Rapier (missile)
Entering service in 1971, Rapier is a British surface-to-air missile developed for the British Army and Royal Air Force.
Rapier began development in 1961 as a private venture at British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) known as "Sightline". The project was to combat supersonic, low level, high manoeuvrability craft, eschewing any attempt at automated guidance in favour of a purely optical system.
Complete systems were tested in 1968, which led to a production contract issued in 1969. The system entered service in 1971 with the British Army, and 1974 with the Royal Air Force Regiment.[1]