Egozi: Israeli Spike Missiles to Demonstrate Capabilities to US Army

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By Arie Egozi

The U.S army and its special forces will soon evaluate the latest versions of the Rafael’s Spike missiles. The evaluation will be performed in the Israeli test range in the Negev desert.

The decision to evaluate some more versions of this very successful combat-proven family of missiles was made after the Americans have been briefed about the performance of the missiles in some recent IDF operations.

Two weeks ago, the U.S  army decided to purchase a first batch of the Rafael’s Spike NLOS (non-line-of-sight) air-to-surface missiles to equip the service’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

Spike NLOS is a multipurpose, multi-platform precision-guided missile system equipped with a dual-mode electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) seeker and a real-time encrypted radio frequency (RF) two-way datalink. With a stated maximum range of 30 km, the missile can be equipped with three warhead options: tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), penetrating blast fragmentation (PBF), and fragmentation.

The Spike missiles give super firepower not only the Helicopters but also to infantry soldiers.

The capability of an infantry soldier to kill an advanced well-protected main battle tank (MBT) has been demonstrated by Rafael in a recent series of tests with its new version of the Spike missile.

The U.S Special Forces will soon evaluate the new version for their operational needs.

In a recent series of tests in the Negev Desert in southern Israel, Rafael demonstrated the Spike SR (Short Range) Precision guided missile, proving its unique lethal capability.

Spike SR is an electro-optical guided missile designed for shoulder launch by infantry. It is the smallest and lightest variant of the Spike Missile family, weighing only 10kg, in use today by several nations, including within NATO.

Spike-SR is a fire & forget 3rd generation, electro-optical, short-range, man-portable, light-weight and highly lethal multi-purpose weapon for day and night operation. The Spike-SR is a stand-alone system. It consists of a disposable Missile in Canister with a light integrated CLU (Command Launch Unit). The Spike-SR Round weighs 8.6 kg, including the CLU – 9.8 kg. Effective range: 50 -1500 meters. A shoulder-launched light tactical missile for the low echelon infantry with enhanced range and increased HEAT penetration.

The entire Spike Family is now operational in 34 nations, with more than 36,000 rounds produced and supplied, and as many as 45 different platforms integrated, including attack helicopters, ground vehicles, marine vessels and more. 

According to the Israeli company, Spike SR was designed for the maneuvering forces, allowing standoff engagement ranges of 2000 meters, formerly covered only by heavier ATGM‘s. Designed as a portable, fully disposable munition the Spike SR carries a powerful High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead, joined with a frontal precursor for clearing of ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) tiles.

During the demonstration, operators hit targets located 2000 meters away, presenting both a great standoff range to enhance the survivability of maneuvering infantry, as well as lethality, with impressive armor penetration results. 

Gal Papier, director of marketing and business development at Rafael’s Precision Tactical Weapon Systems directorate said that this small missile, proved to be as lethal as other large caliber missiles, supplies great agility for the warfighter due to its light weight, as well as its ability to act rapidly within six seconds from cold start, engaging fast-moving targets, highly-demanded capabilities in today’s warfare.

According to the Israeli company, the Spike family of missiles is one of the most advanced when it comes to versatility and lethality. It is operational in many countries and has been used in different combat scenarios.

Spike Family Missiles have been integrated and successfully used in combat vehicles, naval platforms, and helicopters. More than 4400 Spike Family Missiles were launched both in battle and training. 

The fact that so many countries are using the Spike missiles, resulted in forming of a “users club” that according to Rafael is focusing on joint training, maintenance programs and even sharing of tactical procedures.

Other members of the Spike family of missiles are the Spike LR with a range of 4 km, and the Spike ER with a range of 8 km. The NLOS version has a range of 30 km.

The Spike NLOS Missile can be fired in LOS to target using the same principals of the other Spike Missiles of tracker lock-on and F&F abilities. The main concept of the weapon system includes the capability to fire in Non-Line of sight. The Firing to an NLOS target is based on grid coordinates using INS/GPS navigation and ending missile flight in terminal guidance based on the Electro-optical guidance using a missile seeker image transmitted to operator via wireless RF data link. 

The target coordinates are fed either manually to the Spike NLOS system or selected from pre-defined targets or mission data bank. After launch, the Missile flight is according to its automatic navigation algorithm. During flight, manual scan of the target area is possible within the Field of Regard (FOR). Pointing to the target may be resumed any time by pushing a button. Reaching a condition threshold; the Missile terminates its automatic navigation. Terminal guidance is either performed by using tracker lock-on or manual steering the seeker.