Rafael’s Spike Missiles Wanted by Poland for New APC

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Rosomak S.A. company, which is a part of the Polish Armaments Group, has developed a number of specialized variants of the Rosomak APC.

According to Defence 24 the armed forces are willing to introduce reconnaissance and armoured recovery variants of the vehicle into the inventory in the upcoming period. There are also plans aimed at integrating the Rosomak platform with the Spike ATGM manufactured by the Israeli company Rafael.

This platform is the first ever vehicle within the inventory of the Polish Army, fitted with the remote controlled armament module. The turret comes with the 7.62 mm UKM-2000C machine gun installed, and it has been delivered by the ZM Tarnow facility.

The crew of this vehicle consists of a driver, commander, two mechanics and, depending on the requirements and assigned tasks – a medic. In order to provide the basic technical assistance within the battlefield to the damaged or neutralized vehicles, the ARV variant has been fitted with a HIAB crane, with load capacity of 1000 kilograms, rescue air cushions, equipment for electrical and gas welding, dryers, repair tent and a toolkit and a variety of diagnostics/specialized tool kits.

The task given to such vehicles is to provide basic assistance to the damaged platforms, through execution of the basic repairs, including replacement of tyres, welding of the damaged components of the chassis or diagnostics, related to the onboard electronics.

At the moment, it is said that 50 vehicles of both types are to be procured.

The armament of both varieties remains unchanged, as compared with the standard vehicle – it comes in a form of 30 mm Mk 44 cannon, along with a coupled machine gun. The basic reconnaissance equipment of both APCs include the Janus RSTA optronics suite, integrated with the vehicular fire control system, along with the Ferret acoustic shot and shooter detection system .

These carriers are expected to be additionally armed with Rafael’s Spike-LR ATGMs. This is a 4th generation light anti tank guided missile (13.7 kg) which is mainly intended as a portable Missile system for infantry and light combat vehicles.

The ground launcher can be supplied in two different configurations: A portable configuration deployed on a light portable tripod and fired from a ground light launching system, and a VMLS Configuration (Vehicle Mounted Launching System) where the Missile System is remotely controlled and integrated on to a vehicle’s turret or weapon station. The SPIKE LR Rounds are stored and fired from a Missile Launching Pod (MLP) which is integrated to the turret/weapon station.