Workers unloading a Royal Canadian Air Force military transport plane to assist Ukraine at Lviv airport. AFP
Workers unloading a Royal Canadian Air Force military transport plane to assist Ukraine at Lviv airport. AFP
A new member of the Territorial Defence Forces trains to operate an AT4 anti-tank launcher in Kyiv. Reuters
A new member of the Territorial Defence Forces trains to operate an AT4 anti-tank launcher in Kyiv. Reuters
A plane loaded with military equipment for Ukrainian forces takes off from Albacete, Spain. EPA
A plane loaded with military equipment for Ukrainian forces takes off from Albacete, Spain. EPA
A Ukrainian soldier holds a Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon used to destroy a Russian armoured personal carrier in Irpin, north of Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier holds a Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon used to destroy a Russian armoured personal carrier in Irpin, north of Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian serviceman with a Javelin missile system on the front line near Kyiv. Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman with a Javelin missile system on the front line near Kyiv. Reuters
A soldier holds a Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank rocket launcher at the Munster military training area in Germany in 2016. Getty Images
A soldier holds a Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank rocket launcher at the Munster military training area in Germany in 2016. Getty Images
A US Marine Corps staff sergeant aims a M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon. Photo: US National Archives
A US Marine Corps staff sergeant aims a M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon. Photo: US National Archives
The Switchblade is a camera-equipped, remote-controlled flying bomb with a reputation for pinpoint delivery. AP Photo
The Switchblade is a camera-equipped, remote-controlled flying bomb with a reputation for pinpoint delivery. AP Photo
A coalition forces member fires a Carl Gustav recoilless rifle system during weapons practice on a range in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2013. US Army Photo
A coalition forces member fires a Carl Gustav recoilless rifle system during weapons practice on a range in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2013. US Army Photo
A Starstreak surface-to-air missile system. PA
A Starstreak surface-to-air missile system. PA

World

UK

What is the Stormer missile system the UK is planning to send to Ukraine?

High-velocity weapons can take out low-flying planes and hit targets on the ground

Simon Rushton
Simon Rushton

April 19, 2022

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Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Britain is expected to announce it is sending Stormer armoured missile launchers to Ukraine, whose President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia's large-scale offensive in the eastern Donbas region had begun.

The UK has increased the number and type of weapons it is sending to Ukraine as the war has developed and the latest batch would be the largest heavy weaponry despatched to the conflict.

Sending the Stormer system gives Ukraine weaponry with the capacity to take out aerial targets, including low-flying helicopters and planes, but which can also hit targets on the ground.

The Stormer, a high velocity missile (HVM) launcher, is manufactured by BAE Systems and needs three people to operate — a commander, operator and driver.

It fires Starstreak missiles, which can be fired from the vehicle’s turret or from a shoulder mount.

The missiles flying at more than three times the speed are suited to hitting low-flying jets.

A sign that reads 'Children' is fixed on to a car windscreen riddled with bulletholes in Irpin, Ukraine. AFP
A sign that reads 'Children' is fixed on to a car windscreen riddled with bulletholes in Irpin, Ukraine. AFP
A woman weeps next to her husband's coffin at a cemetery in Irpin. AFP
A woman weeps next to her husband's coffin at a cemetery in Irpin. AFP
Residents walk amid debris of a charred Russian tank next to destroyed houses in the village of Zalissya. AFP
Residents walk amid debris of a charred Russian tank next to destroyed houses in the village of Zalissya. AFP
Volunteers distribute food to residents in Zalissya. AFP
Volunteers distribute food to residents in Zalissya. AFP
A man walks past a damaged apartment building in the southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters
A man walks past a damaged apartment building in the southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters
Tamara, 71, cries in front of a destroyed apartment building in Mariupol. Reuters
Tamara, 71, cries in front of a destroyed apartment building in Mariupol. Reuters
Local residents push a cart with a child past destroyed buildings in Mariupol. Reuters
Local residents push a cart with a child past destroyed buildings in Mariupol. Reuters
A record player sits among debris inside an apartment in Mariupol. Reuters
A record player sits among debris inside an apartment in Mariupol. Reuters
Residents carry belongings past a destroyed building in Mariupol. Reuters
Residents carry belongings past a destroyed building in Mariupol. Reuters
Security guards help an injured man following a Russian bombing of a factory in Kramatorsk. AP
Security guards help an injured man following a Russian bombing of a factory in Kramatorsk. AP
A man receives first aid treatment. AP
A man receives first aid treatment. AP
Soldiers collect explosives after recent battles in the village of Moshchun, close to Kyiv. AP
Soldiers collect explosives after recent battles in the village of Moshchun, close to Kyiv. AP
The Komodor logistics park lies in ruins after being bombed and burnt during the Russian invasion near Makarov. Getty Images
The Komodor logistics park lies in ruins after being bombed and burnt during the Russian invasion near Makarov. Getty Images
A room in a kindergarten stands windowless in Makarov. Getty Images
A room in a kindergarten stands windowless in Makarov. Getty Images
A vehicle draped with a Ukrainian flag passes over a war-damaged bridge in Makarov. Getty Images
A vehicle draped with a Ukrainian flag passes over a war-damaged bridge in Makarov. Getty Images
A man sits in a basement that was used as a bomb shelter in the village of Kukhari. EPA
A man sits in a basement that was used as a bomb shelter in the village of Kukhari. EPA
Local residents clean the area around a destroyed farm in Kukhari. EPA
Local residents clean the area around a destroyed farm in Kukhari. EPA
Nadia looks at her husband's coffin at a cemetery in Bucha. He was killed during the war. AFP
Nadia looks at her husband's coffin at a cemetery in Bucha. He was killed during the war. AFP
Mangled buildings in Irpin point to the ravages of the ongoing war. Getty Images
Mangled buildings in Irpin point to the ravages of the ongoing war. Getty Images
A burnt apartment tower in Irpin. Getty Images
A burnt apartment tower in Irpin. Getty Images
Family members grieve during the funeral of Ruslan Nechyporenko, 47, in Bucha. Getty Images
Family members grieve during the funeral of Ruslan Nechyporenko, 47, in Bucha. Getty Images
An abandoned Russian military position in Borodyanka town near Kyiv. EPA
An abandoned Russian military position in Borodyanka town near Kyiv. EPA
Heavily pregnant Dr Marta Kopan, who fled Kyiv with her husband Dr Maxim Motsya and their three-year-old son Makar, narrates their ordeal at a relative's place in Lviv. AP
Heavily pregnant Dr Marta Kopan, who fled Kyiv with her husband Dr Maxim Motsya and their three-year-old son Makar, narrates their ordeal at a relative's place in Lviv. AP
A Ukrainian officer searches for unexploded explosives as he passes by an Antonov An-225, the world's biggest cargo aircraft, destroyed during the war on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A Ukrainian officer searches for unexploded explosives as he passes by an Antonov An-225, the world's biggest cargo aircraft, destroyed during the war on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A woman stands amid the destruction caused when a civilian building was hit by a Russian missile in Lviv, western Ukraine. Getty Images
A woman stands amid the destruction caused when a civilian building was hit by a Russian missile in Lviv, western Ukraine. Getty Images
Ukrainian soldiers on an armoured personnel carrier, near the front line with Russian troops, in Izyum district, Kharkiv region, north-eastern Ukraine. AFP
Ukrainian soldiers on an armoured personnel carrier, near the front line with Russian troops, in Izyum district, Kharkiv region, north-eastern Ukraine. AFP
Ukrainian refugees arrive at the Siret border crossing between Romania and Ukraine. AFP
Ukrainian refugees arrive at the Siret border crossing between Romania and Ukraine. AFP
Ukranian soldiers in a trench look out across the front line near Kharkiv. AFP
Ukranian soldiers in a trench look out across the front line near Kharkiv. AFP
Cars destroyed in Russian attacks, in Irpin, near Kyiv. The scene of fierce fighting, the town was occupied by Russian forces. Reuters
Cars destroyed in Russian attacks, in Irpin, near Kyiv. The scene of fierce fighting, the town was occupied by Russian forces. Reuters
Damaged and destroyed vehicles at Illich Iron and Steel Works Metallurgical Plant, in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists in besieged south-eastern city Mariupol. AP
Damaged and destroyed vehicles at Illich Iron and Steel Works Metallurgical Plant, in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists in besieged south-eastern city Mariupol. AP
Russian military vehicles in an area controlled by Moscow-backed separatists near Mariupol. AP
Russian military vehicles in an area controlled by Moscow-backed separatists near Mariupol. AP
An elderly woman waits do be evacuated from a hospice in Chasiv Yar city, in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. At least 35 residents have been helped to flee from the region that has been under attack for weeks. AP
An elderly woman waits do be evacuated from a hospice in Chasiv Yar city, in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. At least 35 residents have been helped to flee from the region that has been under attack for weeks. AP
A Ukrainian Interior Ministry serviceman collects unexploded shells, grenades and mines, following fierce fighting in Hostomel. AP
A Ukrainian Interior Ministry serviceman collects unexploded shells, grenades and mines, following fierce fighting in Hostomel. AP

Each missile breaks into three darts after being fired, meaning they can hit a target with successive strikes. Each dart is made up of impact fuses and explosive warheads.

Darts are released as the second stage of the motor burns out.

The missiles have a range of 1,500 metres to 5,500m and a height ceiling of 1,000m.

Missiles are guided by the operator, who tracks the target using a semi-automatic, line-of-sight laser beam.

The system has an operational range of 600 kilometres and a top speed of 50kph and the 12.7-tonne vehicles can be flown to the battlefield on C-17 transport planes.

Specifications

Stormer vehicle firing a Starstreak High Velocity Missile. Photo: Ministry of Defence
Stormer vehicle firing a Starstreak High Velocity Missile. Photo: Ministry of Defence
  • Length: 5.27m
  • Width: 2.76m
  • Height: 2.49m

The Starstreak missiles are also effective against ground targets. It is estimated that darts can smash through the front armour of battleground vehicles.

“The Stormer/Starstreak combination will be a huge boost to Ukraine’s fighting capability,” said Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan.

“It is an extremely effective, highly mobile combat vehicle that will do severe damage to any attempts at low-level attack by Putin’s air force.”

The British Army uses Stormer for short-range air defence.

It can be produced in several different configurations, including a two-person turret armed with a 25-millimetre cannon, ambulance or mine layer.

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 592bhp

Torque: 620Nm

Price: Dh980,000

On sale: now

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

On Women's Day
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Squads

India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur

West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph

Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

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Updated: April 19, 2022, 10:18 AM`
UkraineRussiaUK Government