It is unique among MANPADS in that it is manually guided to its target with a small joystick, sending guidance corrections to the missile over a radio control link.

Blowpipe underwent a protracted and controversial development between the programme's initial conception in 1966 and 1975 when it finally entered service.

As a result of the poor performance of the system, an improved version offering semi-automatic guidance was introduced as Javelin.

Short Brothers began researching a man-portable anti-aircraft system in 1962[2] as a private venture (i.e. without any government orders or funding), with engineering starting in 1964.

Ultimately, the decision was made in 1968 to start development of the Shorts proposal, which won the contract specifically because it was believed to be the least expensive option.

On 7 May 1969, Minister of Defence for Equipment Sir John Morris in Parliament claimed that the Blowpipe's development was "...proceeding satisfactorily but is at too early a stage for any firm production order.

"[5] Two years later, on 11 February 1971, Minister of State for Defence Robert Lindsay noted that "The development programme for this missile continues to make progress although it will still be some time before it is completed.

"[6] On 16 March 1972, Under-Secretary for Defence for the Army Geoffrey Johnson-Smith said of Blowpipe "This is now in an advanced stage of development and some successful trials with it have been carried out.

[2] After requests from the Israeli and Brazilian navies for a submarine-launched weapon, Blowpipe was developed in a cluster of six missiles on a mast that could be raised from the submarine's conning tower.

Known as "Submarine Launched Airflight Missile", or SLAM, the system was trialled on the World War II-era HMS Aeneas in 1972.

[citation needed] A four-round launcher similar to the one developed for SLAM was also considered for mounting on the M113 and FV103 Spartan APC's, but it is unclear if either reached trials.

[2] As part of the contract for a new portable SAM for the US Army, Northrop joined forces with Shorts to produce a version of Blowpipe with a laser seeker, which would automate missile guidance.

[8] To reduce the overall size of the container, the rear fins of the missile are stored in the larger diameter cylinder at the front of the tube (this also contains the Yagi antenna for transmitting guidance signals); during firing, the fins slip onto the rear of the missile as it flies through and are held there by heat-activated adhesive tapes.

[2] The Blowpipe's guidance is initially semi-automatic with the missile gathered to the centre of the sight's crosshairs by the infrared optic atop the aiming unit.

The operator can opt not to use auto-gathering when engaging low flying targets such as helicopters but then has to super-elevate the launcher to ensure that the missile does not hit the ground.

In emergencies, the operator can end an engagement by shutting off the power to the transmitter with the system switch, after which the missile will immediately self-destruct.

[9] A later report determined only one kill could be attributed with certainty to Blowpipe, that of an Argentine Navy Aermacchi MB-339 (0766 (4-A-114)) during the Battle of Goose Green on 28 May.

[15] The Canadian military took Blowpipe from storage to provide protection for their naval contribution to the 1991 Gulf War, although age had degraded the weapons, and nine out of 27 missiles tested misfired.

This uses a laser in the launcher to "paint" the target, and a seeker in the missile nose cone sees the reflected signal and homes in on it.