Britain plans to supply Ukraine with man-portable air-defense systems.

The Militarnyi reported with reference to Reuters.

The Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom Ben Wallace announced such intentions to journalists.

He stressed that MANPADS are defensive weapons and should help Ukrainians close the skies against Russian airstrikes.

“It is vital… that Ukraine maintains its ability to fly and suppress Russian air attack,” Wallace told.

He said that the government has taken the decision to explore the donation of STARStreak high-velocity man-portable anti-air missiles.

Wallace said the decision had been taken in principle to supply the systems, and the government was working out how to get them into Ukraine and train Ukrainian forces to use them.

Starstreak is a British short range man-portable air-defense system, Starstreak has been in service with the British Army since 1997. The declared height of hitting targets is up to 5000 m, the range is 6000 + m. After launch the missile with a warhead of 0.9 kg accelerates to approximately Mach 3.5. Warhead in the form of three kinetic tungsten subelements.