21 Battery with their LML HVM supports 16 Air Assault Brigade, a highly mobile fast reaction strike force.

SP HVM which, 21 Battery do not currently operate, is the fusion of a tracked vehicle together with the HVM missile system providing a lethal Air Defence weapon capable of striking enemy aircraft before they can engage our troops on the ground. The system is capable of acquiring its targets with a surveillance system that is un-jammable and totally passive, combined with a missile that is immune to counter measures and can travel at speed in excess of MACH 3.

The LML HVM is moved around the battlefield by the Pinzgauer vehicles of 21 (Gibraltar) Battery and in its Shoulder Launch mode by the Airbourne or Air Assault soldiers of this Battery who have the envious task of parachuting into hostile environments to establish Air Defence for the arrival of the main assault.

21 Battery is the Air Assault Battery within the Regiment. In this role they provide the Close Air Defence to 16 (Air Assault) Brigade.

They are a high readiness force that is trained to operate in numerous roles - notably by parachute insertion. Their soldiers are highly motivated and maintain a high degree of physical fitness.

As members of the Brigade they wear the coveted Para beret and undergo Pre-Para Selection and P Company on the road to their "Wings".

Starstreak HVM (High Velocity Missile) continues the development path of both Blowpipe and Javelin. It can be shoulder launched, fired from the Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) or vehicle borne on the Pinzgauer vehicles or Alvis Stormer APC which has an 8 round launcher (12 reload missiles can be carried inside the vehicle).

Starstreak is designed to counter threats from very high performance low flying aircraft and fast pop-up type strikes by attack helicopters. The missile is boosted to maximum velocity by a two-stage propulsion system at which point three darts, each with an impact fuse, are released and are guided on to the target by the operator. HVM offers a high kill probability against fixed - and rotary-wing targets including pop-up helicopters. While the SL and LML configurations provide great flexibility in terms of deployment options, the Army's highly mobile, armoured vehicle-based SP version has been specifically designed to provide close air defence of armoured formations.

 

Information taken from different sources.

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12/03/05 - 21/06/05