Starstreak Missile (Man-Portable Air-Defence System) (British Army & RN (RM))

[ArmChairCivvy]

useful applications for Rapier would be as a defence system for fixed positions, freeing up other Ukrainian assets to move to the front i.e. airfields, refineries, weapons plants, munitions depots etc. Rapiers range isn't great but it is capable against Russian cruise missiles at least, which appear to be the biggest threat to these faciities (in addition to the occasional Iskander semi-ballistic missile which Rapier is not going to be able to deal with).
Exactly

no-one has yet pulled some i-Hawk out of storage...for the same reason, they could cover the west and centre of the country freeing up systems the Ukrainian's are more familiar with for the east and south.

Who's got them? Patriots for Sweden are far from operational.... so not from there.
-anyone else?

[Lord Jim]

I would prefer we retain our Rapier FSC and give them to the RAF Regiment to defend airfields at home and abroard as there are not going to be any Sky Sabre units to carry out that role as ew seem to have forgotten how vulnerable airfield are to attack.

[ArmChairCivvy]

there are not going to be any Sky Sabre units to carry out that role

Better get our skates on.

I can't believe the RAF Rgmnt was denuded of this task/ capability. What is their strength these days (have there been cuts 'under the radar')?

[Lord Jim]

Well their seem to be six Field Squadrons and six Force Protection Squadron which make up the regular element of teh RAF Regiment. Each squadron is roughly Company sized give a total of around 1500 personnel after a numebr of Squadrons were disbanded or the manning levels reduced in total by 300 personnel as of last year. There are also right Squadrons that are part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. All Squadrons are tasked with Ground Combat though No2 Squadron is parachute trained.

Maybe we could look at the Force Protection Squadrons and have each man a Battery of Rapier FSC as well as providing a platoon or two of Infantry. It appears the RAF Regiment's Squadrons were rotated through both Iraq and Afghanistan on multiple occasions, often used as regular Infantry rather than their usual role of base defence.

[Timmymagic]

First sighting of Stormer with HVM in Ukraine...

[Timmymagic]

And just realised its has a mix of Starstreak and Martlet in the launchers...(Starstreak has the 3 holes in the black endcap, Martlet is Green with a square indentation). This one has 3 Starstreak loaded (for helos or fast air) and 5 Martlet (for UAV and helo engagements).