Residents in east London are due to have missiles placed on their roofs this week to protect the Olympic Games from airborne terrorist attacks.

Military planners at the Ministry of Defence have decided to fit high-velocity rockets with a range of 5km to several apartment blocks close to the Olympic Park. This weekend they informed the occupants of the Lexington Building apartment complex in Bow that a missile battery would be installed this week.

The weapons are capable of shooting down aircraft and can counter "pop-up strikes" by helicopters, according to the MoD. During the Games, they will be controlled around the clock by 10 unarmed soldiers, who might be guarded by armed police.

The MoD is to send leaflets to residents in other blocks chosen as temporary missile bases before the systems are deployed with dummy missiles for a national Olympic security exercise starting on Wednesday.

An MoD spokesman said fewer than 10 locations had been selected to host missile batteries in areas around the Olympic Park. Not all of them were on residential buildings and no final decisions on locations had been taken.

The MoD leaflet sent to Lexington Building residents on Saturday says: "The location has been chosen as it is situated close to the Olympic Park and offers an excellent view of the surrounding area and the entire sky above the Olympic Park.

"The top of the tower also offers a flat, uncluttered and safe area from which to operate. Following a detailed analysis of a number of possible locations ... Lexington Building water tower proved to be the only suitable site in this area for the high velocity missile system."

The test of the Olympic security plans taking place either side of the forthcoming bank holiday weekend will see RAF Typhoon fast jets and military helicopters operating above London and the home counties, and the arrival of the warship HMS Ocean in the river Thames.

The decision to locate missiles above occupied homes sparked concern among the residents of the Lexington Building, part of the former Bryant & May match factory that was regenerated to create the Bow Quarter, containing more than 700 apartments.

"I've looked these [missiles] up and I don't think they're the kind of thing you can fire over a highly populated area like Tower Hamlets – think of the debris," said Brian Whelan, 28, a resident. "[The leaflet] says the missiles will only be used as a last resort. It's totally unsuitable."

A member of staff at Madison's, the complex's bar and restaurant, said: "We don't really know if it will make us feel safer or more of a target."

The MoD said the weapons used were likely to be Star Streak high-velocity missiles, which travel at more than three times the speed of sound and use a system of three dart-like projectiles to allow multiple hits on a target.

"As announced before Christmas, ground-based air defence systems could be deployed as part of a multilayered air security plan for the Olympics, including fast jets and helicopters, which will protect the skies over London during the Games," an MoD spokesman said.

"Based on military advice, we have identified a number of sites and, alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan police, are talking to local authorities and relevant landowners to help minimise the impact of any temporary deployments. As part of our ongoing planning, we can confirm site evaluations have taken place. However, no final decision on whether or not to deploy ground based air defence systems for the Games has been taken."

Extracts from the MoD leaflet

Are there no other suitable buildings nearby? Lexington Building Water Tower proved to be the only suitable site in this area for the HVM [high-velocity missiles] system.

Will the equipment be noisy? The equipment is not noisy. It will be powered by mains electricity or, in the event of a power supply failure, a silent generator which will be procured especially for the Games.

Will the armed forces be there 24/7? During the rehearsal and the Games deployment, there will be a permanent presence of up to 10 soldiers at the building. They will be supported by the police.

How can we be sure this is safe? The air defence system will be manned by fully trained, professional soldiers. It will be securely protected and it does not pose any hazard to residents. The system will be used to monitor the airspace and will only be authorised for active use following specific orders from the highest levels of government in response to a confirmed and extreme security threat.

Will having missiles on our building make us a target? Having a 24/7 armed forces and police presence will improve your local security and will not make you a target for terrorists.