These Surface-To-Air Missiles Will Be Deployed on London Rooftops

The U.K. Ministry of Defence decided to install surface-to-air missiles on the roofs of six London housing complexes to defend the Summer Olympics against airborne threats. Neighbors protested, but a judge denied their petition, so the operation will go ahead. Exactly how much firepower are they putting up there? Here’s the intel.

Rapier

The Rapier is the standard British Army anti-aircraft weapon. It’s designed to take out supersonic, low-level, high-maneuverability targets. The launcher packs four missiles, as well as all the necessary guidance and surveillance electronics. It can be mounted on vehicles as well as turrets. A proximity fuse detonates the warhead as close to the target as possible.

Designer: British Aircraft Corporation (now BAE Systems)
Entered Service: 1971

Weight: 99.2 lb / 45 kg
Length: 7.3 ft / 2.24 m
Diameter: 0.44 ft / 0.13 m
Wingspan: 0.45 ft / 0/14 m

Speed: Mach 2.5
Range: 1,300 ft – 4.2 mi / 400 – 6,800 m
Max Altitude: 9,800 ft / 3,000 m

Warhead: Fragmentation explosive for close proximity
Detonation Mechanism: Proximity triggered chemical fuse

Starstreak

The Starstreak is a high-velocity missile (HVM)