eliminate the HVM Stormer is essentially designed to destroy armored vehicles in particular.
The Russian company Zala Group, a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov Group, designed and developed the Lancet-3, which is capable of carrying either high explosive (HE) or HE fragmentation warheads.
The Russian loitering system uses an electric motor that gives it a range of 40 minutes and a range of 40 kilometers to go to a specific area, loiter until the target is set, and hit it. Its speed is 110 kilometers per hour and can reach maximums of 300 km/h when intercepting a drone in flight or accelerating before reaching a ground target. Its maximum flight height is 5,000 meters.
The post The Russian military destroys Ukraine’s first Stormer HVM Starstreak air defense vehicle. appeared first on MilitaryView.