Starstreak: What is the UK-made weapon being used in Ukraine and how does it compare to Stingers?

Military experts believe footage of a Russian helicopter being blown out of the sky by a missile in Ukraine shows a British-made weapons system in action.

In March, the UK government announced it may send Starstreak, a form of man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS), to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against the Russian invasion.

UK defence minister Ben Wallace insisted the technology falls within the definition of defensive weapons, as he confirmed on March 16 to the BBC the UK was sending the weapon to Ukraine.

A video circulating on social media shows a helicopter being hit by a missile, reportedly in the Luhansk region, in the east of Ukraine.

The Times newspaper reported a Ministry of Defence source "believed that the video showed Startstreak in action over Ukraine," and that the system had been used in the country for almost a week.

The paper added that senior defence industry sources also believe Starstreak to have been the weapon used in the incident.

The UK was already supplying Ukrainian forces with anti-tank missiles as of late January, ahead of an anticipated invasion by Russia.

Following the invasion, Ukraine has received weapons from a number of NATO allies, including the US which also sent MANPADS, in the form of Stinger missiles.

Starstreak is a highly portable, short-range air-defence system, manufactured in the UK.

The manufacturer, Thales, says the weapon is "optimised to provide defence against air threats including fixed-wing Fighter Ground Attack aircraft and late unmasking Attack Helicopters".

It can be moved by a person (in the MANPAD role) or mounted onto a vehicle, making it highly flexible and adaptable to different battlefield situations.

One of the standout features is the speed of the