Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has confirmed Britain will send the world’s most advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine.

       Mr Wallace told Parliament Britain will supply Starstreak High-Velocity Missile systems to bolster the fight against Russia.

       Designed to destroy fighter jets and helicopters, Starstreak is the fastest short-range surface-to-air missile in the world, travelling at over Mach 3.

       The missile uses three dart-like projectiles allowing multiple hits on the target. It can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from armoured vehicles.

       Earlier versions of the system, which is made by defence firm Thales in Belfast, were deployed on top of tower blocks for the 2012 London Olympics, a move which caused some concern among residents.

       As it was, no missiles were fired during the Olympic games.

       The system relies on its immense speed to defeat aircraft manoeuvring around a battlefield.

       'Defensive' lethal aid

       Military officials hope the missile, described as “defensive” lethal aid by Mr Wallace, will help Ukraine gain control of the skies and further erode Russia’s fighter jet and helicopter fleets.

       Once fired, the missile carrying the three darts uses a small charge to blast it clear of the launch tube. This motor cuts out before the missile has left the tube to prevent injury to the operator.

       At about four metres from the soldier firing the weapon, a second booster fires to accelerate the missile rapidly to over Mach 3.

       The missile homes in on the target aiming for two laser beams ‘painted’ on the aircraft by the launch unit. All the soldier firing the weapon has to do is keep the target in the sights.

       Three times the speed of sound

       The target aircraft has no time to hide behind buildings or outrun the missile, which travels at more than three times the speed of sound.

       Approaching the target, the three darts, known as ‘hitiles’, separate from the missile and coast towards the aircraft.

       The kinetic energy generated by travelling at such speed will destroy most targets, but to ensure complete destruction each dart contains a delayed initiation 0.9kg blast fragmentation warhead that explodes inside the aircraft.

       Speaking in Parliament Mr Wallace sought to make clear the weapon supplies were defensive and tactical in nature, so as not to allow Vladimir Putin an excuse to refer again to the potential use of nuclear weapons.

       “Everything we do is bound by the decision to supply defensive systems and [is] calibrated not to escalate to a strategic level,” he said.