Quote:A bit of hyperbole here. The UK has already sent Startstreak missiles to the UK in a MANPAD configuration. They did that weeks ago. The vehicular version is a definite improvement but is not a different class of weapon. These missiles require the operator to keep the target in the viewfinder, as I understand it. It is not a "fire and forget" weapon.
Russia has limited standoff precision guided capability at best of times and even more so now. Their fast jets are operating at low altitude to reduce exposure to long range Ukrainian SAMs, but also because they need to be low and relatively slow compared to their capability in order to deliver unguided munitions with any accuracy.
The Starstreak is not fire and forget, but in this context it can still be very effective at taking down Russia's close air support planes, and will be tough for Russia to target. Hopefully Ukrainian soldiers have been training with the system so they can deploy it effectively.
This article on what Russian air operations in Donbas look like was good-
https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/pu...not-matter